NMAC Applauds Efforts to Address PLHIV in the Next COVID-19 Stimulus Package

May 13, 2020 – NMAC applauds Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and her colleagues for more funding for people living with HIV/AIDS in the Phase IV economic stimulus package currently being considered by the U.S. House of Representatives.

“People living with HIV/AIDS who do not have access to treatment, especially racial/ethnic/sexual/gender minorities, are at a high risk of acquiring COVID-19,” said Joe Huang-Racalto, NMAC’s Director of Government Relations and Public Policy. “Given the uncertain response by the Trump Administration, we applaud Congresswoman Lee and her colleagues for their continued leadership and for ensuring that people living with HIV/AIDS are prioritized as negotiations begin on the Phase IV package,” he said.

“NMAC strongly supports these efforts and we will continue to do everything we can to ensure that adequate funding is provided, not only in the Phase IV package, but in the normal FY21 appropriations process. We urge everyone to call their members of Congress and ask them to support Congresswoman Lee’s request, “ said Huang-Racalto.

A copy of the letter can be seen here.

NMAC leads with race to urgently fight for health equity and racial justice to end the HIV epidemic in America. Since 1987, NMAC has advanced our mission through a variety of programs and services, including: a public policy education program, national and regional training conferences, a treatment and research program, numerous electronic and print materials, and a website: www.nmac.org. NMAC also serves as an association of AIDS service organizations, providing valuable information to community-based organizations, hospitals, clinics, and other groups assisting individuals and families affected by the HIV epidemic.

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Covid-19, Immigration, and HIV – May 7 NMAC Hangout

Damián Cabrera-CandelariaThis week’s webinar is “Intersections Between COVID-19 and Immigration: Challenges and Ways to Fight Them.” It was put together by Damián Cabrera-Candelaria. Damian is a Program Manager at NMAC’s Treatment Division. He started in April after the agency was in lockdown, so he is still in Puerto Rico waiting out COVID-19 to move to DC. I can’t imagine how difficult it is to start a new job during these challenging times. Damián, welcome to NMAC and thank you for understanding these are not typical times and we are all being challenged to do things in new and different ways. As an aside, I want to thank all of NMAC’s staff and all of the workers in our movement who continue to fight to end the HIV epidemic.

Register to Participate
May 7 @ 1 PM (Eastern)/Register

Presenters

Oscar López                                       Ángel Fabián
Poderosos Advocacy,                         Mpact
Training and Services

According to Damián, “In this week’s webinar we will be having a conversation about the challenges of immigrant communities amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this panel, Oscar López and Ángel Fabián will talk about the hurdles they have found in this emergency scenario, how their organizations are challenging them and what people can do to support these communities.”

Giving Tuesday
Today is Giving Tuesday Now, a new global day of giving and unity – in addition to the regularly scheduled Dec 1, 2020 Giving Tuesday – as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. Like all nonprofits and especially those in the HIV movement, NMAC faces challenges for the duration of the pandemic.

I know times are tough for many of us, but, if you are able, I’m asking you to show your support for NMAC’s vital work. Thank you in advance.

Yours in the struggle,

Paul Kawata

 

 

 

 

 

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People Living with HIV Check In Session 1

People Living with HIV Check In Session 2

A Check-In for People Living with HIV and the People Who Love Them

This week’s NMAC Hangout will be taken over by People Living with HIV/AIDS and the People Who Love Them. Working with our Over 50 Living with HIV initiative in partnership with Let’s Kick ASS Palm Springs, the hangout will be a place for peer-to-peer check-ins and sharing tips on how to survive the isolation, loneliness, and depression that happens to many when sheltering in place during COVID-19.

The Hang-out for Thursday, April 30
10 AM (Eastern) Register
2 PM (Eastern) Register
Moises Agosto Rosario
The webinar will be led by two long term survivors, Jax Kelly, the President of Let’s Kick ASS Palm Springs, and Moises Agosto, the Director of Treatment at NMAC. We also be joined by:

  • Simeon Den, Broadway actor, dancer, writer, yogi, long-term survivor, performance artist and star of the “Old Gay/New Gay” podcast on KGAY 106.5 as his alter ego Sue Madre for the 2:00 PM session.

Other speakers are being confirmed.

NMAC believes that peer-to-peer outreach is the best way to reach, support, and educate people living with HIV/AIDS. During these difficult times, our movement has a responsibility to support PLHIV and to be responsive to their challenges.

According to Moises, “the goal of the webinar is to engage in a facilitated discussion about emotional strategies to cope with COVID-19 quarantine. We want to have a brief presentation by a mental health clinician to talk about the intersection between HIV and COVID-19 and how social distancing affects the mental and emotional well-being of PLWH.” Specifics are still being determined. If there is something that needs to be discussed, please email Jax or email Moises.

Just as NMAC believes that people of color are core to reaching other people of color, we also believe that PLHIV are core to reaching other PLHIV. People living with HIV/AIDS, particularly long-term survivors, have a history, experience, and legacy that must be honored and supported. These are difficult times for all of us. I find myself being re-triggered by all the stories about hospital and death. I remember the incredible nurses who were my heroes then and are still today. I have too many posts on Facebook about people who have passed, and I feel helpless. It’s all just a little too familiar.

Honoring Our Lost Community Members

COVID-19, like HIV, is taking too many people too soon.

Ed Shaw
From Roni Minter (from Facebook/edited)

“When I came home in 2005, I was interning at ACRIA. I worked under the great Ed Shaw. At the time he was heading a clinical trial of people over 50 living with HIV/AIDS. I learned so much from him. I’m so sad to learn today that Mr. Shaw has passed. He put up a great fight over these past years with his health. He is a pioneer in the fight for Prevention, Treatment, and quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS. Rest in Power, Mr. Shaw.”

Yours in the struggle,
Paul Kawata
NMAC
Paul Kawata

 

 

 

PPP Round Two Session 1

PPP Round Two Session 2

PPP Round Two

Partner logos: AIDS United, NASTAD, NCSD, NMAC, The AIDS Institute

 

 

This week’s hangout is a collaboration from the Partnership to End HIV, STDs, and Hepatitis working together to provide an update to the PPP and CARES Act. Since it looks like Congress will approve another round of funding, we thought it might be helpful for constituents to speak with our joint lobbying firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck about this initiative.

Register Today
April 23 at 10 AM (Eastern) – Registration
April 23 at 2 PM (Eastern) – Registration

The first round of funding did not go as planned for too many. Will this next round be any better? The Partnership’s lobbyist David H. Reid and his colleague Matthew McKissick will be online to talk about the new round of support and how nonprofits can apply.

We invite everyone to participate and share strategies for success. In full transparency, the Partnership had very mixed results with the first round of PPP funding. NMAC’s bank, Capital One, never got it together to accept applications. The AIDS Institute was approved, and they are waiting for the check. AIDS United applied but has not received final word. NASTAD did not apply.

The Hangouts are a place to check-in and commiserate. They run around 45 minutes, with 20 minutes for the presentation and 25 minutes for questions. We’ve shortened the hangouts because we are all on too many zoom calls. Please be safe during these difficult times.

Yours in the struggle,

        
Jesse Milan                             Stephen Lee
AIDS United                            NASTAD

               
David Harvey                       Paul Kawata                        Michael Ruppal
NCSD                                  NMAC                                  The AIDS Institute

Funders Stepping Up Session 1