It was an evening draped in celebration, excitement and reflection as staff members, supporters, volunteers and donors crowded into the Chicago Cultural Center Nov. 13 for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago ( AFC )'s 29th annual meeting and reception.
When AFC began its mission in 1985, 13-year-old Ryan White was told he could not attend school because he had become infected with HIV/AIDS, the death of actor Rock Hudson fueled the hysterical fires of the mainstream media who set about terrorizing the public into believing that AIDS could be contracted by sitting on the same toilet seat or drinking from the same cup as an infected individual. Evangelist Pat Robertson was raving about the virus "polluting the nation's blood supply" and demanding civil rights for "those of us who do not engage in certain practices."
Then, there were fewer than 16,000 reported cases in the United States. By the end of the '80s, those numbers had increased by 700 percent.
In the fall of 2015, 30 years will have passed for the AFC. What began with a group of four individuals who cut through the chaos with an organized methodology of coordinated care has led to many achievements. Among this year's feats are the support and case management of more than 2,800 people in the state infected with the disease; a partnership with the Chicago Department of Public Health designed to increase knowledge and availability of pre-exposure prophylaxis ( PrEP ); the recruitment of an army of advocates who successfully pushed Springfield to increase HIV/AIDS state funding by $1 million; the AFC's Center for Housing and Health putting a permanent roof over the heads of more than 40 homeless households; and the participation of 3,500 people in the AFC's 2014 AIDS Run & Walk.
The former interim and now permanent president/CEO, John Peller, has his work cut out for him. "I really feel like I have been entrusted with a gem that has to be nurtured, cared for and grown," he told the audience before noting each of the organization's 2014 landmarks and pledging to build upon them.
To that end, Peller announced numerous projects and events to be launched in order to "strengthen communities at risk from HIV."
Two of those projects will focus upon women, be they transgender, of color or those living with HIV. The organization recently received a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) grantthe first in its historyin order to help the AFC and its partners the Chicago Department of Public Health, Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago Public Schools and Planned Parenthood begin Project Elevatean innovative Sexually Transmitted Infection ( STI ) prevention and treatment program targeting young women and transgender women of color.
The second project is a Midwest prevention and pregnancy planning initiative. "Women who are vulnerable to HIV or living with HIV don't get enough information from providers about cutting edge prevention strategies like PrEP and don't learn about options other than male condoms," Peller stated.
Armed with funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the AFC will be partnering with the Pediatric AIDS of Chicago Prevention Initiative and EverThrive, among others, to equip healthcare providers with the information needed to assist people living with HIV with prevention and contraception decisions.
"No matter what a woman's health or HIV status is, she is entitled to state-of-the-art information and services for prevention and safe contraception," Peller said. "We look forward to working with our partners to advance sexual health and reproductive justice for women living with HIV and vulnerable to HIV."
The AFC is also committed to tackling the issue of homeless LGBTQ youth through a housing alliance with the Humboldt Park advocacy organization Vida/SIDA. "We are working to provide a safe housing and case management program for LGBT youth with HIV in Chicago," Peller said. "We recognize the importance of interrupting the cycle of homelessness and ensuring that young LGBT people have access to safe and stable homes."
The project will launch in January.
Peller also revealed some news that the AFC has previously been reticent to talk about publicallyhow the HIV case management system can work most effectively with healthcare reform. "We think we have a winning strategy," Peller said. "We're now in the process of contracting with Medicaid managed care companies to provide coordination for people with HIV and chronic diseases. We have a lot of work to do to find members with HIV, link them to services, educate them about the importance of HIV medications and monitor their care."
Before setting out upon that work, Pelleralongside the staff and board of the AFCtook the occasion to honor those people and organizations who "have made significant contributions in the fight for HIV/AIDS awareness and funding."
Accepting awards to standing ovations were representatives from the Illinois Department of Public Health's Ryan White Part B Program and AIDS Drug Assistance Program as well as longtime AFC supporters Walgreens.
Receiving special recognition was Rev. Doris Greennow retired from the AFC after a 13-year tenurewho accomplished groundbreaking work in helping former prison inmates living with HIV return to society. She also launched a tireless campaign against unjust incarceration policies.
Sidney Thomas received the AFC's Impact Award for over three decades of advocacy and leadership in the HIV and black LGBT communities.
For more information about the AFC's work, please go to www.aidschicago.org/ .