For a Good Cause

IN THIS ISSUE July-September 2010 Deep South Summit held in Alabama HIV Legislation New HIV testing law signed Infinity Photography Kenny Ortega, Dayana Mendoza, Guillermo Chacón, Stefania Fernandez, Lilian Rodríguez and Lin-Manuel Miranda. For a Good Cause Cielo Latino Raises Funds for the Commission Featured Program: Mpowerment Project On May 11th, 2010, Hollywood and Rosie Perez announced the Ilka Award for his support of HIV and Broadway stars joined with creation of the Dennis deLeon prevention and care programs. news anchors, entertainers, health “Voz de Compromiso” Award advocates, business leaders, and named posthumously after the The event was attended by, among elected officials in supporting the man who was a warrior in the others, actress Lupe Ontiveros, ac- 20th anniversary of the Latino fights against HIV/AIDS. Other tress Rosie Perez, actor, writer and Commission at its annual gala, honorees of the evening included Tony Award-winner Lin-Manuel Cielo Latino. Hosted by CNN Viiv Healthcare, recipient of the Miranda, Miss Universe 2009 Steanchor and special correspondent Business Leadership Award for fania Fernández, Miss Universe Soledad O’Brien, Cielo Latino ac- the creation of a new company 2008 Dayana Mendoza, MTV3 knowledged the successes of the whose sole focus is HIV/AIDS. Host Carlos Santos, and NBC/TeleCommission over the past 20 years Lillian Rodríguez, President of the mundo anchor Carmen Dominicci, and honored the legacy of its for- Hispanic Federation, was honored who was installed as International mer President, Dennis deLeon. with the CompañeraAward for her Ambassador of the Latino Comleadership in building the LUCES mission on AIDS. The pharma- Featured Event: Latina Leadership Summit Humberto Cruz, Director of the Coalition, and Kenny Ortega, film ceutical company Merck was the New York State AIDS Institute, director and producer, received the Corporate Chair of the event. ANNIE MULGREW U.S. AIDS STRATEGY On Tuesday, July 12th, President Obama released a report outlining the United States’ first national HIV/AIDS strategy. While the strategy does not call for additional federal funds, it does highlight a plan to redistrib- ute money to areas most affected by HIV/AIDS. The strategy holds many promising tactics to confront HIV/AIDS in the United States. Unfortunately, it has taken nearly 30 years for a national comprehensive HIV/AIDS plan to be developed. The Commission believes that people living with HIV/AIDS need to play a central role in implementing this national strategy. “Dímelo” is a quartely publication of the Latino Commission on AIDS, a non- profitmembershiporganizationdedicat- ed to fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Latino/Hispanic community. <a href="/goto?url=http://www.latinoaids.org" target="_blank">www.latinoaids.org </a>of us accountable for addressing this epidemic. This new strategy represents an opportunity to better tackle HIV/AIDS in our communities. Help us to save lives On July 30, the Honorable David Paterson, Governor of New York signed into law new HIV testing legislation, which will increase our ability to test more people in hopes of reducing new HIV infections and impacting the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS in New York. GUILLERMO CHACON In Vienna, Austria, thousands of people gathered in July for the 18th International AIDS Confer- ence, where those present agreed on the concept of linking prevention and treatment as the best way to combat the effects of HIV/ AIDS. Connecting people with HIV to treatment was another issue that was strongly recommended. The next International AIDS Conference takes place in the summer of 2012 in Washington, DC, and the Latino Commission will work with partners to make sure that people of color will be represented in meaningful ways. Dear Friends of the Commission, As our 2010 summer comes to a close, we are excited to share with you important develop- ments that have occurred in the last few months. On July 13, the White House unveiled the Na- tional HIV/AIDS Strategy, the first-ever released document addressing the epidemic in the U.S. and territories. I was honored to be present at the White House event and to share the memories of so many that have worked hard over the years to accomplish this significant step in making our Federal Government and each Dr. Paul A. Cotton and Douglas K. Griffing in an open conversation during the Summit in Birmingham, Alabama. Deep South Summit held in Alabama In the meantime, we will continue our journey towards October 15th for National Latino AIDS Aware- ness Day (NLAAD) and many other events sure to impact our agendas, including the election of a new Governor in New York State and the mid-term elections at the Federal level. On June 21-22, 2010, over 40 key to further explore how HIV health leadersfromsevensouthernStates disparities within the Hispanic gathered in Birmingham, Ala- community can be addressed bama to discuss and promote HIV/ through a focus on research. AIDS research priorities within the region specific to the needs of “Comingfromacommunity-based the emerging Hispanic population organization (CBO) perspective at the Deep South Summit: Pro- it was comforting and reassuring moting Community-Based Par- to know that there is a collabora- ticipatory HIV/AIDS Research tive research effort on the part of within the Hispanic Community. individuals and organizations that are willing to come to our aid and The summit brought together key to help us to understand the data leaders to identify, discuss and we collect. In turn, it will help us resolve research gaps in HIV-re- to better serve the Hispanic comlated health in the Deep South munity,” stated Mark Gray, HIV region. This summit is the fol- Prevention Coordinator at Low- low-up to the inaugural meeting, country AIDS Services. EDITOR IN CHIEF Annie Mulgrew I invite each of you to actively participate in any event that will prevent the spread of HIV, prepare for the implementation of health care reform, and the new HIV/ AIDS prevention strategy. Help us to save lives and to support healthy communities. Adelante! EDITORIAL BOARD Guillermo Chacon Annie Mulgrew Miriam Vega DESIGN Daniel Ravelo Sincerely, PHOTOGRAPHY Hugo Ovejero Infinity Photography Juand David Gastolomendo Yanira Arias where different stakeholders from the Deep South region were invited. The inaugural meeting, which was held in November 2009 in Charlotte, NC, revealed the need CHRISTIAN CASTRO Guillermo Chacón President and CEO Latino Commission on AIDS CONTRIBUTORS Christian Castro Annie Mulgrew Hugo Ovejero HIV Legislation New HIV TteessttiinngglLaawwsiSgingended On July 30th, 2010, Governor Da- asidgvnainficceasntinadmvaankcinesg iHnIVmatkeisntg- Steernsoatno,rasllaSndenAatsosresmabnldyAmsseemmbbelrys vid Patterson signed into law the iHnIgV rtoeustineg, rosuctihne,assucrehquaisrinreg- wmheomsbueprspowrtheod sthuipsploergteisdlathioisn laengdGottfried/DDuuaannee “Act to Amend tqhueiroinffgetrhinegooffferainngHoIfVanteHstIVintaelslt tihslaantikosnSaenndattohranDkusaSnenaantdorADssueamnethe PPuubblliiccHHeaelatlhthLaLwawin iRnelRateiloan- pinuballilc paunbdlicprainvdateprihveaatlethhecaalrteh banlydmAanssGemotbtflryiemdanforGthoettifrrideeddicfoa-r toionHtIoVHTIeVstiTnegs,”tinwg,h”icwhhwicihll weixl-l sceatrteingses,ttitnhgesre, btyheerestbaybliesshtianbglisahn- tihoenirtdoedimicpartoiovnintgo tihmephroevalitnhg atnhde pexanpdanHdIVHtIeVstitnegstfionrgalfloNr eawllYNoerkw- HinIgVatnesHt aIVs thteeststasndtahred sotafncdaarred. wheealltbheainngdowf eall-NbeeiwngYofrkaelrls.New DISCLAIMER: Photos used in this newsletter imply nothing about the health status, sexual orientation, or life history of the subjects. 24 W 25th Street, 9th Floor New York, NY 10010 P. (212) 675.3288 f. (212) 675.3466 <a href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank">[email protected] </a><a href="/goto?url=http://www.latinoaids.org" target="_blank">www.latinoaids.org </a>eYrosr.kTehrse. neTwheleginselawtionle(gSi0sl8a2ti2o7n/ TofhecaLraet.inToheCoLmatminiossiCoonmonmAisIsDioSn Yorkers. A(S1018428277)/Aw1i1ll48in7s)tituwteillsiginisfitictuantet aopnpAlaIuDdSs Gapopvlearundosr GPoavteerrsnoonr, Paall- ANNIE MULGREW ANNIE MULGREW Featured Program: Mpowerment Project Edward Madrid no longer looks down when he speaks to someone. Instead, he greets people enthusiastically and with confidence. He attributes his new found self-es- teem to his participation in “Latinos Differentes,” the working group that organizes activities and outreach events for The Mpowerment Project, the peer and network based community-level interven- tion program at the Latino Com- mission. Using a combination of informal and formal outreach, discussion groups, creation of safe spaces, social opportunities, and social marketing to reach a broad range of HIV-positive and HIV-negative gay and bisexual men, the program is able to provide a safe and com- fortable environment for Latino MSM/gay men to come and discusspersonalandsexualissuesthat affect them. Punto de Encuentro, the weekly gathering conversation Mpowerment members during an informal open group discussion. for the Mpowerment Project, ad- Hugo Ovejero So far in 2010, the program has in- York City and to meet our pro- feel at home; a house that gives me creased the number of participants gram goals,” states Hugo Ovejero, the confidence to love myself and by 26% in comparison to 2009. director of the program. continue to fight for those dreams I The growth in outreach events, had when I left my country, despite social events and number of new Madrid has found the safe com- the many obstacles that I have in participants in the program and munity that he desperately sought my life.” dresses coming out issues, disclosure of HIV status, drug and alcohol problems, social withdrawal, isolation and safer-sex practices. Activities like movie night and Latino cultural events provide the program with a casual platform to promote discussion of issues affecting the gay Latino community. weekly conversation sessions has after moving to New York City allowed the Mpowerment Project from El Salvador 3 months ago. “to reach a larger section of the La- “Latinos D is part of my life and tino MSM/gay community in New like my family,” he says. “Now I ANNIE MULGREW Featured Event: Latina Lead- ON OCTUBER 15TH GET TESTED FOR HIV. FOR MORE ership Summit INFORMATION VISIT NLAAD.ORG In response to the success of the 1st Latina Leadership Training Institute in March 2010, the Com- mission organized a 2nd one-day Institute on July 1st, 2010. With the theme Latinas Unidas por un Futuro Mas Sano/ Latinas United for a Healthier Future, the goal of the Institute was to engage Latinas in leadership development opportunities to promote healthier fami- lies and communities. The Institute brought together 94 Latinas of all Juan David Gastolomendo Participants during a workshop on hepatitis and HIV. ages who had participated in com- Participants formed workgroups munity development programs for which focused on hepatitis, sexuLatinas who are affected by and/or ally transmitted infections, navigatliving with HIV and AIDS, as well ing the healthcare system and breast as various health professionals who cancer. Later they reviewed case delivered health promotion and studies focused on these topics. HIV/AIDS prevention messages. ANNIE MULGREW

For a Good Cause

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