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Retiring AFC Board member blazed trails for Black women in health care and academia

March 9, 2016

by Mirhanda Alewine Hilda Richards, Ed.D., RN, FAAN, an AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) Board member for 15 years, discusses her experience on the Board and what she hopes for the future of AFC.   When Dr. Hilda Richards moved to Chicago in 2000 at the age of 64, she arrived with a lifetime's worth of credentials and accomplishments — including several “firsts”...
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BudgetWatch: The lead-up to IL primary and spring break

March 4, 2016

by Dan Frey, Director of Government Relations Good afternoon, everyone! This week in Springfield was the last of the House’s session days before the March 15 primary and an elongated spring break. While there was some movement surrounding an appropriations bill for human services and higher education, ultimately it appears that we are no closer to a resolution to our current...
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Corporate supporter Walgreens finds innovative ways to engage with HIV-positive community

February 29, 2016

For decades, Walgreens has supported the AIDS Foundation of Chicago in its quest to make HIV infections rare and support people living with HIV and related chronic diseases.  Walgreens' Senior Director of Virology Glen Pietrandoni shares his story of serving the HIV community for 30 years. He also explains how Walgreens is uniquely positioned to support people...
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Salud y Orgullo Mexicano: Exploring the territory between HIV and identity

February 23, 2016

by Mirhanda Alewine John Pizaña, the Promotor of the Salud y Orgullo Mexicano (SOM) campaign, uses his unique position to encourage and mentor other Mexican men living with HIV.    "We knew that HIV was something that was going to continue to grow." In September 2014, John Pizaña accepted the position of Promotor of Salud y Orgullo...
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Five #PrEP4Love ways to improve PrEP awareness in Chicago

February 22, 2016

by Elijah McKinnon #PrEP4Love is LIVE! The citywide, sex-positive media campaign was designed to increase awareness of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), a daily HIV prevention pill for HIV-negative people. Below are 5 ways you can get involved with the campaign and continue to help us #SpreadTingle #TransmitLove #CatchDesire and #ContractHeat. Like Project RSP on Facebook and...
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6 Things You Can Do for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

February 2, 2016

Elijah McKinnon, Digital Communication Coordinator An estimated 1 in 16 Black men and 1 in 32 Black women will be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetimes. It’s time to put an end to these sobering statistics. Help us spread the word about National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) on Sunday, Feb. 7th. Below is a roundup of 6 things you can do for #NBHAAD:   Get...
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Citywide campaign transmits love and shows the sexier side of HIV prevention

February 1, 2016

Chicago, February 1 — Today, the Chicago PrEP Working Group (CPWG) launched PrEP4Love , a citywide, sex-positive media campaign designed to increase awareness of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), a daily HIV prevention pill for HIV-negative people. Honest and visceral photography with a simple tagline — “One pill. Once a day. Protect against HIV.” — is displayed in...
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#WTSWNTS when discussing condomless sex

January 19, 2016

by Elijah McKinnon, digital communications coordinator “What to say // What not to say” is a series that explores the nuances associated with navigating topics related to HIV and AIDS, sexual health and relationships. When’s the last time you frantically searched for a condom in the middle of a hot and steamy moment? As a young, queer person who...
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Counter-conference raises awareness of those left out of National HIV/AIDS Strategy

January 15, 2016

by Lindsey Arenberg Policy and advocacy fellow, HIV PJA and AFC The sea of red umbrellas, the symbol of sex worker solidarity, could be seen from the stage of the National HIV Prevention Conference (NHPC)’s opening plenary featuring Douglas Brooks, Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy for the White House. The umbrellas were part of a protest organized by AFC Community...
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10 tweets that tell the story of HIV in 2015

January 14, 2016

2015 was a big year for HIV! Not only were there huge advancements in science, but the epidemic also found its way back into mainstream media through art, pop culture and social activism. As we gear up for another stimulating year of progression towards putting an end to new HIV diagnoses, take a peek at these 10 tweets that tell the story of a big year in the HIV epidemic (in no particular order):...
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