I am Alexander, or Xander for short, a young pansexual Latino man born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. While seeking help with my coming out process, I encountered the field of HIV prevention 8 years ago. I entered the field of HIV prevention as a client, became a volunteer for an Mpowerment project, and soon after obtained my first job working in the field as a health educator.
I currently work for the Risk Reduction Program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles – Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine as a Health Educator for the LIFE project along with my co-star, Matthew Zavala (fellow Youth Scholar). The LIFE project focuses on the sexual health of young gay/bisexual/queer men, ages 18-24. Since my attendance at the United States Conference on AIDS (USCA) 2013 as a Youth Scholar, I have been able to enhance my skills and grow professionally. I am looking forward to coming back and continuing my participation with NMAC’s Youth Initiative to End HIV/AIDS in America. I will be privileged to share all the information, tools, and skills I learn from USCA with our youth group participants and also personal friends and help them apply it in their personal lives. In order to move towards an AIDS-free generation, we must continue having conversations among our peers. As a young person myself, I am committed to do that.
My mom used to say, “hay solución para todo menos para la muerte.” I agree. There’s a solution for everything (even for HIV) but we have to work together as a familia to see the change and achieve an AIDS-free generation!
