- Looking Back on a Year of Success
- Prevention Justice Message Mobilizes AIDS Movement
- That's a wrap! Prevention Justice Partners of 2007
- My Experiences in CHAMP Prevention Research Advocacy
- CHAMP and UNITE HERE Host Prevention Justice Dialogue
- Ride FAR Generates Over $50,000 for CHAMP!
This past year, CHAMP scaled up our outreach and education efforts, spreading our message of prevention justice at conferences and meetings around the country. We've met countless number of amazing activists and allies working in the diverse and progressive movements we call prevention justice.
To remove the stigma of HIV infection, many early AIDS activists said that HIV/AIDS was a disease just like any other. But HIV is also about conditions in society that cause some communities to be more vulnerable to HIV infection, despite similar risk factors. So the Prevention Justice Mobilization (PJM) is uniting the AIDS movement around a new message: HIV is more than just a disease - It's proof positive of injustice!
No one ever said grassroots organizing is easy, and our partners pulled out all the stops and built local campaigns advocating for cutting edge of HIV prevention policies that we all know will lower infection rates in our communities. Following are some highlights of the year.
In early 2007, I was introduced to an innovative approach to combating HIV through the CHAMP Prevention Research Advocacy Institute. As an African American woman living with HIV, I am anxious to be a part of the solution that will lead to ending the catastrophic rates of HIV infection in my community.
Cleve Jones, a life-long HIV/AIDS & LGBT activist and founder of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, led a discussion which highlighted the links between economic justice, LGBT and HIV/AIDS issues, and marginalization and discrimination within those movements. The key question explored was, "How do we work at the intersections of these issues in our movements for justice?"
In 2007 CHAMP became a national beneficiary of Ride FAR - the Ride for AIDS Resources - a five-day, 500-mile bicycle trek that wound its way through more than 100 New England towns in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut on September 5-9, 2007. Sixteen riders and ten road crew members raised over $150,000. This total is split among several beneficiaries, with $50,000 benefiting CHAMP.
Bay Area Reporter, December 6, 2007
We are here because we know there is no plan to save our lives. We know that HIV prevention is more than just a condom. HIV is not just a virus, it is a product of social injustice.
- Waheeda Shabazz-El
Read the full article.
New York Times, December 2, 2007
We don't know whether infection rates are rising or they've just been higher than we thought, but either way, this shows that prevention efforts are insufficient. - Julie Davids
Read the full article.
Making Contact, November 28, 2007
Weekly international radio program's The Color of AIDS: Bringing "Risk" Up to Date edition features Kenyon Farrow (CHAMP), Dazon Dixon Diallo (Sister Love), Waheedah Shabazz-El (ACT-UP Phildelphia/CHAMP), and many others.
Listen to the program.
| Latino/Hispanic AIDS Leadership Summit |
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On January 29-30, 2008, the National Latino/Hispanic AIDS Leadership Summit will for the first time provide a forum for groups to convene around the Latino/Hispanic AIDS Action Agenda; create and prioritiz first action steps; and identify leaders for the different community strategies and action efforts. Be sure to register by January 11, 2008, for the summit, which will be held in Washington, DC. |
| Endorse AIDSVote |
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AIDSVote.org is a candidate education and voter education project working to make sure candidates for public office know what it takes to end AIDS, and voters who care about ending AIDS know where the candidates stand on our issues. Please take the time to visit AIDSVote.org, endorse the platform, and spread this message widely. |
| Thank you, donors! |
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A big thanks to all of our 2007 individual donors and monthly sustainers! We would also like to thank the Academy for Educational Development, AIDS Community Action Foundation, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, The Calamus Foundation, The Ford Foundation, Gesso Foundation, Ittleson Foundation, John M. Lloyd Foundation, M·A·C AIDS Fund, Ms. Foundation for Women, New York City AIDS Fund, Overbrook Foundation, Public Welfare Foundation, Sonya Staff Foundation for their grants and continuing support! |