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What my internship at AFC taught me

December 17, 2021

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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How Life is Work is supporting transgender and gender non-binary communities of color

December 15, 2021

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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Housing is Healthcare

December 9, 2021

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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Three ways the GTZ-IL Dashboard can help you

December 9, 2021

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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How Margaret supports people living with HIV through AIDS Run and Walk Chicago

November 10, 2021

By Ella Shapiro Before  Margaret Russell began her medical career as a family physician and certified HIV specialist she worked in technical theatre. While working as a stage manager, Margaret made many friends within the LGBTQ+ community. As her friendships developed, Margaret shared her...
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Davon Lawrence, AFC’s new Director of Prevention Capacity Building, brings a passion for service to AFC

October 13, 2021

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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Illinois residents share experiences, ideas to improve the state’s Medicaid program

October 12, 2021

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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Dear God, I'm Here

October 4, 2021

By Timothy S. Jackson October 3 marks 12 years of living with HIV for AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC)'s Director of Government Relations. A Black man. A Black gay man. A Black gay man living with HIV. I am all of those and greater than the sum of the parts. My intersecting identities. The things that make me who I am and who I want to be. The identities...
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Chris chooses to “option up” at AIDS Run & Walk Chicago

September 30, 2021

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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Ryan White case manager stops opioid overdose minutes after receiving training from AFC

August 1, 2021

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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