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Surviving a personal tsunami

September 28, 2017

by Raven Feagins Michelle Hennigan is a compassionate mother of one who lives in the small village of Johnsburg – just over an hour and a half outside of Chicago. Michelle loved providing a comfortable lifestyle for her and her daughter, but in 1999 – just as she was moving up in her career – Michelle became extremely ill with no sign of recovery. "I...
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What you need to know about Getting to Zero in Illinois

September 20, 2017

By Sara Semelka  Illinois is making dramatic progress against HIV  New HIV cases have dropped by 28% from 2006 to 2015. Mother-to-child HIV transmission is nearly eliminated. In Chicago, there were fewer than 1,000 cases a year. Because of this, it’s possible to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Illinois.   Illinois has what it takes.  With health...
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Five ways to take control of your love life

September 13, 2017

by Nick Villarreal and Beto Soberanis  It’s impossible to know everything about sex. But learning to talk about sex and navigate HIV helps you take the reins of your sex life and your sexual health. Take a look at these ways to take control of your sex life.  1. Communicate with your partner. It’s the sexiest thing you can do.  It can be pretty...
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Soaring into stability with people who care

August 3, 2017

by Raven Feagins Millions of people across the country are unable to work most jobs and earn an income due to disability or other challenges. For these folks, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are available to help supplement, but the application process is known for being nearly impossible to navigate. This inspired the creation of the...
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HIV, hepatitis C and the hope for health equity

July 25, 2017

by Ashley Brown   UPDATE: In November 2018, the Illinois Department of Health and Family Services (HFS) announced that a hepatitis C cure would be accessible for thousands more Illinoisans on Medicaid, many of whom were previously denied treatment until they reached end-stage disease. Learn more here .   Peter McLoyd doesn’t care what you think of him...
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Beyond a campaign, a testing program that elevates young women of color

July 17, 2017

By Raven Feagins "Our Girls Matter." That’s the tagline for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC)'s  Project Elevate . The marketing pieces -- developed for young cisgender (cis) and transgender (trans) women of color, by young cisgender and transgender women of color -- feature photos of young women, with inviting,...
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Living with HIV — and without stable health insurance

June 8, 2017

By Anthony Millspaugh "Life changes fast. Life changes in the instant...." So begins the achingly poignant memoir The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion, an exploration of love and loss, grief and resilience. In October 2005, it was the book I was reading when I received a call from a specialist who had recently conducted a procedure ordered by my doctor; the news...
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Quest Diagnostics employees experience a day-to-day connection to the HIV epidemic

June 6, 2017

by Ashley Brown Each year, corporate teams and sponsors band together for AIDS Run & Walk Chicago to raise awareness and funds for HIV services across Chicagoland and Illinois. One of these generous partners is Quest Diagnostics , which provides clinical laboratory services across the country. We spoke to Regional Marketing Director Joe Huber on how their involvement with...
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From past to present: HIV advocates leading the future at AFC's Advocacy Days

May 30, 2017

by Ashley Brown Before the first morning light had struck Chicago’s streets, almost 100 HIV advocates from various backgrounds came together on May 17 to travel to Springfield to fight for HIV lives at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC)’s annual event Advocacy Day. Abuzz with excitement for the upcoming day, familiar faces shared greetings and hugs, like family members long...
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Which Health Care Superhero Are You?

May 11, 2017

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