Cecil Dearborne joined AFC's Board in 2020. Since 1992, he has worked in the IT consulting industry, focusing on business transformations and product development. He currently leads operations and strategy within North America for his company's Enterprise Modernization, Platforms, and Cloud service line. Although he is a tech guy at heart, as a...
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By Bailey Williams
Courtney Eshay Key, age 25, was shot and killed Christmas Day , 2020 . Courtney, a Black trans woman, is survived by her mother, brother, and sister , who loved her dearly .
“I know for a fact that Courtney just wanted to thrive,” said longtime friend Beverly Ross. “She just wanted to beat the odds and become...
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By Bailey Williams
Tyianna “Davarea” Alexander, age 28, was shot and killed Saturday, Jan. 6, 2021 in a car with her best friend Brandon Chris, who also died. Tyianna, a Black trans woman, is survived by her sister and mother, who loved her dearly.
Born and raised in Chicago, Tyianna attended Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and graduated from CPS’ Harper High School...
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By Kennedy Brookins
When I agreed to write a post about Dr. Mildred Williamson, who most recently served as the Executive Director of HIV Services at Ruth M. Rothstein's CORE Center, I thought this would center Mildred ’s career — the accomplishments, metrics and awards. And let’s be clear, she’s got all of those. But as I started talking with Mildred and her...
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Legislation was introduced in Springfield today to end criminal penalties against people living with HIV (PLWH), which serve only to stigmatize and discriminate against PLWH. Current Illinois law makes legal behavior – like consensual sex – illegal, and adds harsh penalties for ordinarily minor crimes such as sharing injection-drug equipment. Under current law, PLWH face the threat...
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by Timothy Jackson, Director of Government Relations
AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC) applauds Illinois Governor JB Pritzker for signing House Bill 3653, the Illinois Criminal Justice Omnibus Bill —landmark legislation that brings significant criminal justice reforms to Illinois. These reforms include the end of cash bail, new police accountability standards, and new pretrial release...
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2021 AFC State Budget Address Statement
Standing at the site of a former makeshift hospital on the Illinois State Fairgrounds used to treat those afflicted with the 1918 Influenza Pandemic, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker delivered an unconventional — and virtual — State of the State and Budget Address on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021. Speaking in a room used to administer COVID-19...
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By Bailey Williams
Shortly after having her son in 2019, Robin Petties found herself without stable housing. Her son stayed with his grandparents, while she couch surfed at friends’ apartments or slept in her car.
Robin’s household was just one of many families with children experiencing homelessness in Chicago. In 2018, the last year for which U.S. Census...
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By Bailey Williams
Longtime epidemiologist Gary B. Beringer, Dr. P.H., age 70, passed away suddenly Wednesday, Jan. 27 at his home in Chicago, IL. Gary, an only child, is survived by his wife, Nancy M. Abbate, who worked alongside Gary in business as well as life.
Gary had an excellent memory and continued aptitude for learning new things, but his body was breaking...
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By Bailey Williams
For those of us who write, it is necessary to scrutinize not only the truth of what we speak, but the truth of that language by which we speak it. - Audre Lorde
A few weeks after George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis and protests galvanized the nation, the Associated Press Stylebook—the language and style guide most news outlets and many others...
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