By Bailey Williams
For the past three years, Mayra Olivares has helped people living with HIV and AIDS achieve better health outcomes. As a Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program case manager at Erie Family Health Centers, Mayra makes sure her clients receive needed medication, medical appointments and referrals for vital services like housing. Prior to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Mayra...
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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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At AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC) and Center for Health and Housing (CHH), we believe that mental health is a vital part of your life that impacts things like your productivity, emotions, work, school and more. Mental health is just as essential as physical health considering that mental disorders can also raise a risk for physical health problems down the line. In order to improve emotional health,...
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By Sacha I. Urban
Content warning: This piece includes conversations about depression, sexual assault and suicide.
Tyshon Shepard is a proud father of 3 boys. He spends his days taking care of his 2 younger sons, aged 1 and 2. His sons have given him purpose, leading him to set a goal of starting a business he can one day pass on to his sons.
“My kids...
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By Bailey Williams
After receiving an eviction letter, a man in emotional distress called the HIV Resource Coordination HUB. The phone line led by AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC) and Center on Halsted is dedicated to providing information and resources related to HIV. By the time Oscar Solis, a Rapid Responder for the HUB at Center on Halsted, answered his call, the man was extremely upset,...
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By Bailey Williams
Imagine: you have been recently living at Cook County Jail, one of the epicenters for the new coronavirus (COVID-19). Despite still having time left in your sentence, you are notified you’ll be one of the hundreds of people released to decrease crowding in the jail.
Despite the jail‘s efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19, as of May 4,...
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By Bailey Williams
Prior to March 13, Alex Delakis spent most of his day meeting with people living with HIV in their homes and at public establishments like McDonald's. As a medical case manager for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC), Alex coordinated clients' medical care and associated services such as financial assistance and transportation. In the last few weeks, the routine...
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The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) has awarded 31 organizations a combined $7.35 million to connect thousands of people in the Chicagoland area living with HIV and AIDS to health care, housing services, transportation and other supportive services. These organizations were selected based on a spectrum of criteria, including their ability to serve Chicagoans most impacted by HIV: Black and Latino/Latinx...
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By Raven Feagins
“I used to wonder, like, ‘What am I here for? What is my purpose in life?’ And I have a purpose now,” said Valerie Linzy, an upbeat, big-hearted mother of six. “There are some young ladies who are going to come behind me from doing sex work that are going to come up HIV-positive that are going to need to know how to live … Here I am...
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By Raven Feagins
One night in 1991, 23-year-old Chancelor Cunningham woke up unable to breathe. He had been previously diagnosed with bronchitis, but this time he was admitted into the former Michael Reese Hospital in Bronzeville for an extended stay. It turned out he had pneumonia. Chancelor’s mom stayed by his side, even sometimes staying the night, and continuously advocated for...
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