The Reckoning

There is a reckoning coming to America about its legacy of racism. However, it is not limited to the police. This reckoning is about the systemic racism that impacts all facets of society, including the HIV movement. Unfortunately, HIV disproportionately impacts people of color, people with trans experience, black women, and gay men. How do we build an antiracist HIV movement that is committed to Black Lives Matter?

This weekend I joined thousands of people who protested on the streets of DC. Walking with my mask, I was amazed at the diversity. Families of all races, all genders, and all sexual orientations came together in a peaceful protest. It was actually more like a celebration. People were dancing, drumming, singing, and chanting. There were no leaders, just concerned citizens who felt compelled to make their voices heard, even in the middle of COVID-19. I heard one father explain to his child that they were there to witness history and to fight to make the world a better place.

I just so happened to arrive when DC Mayor Muriel Bowser stepped on to Black Lives Matter Plaza. It was an honor to see her amazing protest art in front of the White House. Her leadership as a Black woman at this critical moment added to the peaceful and celebratory nature of the protests. She was a rock star and I honor her vision, strength, and courage to step up and be heard. I also loved that her mask matched her t-shirt.

The HIV movement, like the rest of the world, has some serious soul searching to do. What does it mean for us to be an antiracist movement that is committed to Black Lives Matter? This is the challenge not only for community-based organizations, but also for health departments, health centers, national organizations, and federal agencies. We want to end the HIV epidemic that is overwhelmingly impacting people of color, yet so many of the top leadership positions are held by White people. I’m not saying fire all the White people, but I am asking leadership to work to end racism and to stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter.

Fifty-seven jurisdictions are about to implement plans to end the epidemic in their regions. Will the plans address the racial dynamic that impacts HIV prevention, care, treatment, and wrap around services? White privilege is thinking you know the answers for communities that you cannot even begin to understand. This is not to say that all white people are racist; however, the reckoning is about all white people and the role they play in fighting or perpetuating racist systems. Only white people can end racism because all of the systems and power are built and maintained upon their privilege.

 

 

 

 

 

 

That is the double edged sword: why would anyone want to dismantle systems that are set-up to benefit them? Maybe because those systems are wrong. Just ask the family and loved ones of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Christian Cooper, Dustin Parker, Neulisa Luciano Ruiz, Vampi Mendez Arocho, Monika Diamond, Lexi, Johanna Metzger, Serena Angelique Velazquez Ramos, Layla Pelaez Sanchez, Penelope Diaz Ramirez, Nina Pop, Helle Jae O’Regan, or Tony McDade.

The world is on fire. Ask yourself: are you the gasoline or the water? Thank you for your declarations of support, but that is just the first step. Now the real work begins. I challenge health departments, community-based organizations, health centers, national organizations, and federal agencies to create and implement strategic plans to make their institutions antiracist.

One important step, especially during these difficult financial times, is to hire people of color, people of trans experience, Black women, and gay men. Our movement is about to experience the largest influx of new funding in the last two decades. Thousands of new people will be hired to carry out the various programs to end the HIV epidemic. Hire people who live in and are part of the communities our work hopes to reach. Employment is a critical social determinant of health and an important step towards racial justice.

Talk to me in two weeks, after I find out if I got COVID-19. This was a very personal decision and definitely not the right one for most people, especially people who are immune compromised. I support everyone’s right to protest or stay home and understand both sides equally. NMAC is proud to lead with race to end the HIV epidemic.

Yours in the struggle,

 

 

 

 

Rest in Power, Dr. Simmons

Relentless. Innovative. Effective. Passionate. Caring. Visionary. Focused.

These are just a few words that instantly come to mind when thinking about the one Doctor I. Ronald Simmons, a committed strong Black gay man who changed our world not by singular leadership but by inspiring us into collective action and taking responsibility for one other’s wellbeing. Dr. Simmons dedicated his life to ensuring the Black LGBTQ+ community saw its own value and celebrated all the beauty it held. He made sure that Black gay men understood their power and how to channel that power into improved behavioral health which would be the key to our survival against all odds including HIV.

When Ron transitioned last week, we lost one of our greatest heroes ever to lead the HIV movement. He made an indelible mark. As an educator, he taught us about the historical legacy of African LGBTQ+ people as integral leaders within their communities. As an advocate, Dr. Simmons reminded us to view the world with our whole selves by not solely focusing on Black-only or LGBTQ-only issues. As a leader, Ron encouraged us to find a way to support each other against all odds.

As a famed member of the Black gay movement, Ron led by example by unapologetically uplifting the Black gay male experience. He would never tolerate nor was he ever drawn to the White Boys-Only Club of the Gay movement nor the heterosexist-leaning Black Liberation movement. He, therefore, brought his energy and talents to invest in the lives of Black gays and lesbians. Dr. Simmons refused to allow HIV to erase the legacies of LGBTQ+ Americans of the African Diaspora. Our society works overtime to silence Black gay men and not recognize our outsized contribution to the American experience. Naturally, Ron came to eventually lead the storied Black gay AIDS organization based in Washington, D.C. known as Us Helping Us or UHU.

UHU had one purpose: to give Black gay men hope to survive and ultimately thrive by overcoming health challenges, e.g., HIV, through a vision of inclusiveness. His leadership helped people improve their health outcomes. Ron legacy has not only enhanced the lives of individuals impacted by HIV, but entire organizations with the goal of reducing the impact of HIV. To be clear, the Black gay men at NMAC honor the road that he cleared for us to support our community. Charles Shazor, Jr. is a shining example. He shared, “Ron led by example displaying how to effectively create, demand, and implement structural change to positively impact the lives of gay Black men living with HIV…coming from a background of substance use and sex work, he allowed me to get my career started working in HIV leadership.”

As Black gay men, opportunities for growth are limited. Addressing the constant barrage of racism and homophobia can be overwhelming. There are too few people like Ron in this world. NMAC’s Anthony Anderson opined, “I met Ron while searching for my identity as a youth living with HIV and as a new member of the Black DC gay community. He educated me on his experiences living and working during the AIDS epidemic and sewed into my life in ways he will never know.” Our Terrell Parker concurred: Dr. Simmons took any opportunity to pour into you or enlighten you. He was not a man who was afraid to challenge you. His challenges were meant to help you grow, to expand your mind, to be a better servant in this work.”

Thanks in large part to Dr. Ron Simmons, our collective movement has become the gold standard for so many other initiatives for one reason and one reason alone: our movement harnesses the collective work of not just those of us here today, but also those who have come before us. Anthony concluded with a message for all of us who knew and loved Ron. “While we are all deeply saddened, his legacy is a reminder of all the work that has been done and the work that still needs to be done. Ron left us a vision and it is going to take all of us to make it come alive. That is the best way to memorialize a man like Ronald Simmons.”

–UJIMA—

Ace Robinson, MHL, MPH
NMAC
Ace Robinson

 

 

 

 

 

We Can’t…

BREATHE | JOG | WALK | SHOP | DRIVE | STUDY | SLEEP | FIGHT | KNEEL

The list goes on…

It’s 2am. Another Black family has been torn apart. Another Black person must go and identify the body of someone that they love. Another Black child has tears falling uncontrollably to the ground. Another Black man sits in the corner too unnerved to move.

Twelve hours earlier. That same Black family is still whole. That same Black person is hugging on the person that they love. That same Black child was laughing and giggling. The same Black man sits in the corner too unnerved to move.

This is America. Black children are being taught to prepare for a covert war that they have no desire to wage. Black children are being taught that their schools are not as good. Black children are being taught that they must be thrice as good to have half as much. Black children are love.

My country. Black women have been overlooked. Black women have been left to pick up the pieces of fragmented families. Black women must work 19 months to be paid what the average White man makes annually. Black women are magic.

‘Tis of Thee. Black men have been beaten. Black men have been tortured. Black men must accommodate and smile in the face of the exact people who do not care if they survive. Black men must navigate constant threats to their existence since they are constantly seen as a threat. Black men are beautiful.

If you are reading this newsletter, you are directly impacted by HIV. You care deeply about doing whatever it takes to see an end to this epidemic. You came to this life’s work from a different origin, reasoning, and skill set from the person next to you. In this field, you learned that every voice is valued. You learned that all of us matter in decision-making. And you also learned that not all people and communities are equally impacted.

Black people make up nearly half of the PLHIV community. And we make up over half of the HIV-related deaths. We know that this reality did not happen by chance. It happened by design. HIV is today and has always been an opportunistic disease. It has always found a way to harm the communities with the smallest voices and the least resources.

HIV knows how to find the people who are most hungry. HIV can sniff out those who are least stably housed. HIV can track those people who barely have access to jobs and healthcare. And clearly, HIV has a predator’s eye on those people who are most abused.

People who look like, love like, and live like #GeorgeFloyd, #NinaPop, #AhmaudArbery, #BreonnaTaylor, #TonyMcDade, #SandraBland, #LaquanMcDonald, #EricGarner, #MyaHall, #LaquanMcDonald, #You, and #Me are first on HIV’s predatory list. What have we learned in the nearly 40 years of struggling against HIV? Our legacies of love will live on. Our families will fight for all that we were meant to be.

Although Black people have a paucity of access to healthcare education, healthcare services, and culturally responsive care, we must overcome the steepest hills to live long and healthy lives. Currently, the COVID-19 pandemic has once again raised the alarm outside of our communities to our unmet and actively precluded needs. COVID-19 in the USA is a clear case of the haves and the have nots.

Life-saving information and needed access to care came late and hardly at all to the Black community. And the spokespersons who brought those messages do not look like nor live in the communities most burdened.

At NMAC, we Lead with Race. We know first-hand what happens when entire populations are overlooked. They must advocate, organize, beg, plead, and take action to demand access to the inalienable right of life. And in far too many cases, that does not happen then they are blamed and demonized.

For the past week, many parts of America have literally burned to the ground due to the inaction of our leaders to support people most in-need. That is not acceptable. Just as we demand more from each other, we must demand more from them. There will be no justice as long as it is just us.

One day, each and every one of us who reads this will be gone. We will be the ancestors. Our question is: Will people pay homage to the work that we did to ensure that those of greatest need had all that was available to thrive? Or will we be the example of the what not to do to bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice.

It’s our choice. I hope we choose life.

Onward. Together.

#BlackLivesMatter

Ace Robinson
Director of Strategic Partnerships

Ace Robinson

 

 

 

 

 

My Love Affair with Larry Kramer

– By Paul Kawata

Like many people in our movement, I had a love/hate relationship with Larry. I loved him and he hated me. To me, it was a badge of honor that Larry hated me because it was his seminal piece in the New York Native that changed the course of my life.

If this article doesn’t scare the shit out of you, we’re in real trouble. If this article doesn’t rouse you to anger, fury, rage, and action, gay men may have no future on this earth. Our continued existence depends on just how angry you can get.
— Larry Kramer, New York Native Issue 59, March 14-27, 1983

Larry’s calls to arms got me to Richard Dunne the then executive director of the Gay Men’s Health Crisis. Richard brought me to Washington where I have lived and fought against AIDS for the last 35-plus years.

Larry Takes Over NMAC’s First Sit Down Dinner
In 1993, NMAC held its first sit-down dinner/fundraiser in the Library of Congress called Our Place at The Table. It was a glamorous affair by NMAC’s standards. We honored the new Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala and celebrated the election of President Bill Clinton. There were waiters who passed hors d’oeuvres and a three course sit down dinner that would end with a speech by the new Secretary. About a week before the dinner I get a call from Larry who is screaming “how dare we honor Shalala. She has done nothing to help our community.”

To be honest, it was both exciting and scary to get a call from Larry. Here was the man who changed the course of my life telling me to un-invite the Secretary. At the time, I did not believe he would come to DC to take over the dinner. Little did I know…

Not only would Larry attend and shout down the Secretary, but she would not speak to me for the next two years! People wonder why I am so open to protests at USCHA. It’s because of Larry. We both understood the important roles we had to play in the drama to end the epidemic. Larry’s job was to make politicians uncomfortable, and my job was to negotiate in the aftermath.

Larry Gets Cut from Opening Plenary of the United States Conference on AIDS
In 2018, Larry was going to keynote the Opening Plenary at USCA in Orlando. Unfortunately, his health was failing. As a result, he said he would send a video message. Two days before the conference was to start, I get this 60-minute video from him. The plenary was already too long, so I decided to play the first 20 minutes.

When I tell Larry, I get a two-word email back from him “fuck you.” What do you do when your hero sends you a two-word message? I apologized and played the entire video at the closing plenary.

Like so many heroes, I’m not sure if I loved the man or the mythology of him. All I know is that his writings changed the course of my life. I was going to be a dentist. Instead I became an AIDS activist. Larry taught me that no one was going to give you power; you had to take it. I’ve spent the rest of my life taking back power, particularly power from the white straight men of Congress.

$10+ Billion to Health Departments

As part of the recent Covid Relief package, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will distribute $10.25 billion to state, local, and territorial health departments to detect, respond, and prevent Covid-19. Here is the amount that your state, city/county (5), territory, or tribal nation will be awarded. The money goes to departments of epidemiology for key resources, contact tracing, infection prevention & control, surveillance & data analytics, and staff.

Register here for the May 28th Webinar at 1 PM (Eastern)/10 AM (Pacific).
My guests this week to brief us on this program are:

David Harvey      Stephen Lee, MD
NCSD                  NASTAD

NMAC is concerned that given the silo nature of some health departments, money to departments of epidemiology will not reach HIV, STD, or Hepatitis programs, yet we are the programs that have the longest history and an existing infrastructure for testing that is so critical to the Covid-19 work. Is the HIV community ready and willing to expand its testing and screening programs to include Covid-19? Are STD programs ready to do Covid-19 contact tracing?

The state of California will get over $600 million in new funding, Puerto Rico gets over $83 million, and tribal awards are over $200 million. Plans from the epidemiologist for this funding are due May 30th.  Why should health departments reinvent the wheel, when the HIV, STD, and Hepatitis programs have decades of experience? Working with community-based organizations, they can reach the communities that are hardest hit by HIV and Covid-19, communities of color.

Yours in the struggle,
Paul Kawata

Legal Liability When Re-opening Your HIV Workplace

Everyone wants their workplace to be safe for clients and staff. COVID-19 has created a new set of questions about the legal liability nonprofits face as states begin to reopen. Click here to review a memo from Trister, Ross, Schadler & Gold about potential liability issues that you might need to address when re-opening our office. Thank you, Mara Keisling, (National Center for Transgender Equality) for sharing this information. Each state will have different rules. There is no one size fits all solution. Agencies should consult with your legal counsel when making determinations for your workplace.

Understanding when and how to re-open is particularly challenging for HIV organizations. Our clients and/or staff could be immune compromised. Not everyone can achieve an undetectable viral load. As the data has shown, people of color are particularly hard hit by both HIV and COVID-19. Please join me for my first Instagram Live conversation with thebodydotcom on Thursday, May 21 at 2 PM (eastern) where I will talk about legal liability for the HIV workplace. I am not an expert on this topic, but these are some of the concerns I face when trying to figure out solutions for NMAC. Thank you, Charles Sanchez, for inviting me to your show.

NMAC’s Weekly Webinar in Spanish
Due to the overwhelming response to our webinar on immigration, NMAC will host another webinar on this topic, but in Spanish. Join us on Thursday, May 21, at 1 PM (Eastern). Register here to join this important session.

Experiencias de inmigración durante COVID-19:
Barreras y facilitadores hacia el cuidado de la salud

Resumen
Existen innumerables barreras que impiden a las personas inmigrantes acceder a recursos que les permitan subsistir. Una de ellas es la barrera del lenguaje. Como un ejercicio de justicia lingüística, hemos diseñado este webinar completamente en español. En él estaremos hablando sobre las barreras y los facilitadores encontrados por personas inmigrantes al buscar servicios de salud durante la pandemia del COVID-19.

Únete a esta conversación facilitada por Damián Cabrera-Candelaria y Miguel Ángel Díaz-Martínez de NMAC, para conocer sobre recursos disponibles desde quienes se encuentran luchando por el libre acceso a servicios de salud de los inmigrantes.

Panelistas
Alina Duarte, periodista independiente, DC– El racismo institucionalizado perpetúa el que las comunidades de inmigrantes sean mantenidas en el margen. Alina presentará cómo esto ha causado un efecto dispar dentro de la pandemia a la vez que muestra estrategias que han demostrado ser efectivas.

 

José Romero, Latino Commission on AIDS, NC– El peligro de la deportación al momento de buscar servicios es una de las barreras principales que enfrentan las comunidades de inmigrantes en los Estados Unidos. Por esta razón, José Romero hablará sobre cuáles son los derechos de estas poblaciones y qué pueden hacer para continuar con el cuidado de la salud.

 

Anandrea Molina, Organización Latina Trans en Texas, TX– Poblaciones ya desventajadas son puestas en situaciones de riesgo aún mayores en eventos de crisis como los actuales. Por esto, Anandrea expondrá las desigualdades hacia las comunidades trans en el sur de los Estados Unidos y cuáles son las herramientas que tienen para enfrentarlas.

 

Immigration experiences during COVID-19:
Barriers and facilitators towards healthcare access

Summary
Countless barriers prevent immigrants from accessing resources that allow them to thrive, the language barrier being one of them. As an exercise in language justice, we have designed this webinar entirely in Spanish. In it, we will talk about the barriers encountered by immigrants when seeking healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Join this conversation facilitated by Damián Cabrera-Candelaria and Miguel Ángel Díaz-Martínez from NMAC to learn about available resources from those who are fighting for the rights of immigrants to access health services.

Panelists
Alina Duarte, freelance journalist, DC – Institutionalized racism perpetuates keeping immigrant communities on the sidelines. Alina will present how this has caused a disparate effect within the pandemic while showcasing strategies that have proven to be effective.

José Romero, Latino Commission on AIDS, NC – The dangers of deportation while seeking services is one of the main barriers faced by immigrants across the United States. With that in mind, José Romero will speak about what the rights of these populations are and what they can do to access healthcare.

Anandrea Molina, Organización Latina Trans en Texas, TX – Already disadvantaged populations are put at even greater risk in crisis events like the one we are currently living. For this reason, Anandrea will expose what are the inequalities experienced by the trans communities in the south and what tools they have to face them.

Register Here to Attend the Webinar
Thursday, May 21st at 1 PM (Eastern)

Today is National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. As a gay Asian man who has committed his life to ending the HIV epidemic, I live my life at the intersection of stigma, prejudice, and discrimination. I dedicate this newsletter to my friend Kiyoshi Kuromiya. From ACT-UP NY, “Kiyoshi is perhaps best known as the founder of the Critical Path Project, which brought the strategies and theories of his associate/mentor Buckminster Fuller to the struggle against AIDS. The Critical Path newsletter, one of the earliest and most comprehensive sources of HIV treatment information was routinely mailed to thousands of people living with HIV all over the world.” Thank you for your vision and leadership.

Please be safe!

Yours in the struggle,
Paul Kawata

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

 

 

 

 

 

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

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

This week’s NMAC Hangout is with leaders committed to ensuring that funding is stepped up to support the HIV infrastructure during and eventually after the COVID-19 outbreak. NMAC is very worried about what is happening to HIV services. Thursday’s webinar includes the following guests:

Registration (space is limited)

Thursday, April 16th @ 10 AM (Eastern)
Thursday, April 16th @ 2 PM (Eastern)

Elton John Foundation
Gilead

John will give an overview of funding for HIV organizations during COVID-19. He will share some of the resources Funders Concerned About AIDS has developed. He will also discuss his agency’s report on the Philanthropic Support to Address HIV/AIDS in 2019.

Kali and Darwin will talk about their respective organization’s efforts to support the HIV infrastructure during COVID-19. Each organization has rapidly developed funding opportunities for current grantees to help them through these difficult times.

There will be time for questions and answers; however, please don’t ask specific questions about your nonprofit. This is a space for general questions.

For full disclosure, NMAC has been a grantee of both the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Gilead. We are grateful for their support; however, it is important to understand that their contributions do not impact any NMAC policies. NMAC intends to apply for support from Gilead’s COVID-19 initiative, but we are not eligible for the Elton John AIDS Foundation relief program.

Two weeks ago, I put forth a challenge to HIV funders to dramatically increase the financial commitment to supporting our community. Now more than ever, HIV service organizations need their support. Thank you to the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Gilead for stepping up. We hope others will join them.

NMAC will host a webinar for any donor who steps up to help HIV nonprofits during this difficult time. COVID-19 has put all of our futures at risk. When 2020 started, it was all about building plans to end the epidemic. Now it’s about the survival of the HIV infrastructure.

Yours in the struggle,

Paul Kawata