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 Ella Shapiro
Davon Lawrence ’s passion for service was inspired by his mother. Raised in New Jersey, Davon grew up watching his mother work for the Salvation Army as an Intake Counselor. He saw the way that his community improved through the work she and her colleagues did by caring for others. From a...
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By Bailey Williams
For more than 50 years, Illinois Medicaid has offered millions of residents access to health insurance for free or reduced rates. Illinois Medicaid is the largest health insurer in the state, providing coverage to about 25 percent of the state’s residents including people living with HIV, working families,...
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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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By Bailey Williams
Longtime housing advocate Debra La Joyce Thornton, age 64, passed away Thursday, July 1. Debra is survived by her mother, four children and three grandchildren she loved dearly.
Described by many as extremely hardworking and dedicated, Debra spent the last two decades helping hundreds...
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