LoveNotes – Sept 2002 Issue
| SisterLove, Inc. | LoveNotes | Sept 2002 | ||
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Fall Volunteer Recruitment & Training Kick-Off SisterLove’s phones ring steadily with calls from eager college students looking to volunteer. A sure sign that Fall is quickly approaching! SisterLove is blessed to be on lists, maintained by institutions like Spelman College and Georgia State University, of community-based nonprofits with challenging opportunities for students. Each year, Dr. Victoria Durant-Gonzalez, Director of Spelman’s Office of Community Service, arranges for SisterLove to participate in its Community Service Fair. The Fair is just one of the ways that Spelman helps its students enhance their college experience and establish ties with people and communities beyond its campus. True to its motto, “To Whom Much is Given, Much is Expected”, Spelman’s Office of Community Service provides young women the opportunity to “enlighten, challenge and expand (their) sense of civic consciousness and social responsibility”. Professors Dixon and Livingston of Georgia State University have contributed greatly to the presence of college students among SisterLove’s volunteers. By interning at SisterLove, students are able to apply what they are learning and gain work experience and insight into the concerns and needs of women affected by, and infected with, HIV. A majority of the students who volunteer choose to work within SisterLove’s Healthy Love Prevention Education Program. Their work as Community Outreach Workers and Healthy Love Party Facilitators contributes to the total number of people SisterLove is able to reach each year. Like all new agency volunteers, student volunteers begin their service by attending an orientation and basic HIV/AIDS education workshop. The volunteer orientation and workshop provides an overview of SisterLove’s programs and gives volunteers an opportunity to express their interests and signup for specific projects or activities. The HIV/AIDS education workshop covers the basics about HIV, how it is transmitted and how individuals can protect themselves and those they love. Completion of the orientation and workshop is a requirement for volunteers wishing to perform community outreach. For those wishing to facilitate Healthy Love Parties, completion of the orientation and workshop is the first step toward reaching that goal. SisterLove’s Healthy Love Party, the foundation of its prevention education program, provides women life-altering and life-affirming information about HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases, and safer sex. For over thirteen years, Healthy Love Parties have opened the door to a world of choices and positive decision-making for women all over the world. Healthy Love Parties are informal, interactive, informative and, above all else, FUN! Healthy Love Party Facilitators engage women in discussions and activities to expand their knowledge and their thinking about sex and about threats to their sexual health. The second step toward becoming a Healthy Love Party Facilitator is the completion of a twelve (12) hour Facilitator’s training. This training is typically held over two-days. Two orientation and HIV/AIDS education workshops are scheduled for this month. The first one is specifically for Spelman students and will begin at 6pm on Tuesday, September 10th on Spelman’s campus. The other will be held at SisterLove on Wednesday, September 18th from 6-9pm. To register for the September 18th session call (404-753-7733) or email us at volunteer@sisterlove.org. Additional sessions will be held in October and November. The next Facilitators training will be held on Sept 27th and 28th. So much of what SisterLove is able to accomplish would not be possible without volunteers. Volunteers are one of SisterLove’s most valuable assets. Those interested in volunteering are invited to contact us TODAY! My First Healthy Love Party Nov, 29, 2001. I closed my car door and leaned back in my seat, welcoming the comfort of the headrest. Instinctively, I reached for the ignition with the key in my hand but paused as the weight of the repercussions of my experience froze me in place. I pulled my hand back, dropped the keys in the empty passenger seat and just sat there, absorbing the background silence against my persistent thoughts. I reflected on the Healthy Love Party I had just attended at Emory University’s Cox Hall. The event was facilitated by two volunteers from SisterLove, Inc., LaTonya Russell and Dia Hodnett, roommates and students enrolled in Emory University’s Masters in Public Health program. SisterLove’s Healthy Love Party was developed by SisterLove to provide women basic information about HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, and safer sex. Emory’s Ghamma Ghamma Rho sorority asked SisterLove to host the Party for their members. As we were settling into our seats, I looked over the crowd of close to thirty young adult females and I indeed began to feel their enthusiasm for and curiosity about the evening’s events. I wondered about their futures and of my own. Each one of us had accomplished the first step toward unmasking the potential problems of having “unsafe sex” by selecting a beneficial forum in which to educate ourselves. However, once empowered with the knowledge of “how & why” to protect ourselves, how many of us would claim the victory and make decisions which could induce longevity and fullness of life? The Facilitators’ style underlined the Party’s description, “a casual and social way to spread awareness of HIV”. Their knowledge of the subject matter and their fluid presentation sustained our energy and brought it to an apex. We seemed to press forward in our seats, determined not to miss any of the knowledge being shared. Their ability to interject humor with resonating (resonant) and sobering truths belied the fact that this was LaTonya and Dia’s first time conducting a Healthy Love Party. Apparently, both women agreed at a moments notice to head the event when two other SisterLove volunteers had a last minute scheduling conflict. The ninety-minute Party was organized and engaging. The collage that was laid before us was designed to loosen our inhibitions and encourage us to learn and share about sexuality and sexual behavior. One particular interactive exercise provided insight into how our use of slang for medical or scientific sexual terminology often influences and reflects intrinsic perceptions about gender, sex, and fundamentally, about ourselves and others. The Facilitators gently poked and prodded us to expand our understanding and knowledge with simple and sometimes challenging questions. (:) How is the HIV virus spread? In the U.S. alone, close to half a million people have perished since HIV was first identified. We must believe that the millions of people, worldwide, who have lost their lives due to HIV did not die in vain. We must give honor to their plight and to our own lives by facing this enemy head-on. For the intelligent and responsible person, the appropriate action is seek education and to apply what they have learned. With love as the motivating factor, we must share the truth with our friends, relatives, and especially with the younger generation. Let us all take the responsible position and utilize knowledge to combat the scourge of ignorance that feeds mankind’s worst epidemic. I would like to thank SisterLove and Ghamma Ghamma Rho for the opportunity to share in this enlightening experience. Request a Healthy Love Party for Your Friends or Group. Call (404-753-7733) or Email us at LoveNotes@sisterlove.org Expanding Your Spirit: Let It Fall As we approach the dusk of summer and embark on the season of fall, we will notice the shedding of leaves and flowers; shorter days; longer nights; chilly mornings and lingering dew. With it comes the reality that another year has climaxed and begun its downward spiral. The bipolarness of our being begins to lean towards the depressive phase; because much is falling. Let it fall. Think of autumn as a time to let those things fall off of you that continually weigh you down. When you notice the leaves and flowers shedding, close your eyes and picture all of your old cares and worries drying up and eventually disintegrating. Let the shorter days and longer nights prepare you for peaceful rest that will rejuvenate and invigorate your body, soul and spirit. Allow the chilly mornings to remind you that inside of you lies warmth that radiates outwardly affecting the reality of your world. And, let the lingering dew remind you of the divine presence that feeds and waters your spirit without human intervention. So let the autumn come with all of its falling away. Falling brings freshness, for if it were not for the falling away, we could not be made new. I bid you Peace. Brother Love: Building Intimacy Without Sex Think of it this way. “Nothing earned, is nothing gained,” this statement was thought up by people, long before my time, to simply say you don’t appreciate the things that you are given as much as the things that you earn. “Why can’t I keep a man for more than six months?!” A friend of mine once asked me this and to it I replied, “How far were you in the relationship before the two of you had sex?” “Three weeks” was her answer. Surprisingly many women across Atlanta have the same problem as my friend and would give similar, if not the same answer, to my question. As a male of twenty-one, I’ve indulged in my share of promiscuous behavior, so allow me to be the first to say to those of you who don’t know: a man will not stand on a hill he has conquered but for so long before he moves on to the next conquest. There are so many ways to build intimacy in a relationship without sex. So why is sex such a major As a man, I find it amazing that a woman would give away something so precious to an individual without Ladies keep in mind that this is only directed toward women seeking fulfilling and lasting relationships, REAL MEN appreciate women who say NO much more than those who “give it up”. If a man can’t wait until the time is right, meaning a definite commitment has been made (i.e. wedding ring or better yet actual What Do YOU Think? Email us at LoveNotes@sisterlove.org Men on the Down Low: Three Voices Every now and then we may hear whispers about a male friend, family member, church member or co-worker who is “living on the down low”. Men “on the down low” are self-identified heterosexuals who enjoy having sex with other men. Men on the down low profess to love women and are often married or in committed relationships with a woman. While women may hold their heart, their sexual desire for men is strong enough to pull them into a dual life, one of secrecy, deception and danger. Not the cloak and dagger danger found in Bond movies, but the danger that comes from exposing themselves and the women in their lives to sexually transmitted diseases like HIV. About a year ago, in October, 2001, Essence magazine addressed the issue of Black men who live on the down low. The author cited the statistic that 1 out of every 160 Black women is living with HIV and that of those who contract the virus through heterosexual sex, an unknown number were unknowingly at an increased risk because their partners were secretly having unprotected sex with men. Picture this: Linda and Tyrone are happily married with children. One day their son Tyrone is involved in a car accident while being driven to a pee-wee football game by a family friend. Tyrone senior and Linda rush to the hospital. While their son is being treated in the ER, a nurse suggests that they donate blood. They both readily agree to the minor procedure hoping that their efforts will help save their son or another child. Thankfully, their son is not critically injured. Tyrone and Linda are noticeably relieved by the news but notice that a look of concern remains on the faces of the doctor and nurses treating their son. After Lil’ T is moved to a hospital room for observation, a nurse pulls Tyrone aside to tell him that his blood tested positive for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV. Months pass before Tyrone is able to tell Linda that he is HIV+. Linda listens to the news, not believing what her husband so reluctantly tells her. She is inconsolable. Her marriage, she believed, was a good one. Tyrone is an exemplary Father, a good provider…a good man. She moves through each day as if in a daze, not understanding how this could have happened to her, to her family. Tyrone vehemently denies stepping out with another woman. Linda is angry and confused. How else could this have happened? Repeatedly she accuses Tyrone of messing around, of using drugs — the only ways that she knows he can get such a dreaded disease. Finally, Tyrone admits to “kickin it” with several of his “boys” throughout, and before, their marriage. He assures her that he is not gay, that he loves her and does not want to break up their family. Unfortunately, this scenario isn’t as far-fetched as many would like to believe. According to some, living on the down low is far from rare in the Black community. Some suggest that many Black men choose this road because they are afraid to be identified as gay, knowing that homophobia (a hatred for or prejudice against gays) is openly expressed in our community. Others believe that these men are in denial about their sexuality and refuse to embrace what is their nature. They use their relationships with women to distract them, temporarily, from their desire for men. While both reasons can be true, neither addresses the repercussions of irresponsible sexual behavior; the impact upon Black families, Black children and the overall strength of the Black community. Ultimately, whether Tyrone had a sexual affair with a man or a woman, is not the issue. While Tyrone’s decision to cheat on his wife can cause irreparable damage to his marriage, his decision not to practice safer sex in his liaisons with other men has jeopardized Linda’s life, as well as his own. By now, everyone knows that HIV is not a “gay disease”. But what many still do not appreciate is that HIV can be transmitted during unprotected sex with a woman or with a man, in a seemingly committed relationship or in a casual hook-up. Just as HIV does not target any person, gay or straight, it also does not target those in “casual” or uncommitted sexual relationships. The simple fact is that anyone having unprotected sex, whether oral, vaginal or anal, is at risk of getting or passing the virus. Last year’s Essence article encouraged women to question their potential sexual partner about his sexual history before the relationship turned sexual. It was suggested that questions should not only center around how many women, or men, their man has slept with, but also if he had multiple partners at one period, if he regularly practiced safer sex, and if he has been faithful in past committed relationships. If Linda and Tyrone had discussed their past and current sexual behavior, could the tragedy have been avoided? There are no guarantees. People are known to downplay their sexual history, especially when questions are posed by a potential or current mate. Had Linda asked Tyrone about his sexual history and behavior, is it likely that he would have confessed to sexual encounters with men? In this time of deadly sexually transmitted diseases, every sexually active female must be fully conscious of the risks she may be taking. At the end of the day, very few of us will be able to say that she has lived without ever placing herself at risk. The key, the challenge, is to reduce our risk, to be responsible in our sexual relationships and not to trust others to keep us safe. The only known way to reduce our risk of contracting HIV through sexual activity is to use latex barriers (condoms, dental dams) each and every time we have sex. Yes, it is possible that our man may be living on the down low, sleeping with other women, or “shooting up” now and then. This, we may not know or even suspect. It isn’t fair, and it ain’t easy, but it is our reality. As women, we must protect ourselves, there is no other way around it. ..::..:..::..:..::..:..::..:..::..:..::..:..::..:..::..:..::..:..::..:.. “No More Secrets, NO MORE LIES”: A Video Review I sat astonished as I viewed this powerful 28 minute video tape entitled No More Secrets, No More Lies: Brothers Living Life on the Down Low. J. L. King produces the video, and he has decided to openly talk about the double life that he and other “down low” men have led. This life is not one of infidelity where the brother is having an affair with another woman, but one in which the brother is having sexual liaisons with other men (he may even have a special man on the side). King states that most women are unaware of this secretive life; and after interviewing several sisters, I tend to agree. These down low men are African-American men who don’t consider themselves to be gay or even bisexual, but secretly have sex with other men. Many are in serious relationships with women, and many of the down low men are married with children. According to King, these men do everything that they can, not to expose themselves. They may be among those that gay bash. They say that they detest homosexuals. There are no stereotypical gay mannerisms, and, even secretly, they have no gay friends. They are skilled in making sure that there is nothing in their demeanor that suggests that they are anything but completely heterosexual. He further states that love is not involved with their male sexual partners, that is why these down low men can lead double lives. King says that they love the women that they are in relationship with, but they also love “kickin it” with their dude. I was unable to determine whether or not King still lives life on the down low. There were two points in the film that I feel compelled to bring to your attention. 1). King states that not one of the last 5 women that he has had sex with asked him to wear a condom. He did not state whether or not he did. 2). He speaks of a married friend who contracted HIV from a down low relationship. This friend is a father of a newborn baby, and did not know how to tell his wife. King suggested that since this friend had recently returned from Las Vegas, that he tell his wife that he had been with a prostitute, knowing that eventually she, and the African-American community, would forgive him. King warned that if his friend told his wife the truth, he would be ostracized by his wife and his community. After viewing the video, I felt compelled to immediately educate every sister that I knew. The film was both educational and enlightening. Sisters, ask questions and observe behavior like you’ve never done before, your life may depend on it. ..::..:..::..:..::..:..::..:..::..:..::..:..::..:..::..:..::..:..::..:.. A Few Concerns: Thoughts on the Video “No More Secrets, NO MORE LIES” I am impressed by the frankness of J.L. King’s video about life on the down low. The man doesn’t pull any punches. He puts himself, and his past sexual behavior, out there for all to see and to judge. I respect him for telling the truth and for standing up to those who would accuse him of betraying the Black community, of “airing our dirty laundry”. The video makes it clear that Mr. King knows that lives are at stake and that this fact is more than enough reason to be up-front about sexual relations in our community. While I recommend the video to everyone and to every organization concerned about the spread of HIV, I do have some concerns about a few impressions that were left unchecked. The more serious of these concerns involves comments made by a woman whose husband lived on the down low. She spoke of the challenge of living with him after he contracted HIV. She mentioned how her husband’s diagnoses required her to be careful of certain things, how she had to make sure that there wasn’t a lot of saliva in his mouth before kissing him and how she had to use bleach when cleaning. I am concerned that her statements (I paraphrased) give viewers the impression that HIV can be transmitted through saliva and that it is necessary to use bleach when cleaning if someone in the home is HIV+. The problem is that not everyone knows that eventhough HIV can be detected in an infected person’s saliva, the virus is not, under normal circumstances, present enough in saliva to be transmitted to another person. Regarding the need to use bleach when cleaning, it’s possible that she meant to say that bleach had to be used to clean up spills of bodily fluids, like blood. But we don’t know, and that’s my point. That said, I believe that it was wise of Mr. King to include the woman in his video. It was powerful to hear from a woman who was deceived by her husband and who suffered through his illness and death. I only wish that viewers weren’t left with these impressions and that effort had been made to inform viewers of the ways that HIV is transmitted and the precautions one must take to protect themselves in non-sexual situations. Some might consider my other concern to be subjective. I viewed “No More Secrets, NO MORE LIES” more than once. At each viewing, I cringed when J.L. King shared an analogy meant to distinguish men living on the down low from those who are gay or bi-sexual. The analogy, while effective, referenced stereotypical notions about gay men. In his analogy, King spoke of gay men women may know, gay men who “may do your hair or your nails” (again, I’m paraphrasing). The use of such a common stereotype concerns me not only because it marginalizes gay men, but also because it unnecessarily evokes a stereotype that many find demeaning. Mr. King’s analogy would have been just as, if not more powerful had he not played to attitudes that make it difficult for bi-sexual and gay men to live truthfully and comfortably in the Black community. Inspite of what I’d like to believe are editing oversights, I applaud Mr. King for making the video and for his activism. All things considered, the conversation about the dangers of life on the down low must begin somewhere, and Mr. King’s video is a good starting place. For More Information Online: “No More Secrets, NO MORE LIES!” video : J.L. King : King & King Training: “Black Men Living on the Down Low”: Reprint of Mar 15, 2001 article from USA Today: “The Low Down on Down Low Culture” : Article by Steven G. Fullwood: “AIDS and Black New Yorkers: Homophobia, Racism and Rejection Fuel Rising Injections-Part 2: Black, Gay, At-Risk” : June 2000 Village Voice article by Kai Wright: www.aegis.com/news/vv/2000/Vv000602.html “When Will the Walls Come Tumbling Down?” : Commentary by Randy Boyd of Outsports.com: “The Greatest Taboo: Homosexuality in Black Communities” : Delroy Constantine-Simms. Foreword by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: “A Deadly Taboo – Is homophobia in the black community fanning the flames of HIV infection among African-Americans, the hardest-hit population outside sub-Saharan Africa? ” by Alicia Montgomery: :: A Little Taste of “Heaven” Many health-conscious and sexually active adult women are on the lookout for the best place to shop for safer sex supplies. While many of us stick with our local 24- hour convenience stores, some of us more adventurous types like to explore “alternative” stores. I have to admit, while I’m as progressive and modern as the next gal, I usually stick with my local Wal-Mart for my prophylactics (aka condoms). Nonetheless, recently I found myself in a local adult fantasy store with a friend. I have to admit…it was fun! And it was even more enjoyable once I got past the initial embarrassment. “Heaven” a subsidiary of Inserections, offers a multitude of toys, games, videos, lotions, oils and condoms. So, needless to say, we were in there for quite some time giggling, staring with mouths gaped, pointing, and many times, dumbstruck. For those who want to spice up their love lives, there is an array of massage oils that warm up when you blow on them, taste like your favorite fruit when licked, or just smell scrumptious. There is also an assortment of whipped creams and foot creams in different flavors. The most interesting products for me were the games and books. They even sell a coupon book. Each coupon has a different sensuous offer for your mate, and unlike other coupons, there is no expiration date. Considering “Heaven’s” intriguing supply of toys and sexual aids, the main attraction was clearly the wide assortment of condoms. I didn’t count, but there had to have been at least 60 different types of condoms. Most of the condoms were made of latex . Only one brand was made of micropolyurethane (a thin form of plastic; the same material used to make female condoms). The condoms made of lamb skin were of no interest to my friend and me since we know that they could not protect us from STDs like HIV. The condoms came in various colors, flavors, and styles. They were studded and ribbed, lubricated and dry, ultra sheer and regular. Some were large and some were not. Unfortunately, this main attraction was a big disappointment in the most important area – price. A 6-pack of Trojan micropolyurethane was $19.95. Wal-Mart sells the same product and quantity for $5.95. As we examined the price for most of the condoms, we found the average price to be $20.95 for six or more. The average price for a 3-pack of condoms was slightly lower at $9.95. Much to my dismay, amid all of the toys, videos, and other sexual supplies, there were no dental dams, female condoms, nor any safer sex products other than condoms. So, while “Heaven” is a great spot for creative additions to your love life, don’t count on this pricey venue to be well stocked with a variety of affordable safer sex supplies. “Heaven” is located at 2628 Piedmont Rd, Atlanta, GA 30324. If you want to indulge without physically visiting the store, their web address is www.inserection.com. Well, that’s it for this first report on the availability of safer sex supplies in Metropolitan Atlanta. Until next time, remember SisterLove’s motto: “Healthy Loving is Healthy Living!” :: Health Tidbit: Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding (DUB) Many women report heavy bleeding during their menstrual cycle. Excessive bleeding that can cause discomfort, embarrassment or make it almost impossible to get through a normal day. For some women, tampons, even extra strength tampons, are no longer an option, unless a maxi pad is worn as a ‘back-up’. Although we may become accustomed to a “gushing sensation” many times throughout our day or to worrying that we have stained our clothes or a chair, in the back of our minds, we worry. “Is this normal?” What does it mean?” and “Please, how can I make it stop?” According to the Women’s Health Interactive, an online resource for women and health providers on women’s health, dysfunctional (or abnormal) uterine bleeding (DUB) is a problem that often affects women as they start to get periods and as they get closer to menopause. Since DUB occurs because of a hormone imbalance in the body, any woman who menstruates can experience DUB. DUB isn’t caused by a specific condition such as polyps or uterine fibroids (growths), cancer, or complications of pregnancy. There isn’t a hard and fast definition for “excessive” uterine bleeding. But if you’re soaking through ten or more sanitary napkins in a day, have periods that last for seven to 14 or even 18 days, and/or have spotting between periods, it’s likely that you have DUB. Your own impression that your periods are more irregular or much heavier than normal or that “something is wrong”, is also an indication of DUB. According to Medline, the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s online reference guide, symptoms of DUB may include: (:) vaginal bleeding between periods Eventhough it may be somewhat reassuring for a woman to know that her DUB isn’t caused by disease, the condition is still very troublesome and must be investigated and treated. Women experiencing irregular and/or heavy periods should see their gynecologist or health practitioner as soon as possible. In addition to requesting information about your medical and menstrual history and performing a physical examination (typically a pelvic exam), your health care provider may request a blood test or other tests to rule out or detect other medical conditions. For More Information Online: Women’s Health Initiative: U.S. National Library of Medicine | National Institutes of Health | Medline: Women’s Health Channel: .. . .. SisterLove Awarded Grants by Fulton County and NMAC Earlier this year, SisterLove was gratified to receive a $40,000 grant in support of our LoveHouse Transitional Housing & Support Services Program from Fulton County’s Department of Human Services. Since 1992, LoveHouse has provided a communal living environment for up to ten adult women and five children. Families are contracted to live in the program for six months. Families needing more time and support are given the opportunity for a one-time renewal which can result in a total of 12 consecutive months of long-term transitional housing and support services. LoveHouse’s primary goal is to create a safe, affordable and supportive living environment for women living with HIV and their children. While receiving this level of housing and peer support, women are able to prepare themselves with life-management skills-building and education, economic development and leadership training. A majority of the women who have resided at LoveHouse through the years, have struggled to overcome poverty and personal histories that often included domestic violence and substance abuse. The strength, determination and courage that are required of a woman, of a mother, who is living with HIVAIDS while also fighting poverty, addiction and abuse, are tremendous. LoveHouse residents participate fully in the Program by serving as mentors and role models for one another and by offering feedback on Program services and objectives. The wisdom and skills that former and current residents have brought to the Program over the past ten years, continue to impact our work. SisterLove is very pleased to acknowledge the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, and especially Commissioner Emma I. Darnell, for their recognition of our work and their concern for homeless HIV+ women and their children. NMAC TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT: As part of its commitment to develop leadership within communities of color to address the challenges of HIV/AIDS, the National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) awarded technical assistance grants to select member organizations throughout the U.S.. As the only recipient in Atlanta, SisterLove is receiving free accounting and consultation services from the renown CPA firm, Bearden & Smith. For twenty-five years, Bearden & Smith has provided individuals and owners of privately-owned businesses a full-range of accounting, tax and financial services. Bearden & Smith partner and Director of Financial Services, Bruce McFadden, and Associate Mindee Turner, are working closely with Leslie D. Posey, SisterLove’s Chief Operating Officer, to review the agency’s financial systems in order to make recommendations for enhancing operations. Leslie was quick to express her appreciation for NMAC and Bearden & Smith. “Mindee and Bruce are a great help. It helps tremendously to know that we are on top of things and to receive their expert advice on creating the most efficient systems possible”. SisterLove has been a member of NMAC since 1994 and has benefited directly from NMAC’s research, technical assistance and their relationships with national and international AIDS service providers. According to Dázon Dixon Diallo, SisterLove’s founder and CEO, “because of our involvement in NMAC sponsored skills-building trainings in South Africa back in 1996, SisterLove was able to establish relationships with grassroots South African AIDS service organizations and train them on our Healthy Love prevention education model. Those relationships eased the way for the Women’s HIV/AIDS Resources Project (WHARP) that we launched in South Africa three years later”. “Keeping abreast of the latest information and resources is key”, shares Leslie. “It’s our responsibility to make sure that we provide responsive and supportive services to women and that we properly manage the monies we receive. Our standing with women and our standing in the community depends on it, and we won’t ever forget that”.
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| LoveNotes is produced with the assistance of a committee of volunteers and is edited by Kozetta Jane Harris of SisterLove’s staff. Volunteers involved in producing this issue are: Kinaya Jolomi Ade, Cynthia Roberson, Aprille Blaire and McKalvin Cooper.
For more information about SisterLove, or articles appearing in this issue, contact Kozetta Jane Harris by email at kharris@sisterlove.org, by phone at 404-753-7733 or by mail at P.O. Box 10558, Atlanta, GA 30310. SisterLove is on a mission to eradicate the impact of HIV/AIDS and other reproductive health challenges upon women and their families through education, prevention, support and human rights advocacy in the United States and around the world. SisterLove greatly appreciates the financial support provided by: Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS : Fulton County Department of Human Services : Gertrude E. Wardlaw Trust : Ms Foundation : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention : Public Welfare Foundation. SisterLove is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Contact us today regarding opportunities to volunteer and to make a contribution in support of women and families affected by HIV/AIDS. You are invited to visit SisterLove online. “Healthy Loving is Healthy Living” |