By Ella Shapiro
In 2013 , Neil Halpin’s coworkers encouraged him to sign up for a half marathon in Las Vegas at the same time as a work conference they were attending. Reluctantly, Neil, who was not an experienced runner, agreed and started training. At the last minute the conference was cancelled, forcing Neil...
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By Ella Shapiro
As a member of Generation Z, the HIV epidemic has always felt distant to me. Growing up in the early 2000s and 2010s, I remember hearing stories about the epidemic. I heard about how it impacted the LGTBQ+ community, how Princess Diana famously shook the hand of a person living with AIDS in 1987, but ultimately...
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By Ella Shapiro
Growing up in Garfield Park, Zahara Bassett remembers having to frequently travel to the North Side of Chicago to access gender-affirming spaces and receive medical care, food and housing assistance. Despite loving her neighborhood, it was clear to Zahara, as a Black transgender woman, that...
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By Ella Shapiro
For those of us working to end the HIV epidemic it is not news that housing is health care, but perhaps for others that connection is not so obvious.
When you have a house, steady employment and a primary care provider it becomes easy to prioritize your health because your basic needs are...
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By Brian Solem
When I hear the word “dashboard,” the first thing that comes to mind is the illuminating glow of a car’s control panel, telling me how fast I’m going, what song is playing and whether I need to refill my gas tank (usually, the answer is “yes”).
The Getting to Zero Illinois (GTZ-IL) Dashboard...
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By Bailey Williams
Every year on December 1, the HIV community celebrates World AIDS Day, a day where we make space for and listen to people living with HIV, mourn those lost to AIDS-related complications and rally together to support the end of the HIV epidemic.
This year marks the 40 th year anniversary of ...
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By Bailey Williams
CHICAGO -- Today, AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC) was thrilled to host a private roundtable discussion about open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act with U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, Rep. Lauren Underwood of Naperville, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. Ngozi...
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By Ella Shapiro
One day in 2014, Chris Pazdernik was taking a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) train when they noticed an ad for that year’s AIDS Run & Walk Chicago fundraising event. Five years prior, Chris had tested positive for HIV. At the time, they were left with a lot of insecurities. They didn’t know what kind...
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On August 20, 2021 Governor JB Pritzker signed the Keeping Youth Safe and Healthy Act, which creates age-appropriate learning standards for public schools that decide to teach comprehensive personal health and safety education (grades K-5) and comprehensive sexual health education (grades 6-12).
“AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC) thanks Governor Pritzker for signing...
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Today, AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC) is excited to announce the fourth cohort of the Learning Circle Collaborative (LLC) awardees inducted into the capacity building and technical assistance program (CBA). Grant funds will be used to support organizational infrastructure, leadership development, systemic capacity building and the delivery of culturally responsive community...
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