AIDS Watch at Home Provides Lasting Resources
Dose of Change has been working in collaboration with the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) throughout the month of May to promote a series of webinars and online resources, called AIDS Watch at Home, intended to help grassroots advocates set-up and conduct in-district congressional visits in their home states.
Interested advocates still have the chance to participate in an AIDS Watch at Home training on Wednesday, May 26 at 1 p.m. Eastern. To RSVP, email Jim Merrell at jmerrell@aidschicago.org.
While many of the messages included in the resources are focused on the 2010 landscape, advocates can find lots of 'evergreen' information from which they can draw for years to come.
Austin is Doing Something (A.I.D.S.) Mural Dedication Ceremony
Mural dedication ceremony and "Edutainment" event
Saturday, May 22, 2010, Noon - 4:00 p.m.
Northeast corner of West Chicago and N. Mayfield Avenues (Just west of the Sankofa Cultural Arts & Business Center - 5820 W. Chicago Avenue)
In honor of National HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (May 18), artists, residents, and politicians will gather for a ceremony to dedicate a 15 x 30 feet community mural entitled "Austin is Doing Something (A.I.D.S.)" designed by M. Carla Carr. The mural will be the centerpiece of a planned community garden.
EDITORIAL: Support for Global Health
As more nations struggle with stressed economies, aid to the developing world becomes increasingly vulnerable to governments' budgetary cuts. The industrialized world is recognizing that coordinating global development assistance is the most efficient way to maximize effectiveness and minimize duplication. Earlier this year, the United States, the largest funder of global health assistance, announced that it seeks to expand multilateral efforts to address the major health problems of developing countries. One of the triumphs of multilateral cooperation has been the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, a program that has saved millions of lives in developing countries. That is why the $50 million reduction in funding for the Global Fund requested by the U.S. government for fiscal year 2011, in the face of increased requests for expanded coverage by those countries, would be a major setback.
Let's Talk about Sex with Dan Savage
The Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health is honoring Dan Savage, author of the sex advice column Savage Love, and youth leaders at its 5th annual event Let's Talk about Sex at the Chicago Cultural Center.
Budget 911 Call - the State Budget and HIV this Friday May 14th
The state legislature still does not have a responsible budget in place, and the May 31st deadline is fast approaching. Please join the AIDS Foundation of Chicago for our next Budget 911 call, this Friday, May 14th from 1:00-2:00pm and learn what kind next year’s budget might look like, how it will affect HIV/AIDS programs, and vital actions you should take to push for fiscal responsibility. Please RSVP to bcooper@aidschicago.org and join us for this important call.
Budget 911 Call
Friday, May 14th
1:00 – 2:00 PM
1-866-206-0240
Passcode: 437543#
RSVP: bcooper@aidschicago.org
The Future of Sex Education Starts with a Great Website
Today's post will highlight the recently launched the Future of Sex Ed website, a collaborative effort developed by Advocates for Youth, ANSWER, and SIECUS.
The lessons AIDS advocates can draw from this website are two fold. First: content. The site provides an excellent and in-depth overview of sex education - an issue that is intrinsically related to HIV prevention. Here advocates can easily access all of the information needed to advocate for comprehensive sex ed, including primers on public education and toolkits for states and communities. Its a great resource for anyone interested in this issue.
The second lesson: form. The partner organizations behind the website did a wonderful job of developing a simple, clean website that's intuitive and easy to navigate. They provide a range of resources which allows site visitors to find the right fit for their needs. For those seeking basic information, there are factsheets. For those looking to do something more, there is a comprehensive toolkit for advocates or information on professional development opportunities.
Overall, Future of Sex Ed is a great example of how to execute an issue-specific site that gives interested advocates a menu of options to get involved.
Check it out at: futureofsexed.org
Sign Letter to Congress: Restoring Abstinence-Only is Unacceptable
Thought abstinence-only-until-marriage programs were a thing of the past? Think again. The new health care reform law reinstates $250 million in funding for five years for Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage programs—money that President Obama eliminated last year!
Catalyst Forum Provides Treasure Trove for Advocates
Advocates recently gathered in Baltimore at the HIV Research Catalyst Forum to share information and strategies for engaging in HIV/AIDS-related research advocacy. Advocate engagement in research has been a key driver of so much progress in HIV/AIDS releated science. The materials from this conference provide advocates with a treasure trove of knowledge and resources from which we can build a better and more effective HIV research advocacy movement.
From basic definitions to cutting edge clinical trials, these conference materials are a great resource for anyone looking to impact HIV/AIDS related research.
Check out the HIV Research Catalyst Forum webcasts and presentations!
Love in the Age of Grindr
Gay men and hooking up, shacking up, relationships and intimacy
Real-time technology is shaping the ways we connect – whether they’re “splash and dash” or involve a U-Haul.
Has this wired us for sex only?
How do relationships fit in?
What are we looking for in terms of connections and intimacy?
Let’s talk about sex, relationships (open and monogamous), friends with benefits and all the other creative ways gay men connect intimately and erotically...READ MORE & REGISTER
Demand a Fair Budget Before the General Assembly Adjourns Friday
The Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to wrap up this year's regular session this Friday, May 7. Facing a $13 billion budget deficit, we need our state elected officials to step up and lead the way to a fair budget solution. Tell your legislators to solve the state budget crisis now by voting for a responsible budget. Send the message two ways:
1. Call 1-800-719-3020 to be connected to your state representative’s office (Find out who your legislator is by scrolling to the bottom of the page.) Leave this message: “We need you to step up and lead. Raise new revenues to prevent budget cuts that will slash vital HIV/AIDS services and other life-saving programs. Support HB 174!” Even if you’ve called already, call again.
2. Fax your legislators. Tell them that access to HIV medications, prevention services, and care for people with HIV must be adequately funded in this year's budget. You can also download and share the message as a petition in English and Spanish.
