You know you’re in for a good time when a conference kicks off with an electric guitar performance. Last week Atlanta hosted the 2nd Annual Southern Harm Reduction conference, launched with a spirited song about jack shacks and brothels and sung by a former sex worker from Georgia…and it only got better from there. Throughout the three day conference, active and former sex workers and drugs users gathered with law enforcement, veterans, academics and community service providers to discuss hot button issues such as overdose prevention, safer crack use, mass incarceration, human trafficking, and drug policy. The event aimed to add southern flavor to harm reduction, a concept usually synonymous with government-funded syringe exchange programs in northern states. But while New York and Massachusetts might have a strong harm reduction presence, small nonprofits and activists from all over the south are quietly addressing issues such as syringe access, appalling rates of HIV and hepatitis, mass incarceration of minorities, violence against sex workers, and drug user stigma.

Take Atlanta for example. Syringe exchange is illegal in the state of Georgia, but Atlanta Harm Reduction Coalition (AHRC), who was one of the conference hosts hosted, has been providing life saving syringes to drug users and taking dirty needles off the streets for years. Rain, snow, sleet or hail, you’ll see Mona Bennett and her famous button hat offering HIV testing, referral to drug treatment, or a helping hand to people who use drugs.

Further up the coast, the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition provides harm reduction based direct services and advocacy, as well as trains law enforcement officers on how to avoid accidental needle-sticks and works with them to advocate for saner drugs laws.  In addition, organizations like Project Lazarus have saved hundreds of lives through educating medical providers and the community about overdose prevention.

To the west, Streetworks in Nashville is educating drug users on how blood borne pathogens spread through crack and injection drug use and works to improve the lives of people who use drugs.

Dip down to New Orleans where Women with a Vision provides women and sex workers with empowerment tools for how to lead healthier lives and to serve as their own advocates. These organization are just a few of the many harm reduction programs working to save lives, reduce stigma, and make safer communities below the Mason-Dixon line.

There is a lot of harm reduction in the South, it’s just not as visible as elsewhere. Southern programs grapple with different challenges than northern states, such as greater stigma, fewer resources, and complex legal situations. Southern harm reduction isn’t big and flashy, but small groups of dedicated people are making a difference in every state. The conference in Atlanta was a chance to come together and to learn about what works from people who are doing it. It was a chance to realize, “hey, we’re not alone.” It was a chance to say, we don’t have to bring harm reduction to the south, because we’re already here.

What People Said About the Southern Harm Reduction Conference in Atlanta:

“This conference is a chance to grow harm reduction in the south. I love it because I feel like my neighbors are getting closer.”

– Mona Bennett, Atlanta Harm Reduction, Atlanta, GA

“The incredible attendance for the conference speaks to the commitment in the south to be part of a harm reduction movement and to highlight the issues we face here, because they are unique.”

– Deon Haywood, Women with a Vision, New Orleans, LA

“As a law enforcement officer, I feel encouraged that people from various disciplines are willing to put their differences aside and come together to discuss greater safety and better communities for everyone.”

– Ronald Martin, North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition, Raleigh, NC

“Using drugs doesn’t make anyone less of a person. We’re here to learn how to protect drug users’ rights and to reduce the harm caused by active drug use.”

– Ron Crowder, Streetworks, Nashville, TN

“I’m stoked at the number of people who have poured out to support southern harm reduction. It’s been a long time coming. I’ve always said that if we could bring support and experts to the south and begin to educate our folks about harm reduction, we could really start to see changes here.”

– Jeff McDowell, Atlanta Harm Reduction, Atlanta, GA

“I’m here to learn and to support my fellow peers in the trenches…I believe we can learn from each other. We get a lot of edicts from the CDC about prevention measures, but what works in New York might not work in the rural south. At this conference I can meet someone from Kentucky who is doing great work and I can bring it back to my state and emulate it.”

– Art Jackson, Independent, Fayetteville, NC

“It’s wonderful see participation from sex workers and people who use drugs. Living in Washington DC it’s easy to get away from that, so it’s important for me to listen and participate and to get involved with people on the ground.”

– Whitney Englander, Harm Reduction Coalition, Washington DC

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*To see conference photos go to the “Southern Harm Reduction and Drug Policy Network” Facebook page

*To check out the podcast on the conference go to the following link: http://harmreduction.org/publication-type/podcast/seventy-nine/

by Leilani Attilio, Intern
North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition

On July 28, 2012, North Carolina  Harm Reduction joined other hepatitis activists on the White House lawn to commemorate World Hepatitis Day with a special focus on Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV).  Hepatitis has reached epidemic proportions around the world, including the United States, but has largely flown under the radar in communities.   Approximately 805,000 to 1.4 million people¹ and 3.2 million people² are infected with HBV and HCV in the United States, respectively. Unfortunately, people who are infected with HCV, which is the leading cause of liver transplants and liver cancer in the United States, may not have any signs or symptoms for decades, making the spread of the disease more pervasive.  In addition, to give a sense to the seriousness of the disease (if the word “cancer” wasn’t enough), deaths due to HCV have surpassed those from HIV/AIDS³.  In an effort to curtail further transmission and deaths, the White House hosted the fifth World Hepatitis Day on August 2 to bring awareness to the threat of the disease across the country.

Featured panelists and speakers at the White House included Congressman Hank Johnson, who spoke about HCV as a person living with the disease; Dr. Howard Koh, the Assistant Secretary for Health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); and Dr. John Ward, Director of the Viral Hepatitis Program at the CDC.  The gathering was a platform to roll out strategy plans, recommendations, and tools for surveillance.  For example, the CDC unveiled an online risk assessment tool for hepatitis.  The brief questionnaire asks various questions such as year of birth and nativity.  At the end of the questionnaire, the assessment tool generates a printable summary and recommendations to discuss with your health care provider.

The North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition is working closely with the North Carolina legislature for the state to adopt recommendations supported by numerous professional medical organizations such as American Medical Association, American Public Health Association, and Institute of Medicine.  These recommendations include syringe decriminalization, which would allow us to conduct syringe exchanges in North Carolina without criminal prosecution.  Injection drug use is a risk factor for HCV due to practices such as sharing needles during injection.   The coalition is looking forward to minimizing the risk of disease for all people and collaborating with other organizations t do this.  We hope you will join the fight.  The first step is to raise awareness. Consider this step checked off.

The North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition is a grantee of AIDS United’s Southern REACH initiative.

References

1. Weinbaum CM, Williams I, Mast EE. Recommendations for identification and public health management of person with chronic hepatitis B virus infection: MMWR 57(RR-8):2;2008.

2. Armstrong GL, Wasley A, Simard EP, McQuillan GM, Kuhnert WL, Alter MJ. The prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in the United States, 1999 through 2002. Ann Intern Med. May 16 2006;144(10):705-714.

3. Ly KN, Xing J, Klevens RM, Jiles RB, Ward JW, Holmberg SD. The increasing burden of mortality from viral hepatitis in the United States between 1999 and 2007. Ann Intern Med. Feb 21 2012;156(4):271-278.

by Maya Wyche, Program Manager
Southern REACH

On May 24, 2012, Women With A Vision (WWAV), a member of our AIDS United and Southern REACH family, fell victim to arson. While the crime is still under investigation, the women who embody and those who look for comfort in and through WWAV, are doing their best to move on through the smoke.  The surrounding community, clients, and peer advocates, as well as national and international partners and supporters have answered their cry for help.  Assistance has varied from heartfelt $1.00 to thousands, such as $5,000 donation from AIDS United, and from the provision of temporary office space within a local church to the potential for donated property.  Although they have come a long way from where they were in the immediate aftermath of the fire, with the slow to start resumption of services, much healing has yet to manifest.

As a woman and fellow New Orleanian, it is disheartening to know that some individuals will go to such lengths to disrupt progress and further marginalize woman of color.  I wish I could say that injustices such as this were rare in the South and specifically New Orleans. However, the marginalized and disenfranchised populations, such as the women serves by WWAV who are facing challenges such as addiction, domestic violence, and most notably all ills resulting from poverty, are all too often victimized. This crime could be perceived as a catalyst for a bleak and hopeless situation – from my viewpoint it is an opportunity for change. Crisis calls attention to serious matters and this fire will be fuel for heightened advocacy, which holds the potential for far reaching, long standing systems changes. Let us continue to stand with WWAV and most importantly the women encouraged by and dependent upon their powerful advocacy and nurturing assistance.

Stay updated with the work of WWAV by clicking the links below:

“My First Day” by Shaun King

“For All that We Have Won, For the Future We Will Make” by Rebecca Gibson

“Making Jewelry, Making Change”

Story from local news outlet on the WWAV arson

By Butch McKay, Executive Director, Okaloosa AIDS Support & Informational Services (OASIS)

As a Southern REACH Grantee of AIDS United, Okaloosa AIDS Support & Informational Services (OASIS) is proud to announce that the Florida Legislature approved a $2.5 million dollar increase in general revenue funds for the Florida AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP).  Through our Activate! U Advocacy Academy program, OASIS played an active role in mobilizing the community around this legislation.

A little over a year ago Florida led the nation in the number of people living with HIV/AIDS on a waiting list for ADAP, with 4,000 plus people representing over 50% of the US total.  To reduce that number, the Florida HIV/AIDS Bureau proposed lowering the eligibility requirement for ADAP from 400% of the Federal Poverty Level to 200%.

The first goal Activate! U tackled was to organize consumers to attend and speak out at four statewide hearings held by the Florida Department of Heath around the proposal.  We had trained over 1400 advocates through our grassroots advocacy training and reached out to them all.  More than 1100 people attended four regional hearings, one of the largest gatherings ever for a public hearing around an HIV issue. The majority of them were graduates of our training and, for many of them, this was their first time to speak publicly. Their message was heard and the HIV/AIDS Bureau did not recommend changing the income level for ADAP eligibility.

We next joined forces with the Florida HIV/AIDS Advocacy Network (a statewide advocacy network that receives guidance and support from The AIDS Institute) to develop strategies to increase funding for ADAP in Florida. Through emails, letters, social media, and legislative visits we generated support for the Senate budget subcommittee Chair Joe Negron’s proposal to increase ADAP funding from general revenue funds dedicated to HIV care by $5 million.  We asked our constituents to write thank you letters to Senator Negron and we called on them to ask his counterpart in the House, Representative Matt Hudson, to match the Senate proposal in the House budget. Through the efforts of the advocates, the House, which originally had no increase in their budget, proposed a $2.5 million increase which the Senate accepted and the measure passed. We followed up with a campaign directed toward Governor Rick Scott to not apply a line item veto of the ADAP increase in the budget. This effort proved successful and the increase was approved.

Our next project is to inform consumers on the changes occurring due to Florida Medicaid Reform. There will be public hearings in June that for which we will encourage community participation, and, when Medicaid Managed Care is approved, we will educate consumers on the importance of open enrollment and providing information on the different available plans.

Activate! U has enjoyed three years of success. It is our vision to teach HIV consumers and their allies how to effectively advocate for themselves and to provide them with detailed talking points related to critical legislative issues that impact HIV care, treatment and prevention. We help people find and use their voice.  We work toward living in world without AIDS.  The success of our efforts has been enhanced with the support of AIDS United and the Ford Foundation through the Southern REACH Program.

When we conduct interviews, we ask our interviewees to answer our questions as if they are talking to an individual who has just been newly diagnosed.  As a result, we hear suggestive, honest, nostalgic, and regretful commentary. One of our goals for this project is for newly-diagnosed individuals who may see it to begin to feel like they have a community they can turn to.  As human beings, a sense of community is something we naturally long for. When a stranger who has been positive for twenty-some years is telling you that life will be okay, the message becomes not only powerful, but intimate.

Team Carolina has conducted over ten interviews and the footage is truly inspiring. We have traveled from Charlotte to Greensboro to Fayetteville, while also recording anecdotes within the Triangle Area of North Carolina as well. Once interviews are completed, the editing process will begin. Our goal: one short public service announcement, one long(er) informational piece, and several commercial-length videos. It would be a dream if AIDS service organizations across the country could use the footage as an avenue to reach newly diagnosed people in their area. To launch the finished project, we plan on having a screening party with other local AmeriCorps teams, several AIDS Service Organizations, and the local community and media.

All of this could not have been possible without the assistance from AIDS United, and the University of North Carolina Center for AIDS Research. They have enabled us to maximize our resources in order to cover the various facets of this production.

On Wednesday, March 21^st, 2012, North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition (NCHRC) organized local clergy, law enforcement, diabetics, people of transgender experience, lawyers and drug users from around North Carolina to particpate in the National Day of Action on Syringe Exchange. Congress recently reinstated the ban on federal funding for syringe exchange programs (SEPs).  SEPs provide sterile syringes and collect used syringes to reduce transmission of viral hepatitis, HIV, and other bloodborne infections associated with reuse of contaminated injection equipment by drug users and diabetics.  Most SEPs are part of a comprehensive health promotion effort that includes HIV & hepatitis testing, education on reducing sexual and drug use-related health risks, and referrals to drug treatment & other medical and social services. Republicans in the House were successful in reversing policy on syringe exchange through FY 2012 Appropriations in December 2011. They re-imposed a complete ban on the use of federal funding for SEPs despite overwhelming scientific evidence showing decreased HIV, viral hepatitis and drug abuse among SEP participants, not only improving public health but also saving tax payers millions of dollars.

On March 21^st NCHRC organized three actions: a mass letter writing campaign, a phone bank and a meeting with Senator Hagan’s office in Raleigh, NC.  We asked Senator Hagan to be our champion on this public health issue and to commit to the following actions:

1. Ensure negotiations restore Congress’ FY 2010 syringe exchange language for both the federal and Washington, DC jurisdictions in FY 2012 appropriations legislation.
2. Include language from FY 2010 on syringe exchange in the programmatic appropriations request letters due March 29^th.
3. Release a statement in support of restoring federal funding for syringe access programs.
4. Encourage the North Carolina legislature and governor to decriminalize syringes and/or legalize syringe exchange.

Sen. Hagan’s office personnel gave us an indication of support, but promised to run the issue by Senator Hagan for a definitive answer on her position. At our meeting in Raleigh with Hagan’s office, we brought together advocates from various backgrounds to discuss the issue during our 30 minute meeting. As Executive Director, I covered an overview of SEPs and the history of federal funding while Ronald Martin (one of NCHRC’s law enforcement consultants with over 20 years of law enforcement experience) explained why law enforcement benefit from SEPs.  He stated, “Why would we not want syringe exchange? Research has shown a 66% reduction in law enforcement needlesticks in communities where SEPs exist. One out of three law enforcement can expect a needlestick in their career and I support any measure to reduce harm against our officers.” Reverends Jenna and Andy outline the moral imperative for life-saving SEPs, and our diabetic and transgender allies discussed the need for syringe access among these populations. To round out the meeting, Lucas Vrbsky from the NC Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers discussed the social justice benefits of federal funding for SEPs, Lisa Hazirjian from the NC AIDS Action Network demonstrated the financial benefits of SEPs as well as HIV prevalence among injection drug users, Faina Shalts (from Harvard’s SHARP crew) explained SEPs’ public health benefits and Tessie Castillo (NCHRC’s Harm Reduction Coordinator) completed the ask.

We would like to thank our allies and NC coalition members from Wilmington to Franklin who made this day a success and allowed us to put a southern stamp of support on this national issue.  Even though NC does not have legal syringe exchange, we support federal funding for syringe exchange because if the federal government shows support by allocating federal dollars for SEPs, it assists us in making the case for southern states to adopt these measures as well.   NCHRC hopes to see the US Senate, especially our representative Kay Hagan, champion this issue and send the message that our state supports an initiative that would improve NC and the nation’s public health and safety.

North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition is a grantee of AIDS United’s Southern REACH initiative

Recently I and my colleague Deon Haywood, Executive Director of Women with a Vision (WWAV) were invited to present at the Global Commission on HIV and the Law, sponsored by the United Nations Development Program, which is one of the cosponsors of UNAIDS, on September 16th and 17th, 2011.

The Global Commission on HIV and the Law interrogated the relationship between legal responses, human rights and HIV. The Commission also focused on some of the most challenging legal and human rights issues in the context of HIV, including criminalization of HIV transmission, behaviors and practices such as drug use, sex work, same-sex sexual relations, and issues of prisoners, migrants, children’s rights, violence against women and access to treatment. The Global Commission on HIV and the Law is developing actionable, evidence-informed and human rights-based recommendations for effective HIV responses that protect and promote the human rights of people living with and most vulnerable to HIV.

According to UNDP HIV Practice Director Jeffrey O’Malley, “The law and its application can have an impact on the lives of people, especially those who are marginalized and disempowered. The law is a powerful instrument to challenge stigma, promote public health, and protect human rights. We know that the laws and policies of High Income countries also affect developing countries. We have much to learn from the positive and negative experiences in high income countries on the interactions between the law, legislative reform, law enforcement practices, and public health responses.”

My presentation focused on how drug paraphernalia laws in North Carolina lead to the spread of HIV, hepatitis, sex work, incarceration and poverty.  Deon presented on the negative effects of the Louisiana Prison Industrial Complex, as well as how negative laws against sex workers lead to the spread of HIV.  Both NCHRC and WWV were mentioned in the final testimony by UNDP HIV Practice Director & UNAIDS Representative Jeffrey O’Malley for their fine work in the face of adversity.  The members of the group were deeply touched by NCHRC’s & WWV’s testimonies and were saddened on hear about the lack of services and legal barriers against the people most vulnerable to HIV infection in the South.  Also attending the meeting was Congresswomen Barbara Lee, Congressman Jim McDermott, members of the UN, members of the Danish, Austrian, German & Canadian Parliament and many other HIV experts.

Responding on behalf of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D) of Oakland, a Commissioner stated “the effectiveness of the global HIV response will depend not just on the scale up of HIV prevention, treatment and care, but on whether the legal and social environment support or hinder programs for those who are most vulnerable. This requires bold and effective legal and policy measures to reach out to vulnerable communities and individuals at risk. The Bipartisan Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, which I co-chair will deal with these very issues.”

For more info on the commission go to:
http://www.hivlawcommission.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64&Itemid=70&lang=en

On September 8^th and 9^th, 2011, around 200 people from all corners of the South converged in Durham, NC for the first conference to discuss issues surrounding drug use, sex work and harm reduction in their communities. The attendees represented many groups including representatives of the military, law enforcement, Republicans and Democrats the North Carolina House of Representatives, outreach workers, health professionals, academics, sex workers, people of transgender experience and drug users. The conference kicked off with a blessing from Rev Dr. Tamsey Philips Hill, a chaplain at Duke University Hospital and a staff member of Partners in Care of the Carolinas. Deon Haywood of New Orleans’ Women with a Vision and Robert Childs of the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition led an overview of the conference.

Rep. Verla Insko (D-56) touched upon her experience as a health program administrator at the University of North Carolina as she spoke about the need for more harm reduction practices in North Carolina and throughout the South. Rep. Glen Bradley (R-49), an admirer of Fredrick Douglass’ vision of the Constitution, then spoke about the need for political advocacy for syringe decriminalization and the lack of effectiveness of the war on drugs. Daniel Raymond, the Policy Director of the Harm Reduction Coalition, then gave an eloquent overview of harm reduction. Daniel spoke about those that touted the idea “if they [drug users] don’t want to get HIV, it’s just that simple – stop using drugs.” Noting their ignorance of drug use, he pointed out the true meaning: “If you are using drugs, you’re life isn’t worth saving.” Harm reduction, in effect, shows people, “[r]ight here, right now, your life is worth saving.”

Several testimonials followed. Perry Parks, a Vietnam War veteran, recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, and current President of the North Carolina Cannabis Patients’ Network, recounted his experiences with chronic pain and pain management through the use of cannabis, and his subsequent loss of his hard-won military reputation. Bob Scott, a former captain of the Macon County Sherriff’s Office in Franklin, NC, described his experiences with the war on drugs in rural North Carolina. Patrick Packer of the Southern AIDS Coalition, testified to the lack of attention and services given to Southerners living with HIV/AIDS. Leigh Maddox, a retired captain of the Maryland State Police and current Special Assistant State’s Attorney for the State of Maryland, gave a deeply personal testimonial on how her own personal and professional losses to the war on drugs fueled her advocacy to view substance abuse as a health problem and her anti-prohibition stance. In addition, Human Rights Watch released an in-depth report on the status of human rights and HIV in the Southern United States, which will be released on their website soon.

Video of the opening session of the conference can be found here, compliments of Richard Cassidy.

This provided an inspiring platform for the rest of conference. The panels ranged from building alliances with law enforcement and faith-based communities to fundraising and program implementation to the rising use of crack cocaine and prescription drugs in the South. Prof. Sam MacMaster of the University of Tennessee’s College of Social Work highlighted the high prevalence of crack cocaine use in the South and how it intersects with HIV/AIDS. The conference provided, not just a learning experience, but also as a place to meet others in the South that are working on the same issues. Many participants are from organizations that are not based in the hubs of Atlanta, New Orleans, Durham or DC and often do not meet others in the field. As one participant pointed out, “Finally, I do not feel alone.”

by Robert BB Childs, MPH
Executive Director
North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition (NCHRC)

North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition (NCHRC) has been able to advocate for syringe decriminalization and the legalization of syringe exchange programs thanks to grants from AIDS United. NCHRC is North Carolina’s only comprehensive harm reduction program.  NCHRC engages in grassroots advocacy, resource development, coalition building and direct services for those made vulnerable by drug use, sex work, overdose, immigration status, gender, STIs, HIV and hepatitis.

In solidarity with law enforcement and Injection Drug Users (IDUs), NCHRC has been advocating for saner syringe access laws.  North Carolina has an estimated 25,000-50,000 IDUs, restrictive syringe access laws and no legal Syringe Exchange Programs; this has contributed to over 35,000 HIV infections and over 150,000 hepatitis C infections due to syringe and injection equipment sharing.

Though NC boasts 5 underground syringe exchange programs spread throughout the state in the Triangle, Winston Salem, Carrboro, Greensboro and Asheville, they cannot come close to meeting the population’s needs due to legal and financial barriers. Unfortunately for NC, this has led to “one in three” law enforcement officers receiving accidental needle-sticks over their careers. In NC, it is illegal to carry syringes or injection equipment to inject drugs, therefore users share equipment and do not inform law enforcement if they are carrying equipment.  This leaves law enforcement prone to needlesticks when they perform mandatory pat downs by accidentally touching the syringe tips. Complicating matters, law enforcement are not given needlestick resistant gloves as standard issue due to budget cuts, thus they have no protection from needlesticks.  When injured by the needle, they may have to receive expensive post exposure prophylaxis, which leads to sick time, a loss of income to the department , loss of labor and possible HIV and hepatitis infection to the officer.

Twenty-eight percent of NC law enforcement will receive multiple sticks over their career, which recently happened to an officer in Kannapolis, NC. In response to this health concern, some law enforcement have joined NCHRC’s syringe decriminalization advocacy movement, due to the overwhelming evidence that syringe decriminalization, which allows for syringe exchange programs, decreases needlesticks by 66%.  Law enforcement are sick of being exposed to needlesticks and thus are joining NCHRC in its advocacy to efforts to fight in union for change.  Recently the former Sheriff of Macon County came out in support of our cause, as well as officers from the Charlotte, Concord, Franklin and Winston Salem areas.  NCHRC was able to connect with multiple law enforcement by leading trainings for crisis intervention team officers on working with injection drug users and responding to drug overdoses, by contacting sympathetic officers referred by Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) and by directly approaching law enforcement members and trainers.

On April 13^th, 2011, NCHRC will bring law enforcement, injection drug users, farm workers who inject vitamins and antibiotics, transgender people who inject hormones, concerned citizens and public health officials, in union with our colleagues at the NC AIDS Action Network to unify for saner syringe and HIV policies in North Carolina.  We will unify as one at the legislature to call North Carolina to liberate itself from unhealthy policies.

We’ll be there and we hope that you too will join in solidarity with us.

Day two of the Southern REACH convening allowed us the opportunity to work in smaller groups to share information on issues and activities that support HIV/AIDS advocacy in our region.  My friend and colleague Dazon Dixon Diallo of SisterLove summed up the goal of our work when she reminded us that it’s important to speak from one page as a region and realize how each group’s work support our collective goals.

As someone who has worked on HIV advocacy in the south for more than 20 years, it’s always refreshing to hear how others are approaching this work.  Groups broke out to create broad strategies that address the intersection of issues such as Reproductive Justice, Housing, Human Rights, PWLHA Organizing, coordinating Legislative Advocacy Days and promoting Harm Reduction.

My agency looks primarily at how issues of importance to Georgia’s LGBT community intersect with the issues of people living with HIV/AIDS.  Although the topic of Harm Reduction is usually seen as a domain defined exclusively by injection drug users, as the discussion unfolded, we realized that many groups of people such as diabetics and public safety officials can benefit from syringe access programs.  We even identified uninsured transgender individuals as a group who may benefit from these programs if they are forced to share syringes for hormone injections.  Clearly the work that may at first only support one group actually serves to help many others.

In the afternoon we looked at the how Strategic Communications can advance our cause.  The highlight of this panel was an in-depth look at the Kaiser Family Foundation’s national campaign: We are Greater than AIDS.  This innovative program leverages some of the best talents in the marketing and communications world to bring the issue of the domestic HIV epidemic to a public that has begun to forget that AIDS is still a plague on many of our communities. It’s an excellent example of how we can all benefit when multiple sectors find ways to work together and share our talents towards creating a world where HIV infections are rare and all people living with HIV/AIDS are treated with dignity and respect.