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How Judy has used empathy and advocacy to embrace living with HIV

May 11, 2021

By Ella Shapiro  When you talk to Judy Brown, it is immediately clear that the 69-year-old Chicagoan is passionate about advocating for the people around her. Every day, Judy commits herself to helping others and has been doing so since she and her husband tested positive for HIV in 1993. Judy is an active member of AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC)’s Ryan White community advisory...
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How Roy found new purpose through advocacy

May 6, 2021

Meet Roy Ferguson: AFC board member  By Ella Shapiro  One of Roy Ferguson's greatest pleasures in life is spending time with his granddaughters.  Every morning the 70-year-old Chicagoan and his partner, Michael, each take one of their youngest granddaughter’s hands and walk her to school. The pair’s eldest granddaughter just got onto her high school’s...
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The Editor’s Desk: Why we include the people we interview in our editing process

April 27, 2021

By Bailey Williams  When racist ideas resound, denials that those ideas are racist typically follow...Denial is the heartbeat of racism, beating across ideologies, races and nations. -Ibram X. Kendi in How to Be An Antiracist  On Feb. 14, 2020, the New York Times profiled Black painter Jordan Casteel in recognition of her first solo museum show. When the article was completed,...
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George Floyd's murderer found guilty; AFC pledges continued action to end systemic racism

April 20, 2021

The jury in the murder trial of Derek Chauvin has returned guilty verdicts for the Minneapolis police officer who murdered George Floyd in May 2020. Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. George Floyd’s death reignited a nationwide movement to reform policing and law enforcement practices, systems that were developed to...
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Advocate with AFC during Virtual Advocacy Week starting Monday, April 19

April 16, 2021

By Coleman Goode  The dictionary definition of community is “a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.” I like to think of community as a social group with commonalities such as norms, religion, values, customs or identity — basically, you all want the same thing for yourselves. The term “community mobilization”...
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AFC’s BIPOC associate board members share their COVID-19 vaccine experiences

April 13, 2021

By Ella Shapiro   Jade Greear, a member of AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC)’s associate board, is excited about this summer and the opportunity to go out more in the upcoming months. Jade’s optimism is something that many of us have not felt while enduring the COVID-19 pandemic, but Jade has good reason to feel optimistic. She’s fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  ...
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Celebrating more than 20 years of Dr. Cynthia Tucker’s advocacy for women

April 8, 2021

By Ella Shapiro  Even though Women’s History Month has come to an end, AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC) wanted to continue the celebration of impactful women by recognizing a local advocate who has devoted herself to supporting other women for almost 30 years. Dr. Cynthia Tucker, AFC’s Vice President of Prevention and Community Partnerships, has spent decades helping cisgender...
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What it has been like for me to work in a restaurant during COVID

April 6, 2021

By Ella Shapiro  Working as a server can be incredibly stressful. During my shifts I am constantly multitasking: running food, taking orders and calming upset customers. I prepare each day by stocking extra plates and silverware, making sure I know the daily specials and fluffing the cushions on each chair. I prepare like this in the hopes my shift will run more smoothly. But being...
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7 things to know about COVID-19 vaccines

April 2, 2021

Revised March 29, 2021  1. Safety  The safety of COVID-19 vaccines is a top priority. No steps have been skipped during the rigorous and highly regulated development process. All COVID-19 vaccines were thoroughly reviewed and approved for use by the U.S. FDA.  2. How COVID-19 vaccines work  All three vaccines –Johnson & Johnson (J&J),...
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How telehealth services have made it easier for Milani to attend therapy

April 1, 2021

By Ella Shapiro  Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Milani Varela, 33, used to take the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) twice a week to a clinic where she attended individual and group therapy sessions. When her clinic closed to support social distancing, Milani's therapy sessions moved to Zoom. This let Milani sleep in later, save money on transportation and reduce her risk of exposure...
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