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NMAC Recognizes National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day
NMAC Recognizes National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day
NMAC joins in the observance of the annual National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day (NHAAD) today September 18, 2017. Every year, the NHAAD focuses on the challenging issues facing the aging population with regards to HIV prevention, testing, care and treatment.
Based on statistics from the CDC people aged 50 and older accounted for about one half (45%) of the estimated 1.2 million people living with HIV infection in the United States. Among persons aged 50 to 54, the estimated rate (per 100,000) of HIV diagnoses by race/ethnicity was 59.3% among African Americans/blacks, 23.3% among Hispanics/Latinos, and 8.7% among whites. Of the 6,721 deaths related to HIV in 2014, 2,588 (39%) were among people aged 55 and older. The statistics demonstrate that there is a need, now more than ever, to reach out to the 50+ HIV positive men and women of color in the United States.
Those PLWHIV that are 50 years or older
face increased isolation and of those aging people of color, not only face this isolation but increased stigma, lack of access to care, poverty, and racism. Furthermore, when people living with HIV have achieved viral suppression and HIV is well-controlled, there is a need to be educated about other aging-related conditions. People that age with HIV face comorbidities for which they are in greater risk such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders, osteoporosis, and certain cancers. They also need to be aware of interactions between medications used to treat HIV and those used to treat age-related conditions. That’s why NMAC created the HIV 50+ Strong & Healthy program. HIV 50+ Strong and Healthy seeks to mobilize, engage, and educate people living with HIV who are over the age of 50 on the impact of HIV has on aging people of color.
At the 2017 United States Conference on AIDS (USCA), NMAC had the honor to sponsor 50 extraordinary community advocates that were HIV+ and over 50 years old. Their presence raised awareness about the impact HIV has on the aging population that today currently makes up nearly half of all those living with HIV and in 2020 could represent more than 70% of new HIV diagnoses. For the sponsored advocates, USCA was a coming home experience to network with the community they thought once abandoned them. NMAC is committed to mobilizing the HIV 50+ community, engaging them in building community, and becoming peer educators and advocates. Their resiliency and wisdom is necessary to end the HIV epidemic. Please read below to see what one of our scholars, Roy Ferguson, shared on Facebook about his experience in the 50+ Strong and Healthy program.
Roy Ferguson / NMAC’s HIV 50+ Strong & Healthy Scholar Brookfield, IL
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Am home now and winding down from the US Conference on Aids. Was an amazing 6 days. On Wednesday did legislative visits to Sen Dick Durbin’s office, meet with Tammy Duckworth’s Legislative Assistant, Luis Gutierrez’s Legislative Assistant and a personal meeting with Jan Schakowsky (ok may have misspelled her name). Three and a half days of workshops on HIV and Aging.
On Sunday I got a new t-shirt that I proudly wore all day at Washington DC sights and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. This image is from being at the memorial. The shirt really sums up who I am today.”
Moisés Agosto-Rosario
$1 MILLION IN FUNDING TO HELP HIV ORGANIZATIONS IMPACTED BY HURRICANES HARVEY AND IRMA ANNOUNCED AT USCA
Embargoed for Release: Thursday, September 7, 2017, 9:00 a.m. ET
Contacts:
Chip Lewis, 202.213.8939, clewis@nmac.org Richard Sorian, 202.215-9256, rsorian@aidsunited.org
$1 MILLION IN FUNDING TO HELP HIV ORGANIZATIONS IMPACTED BY HURRICANES HARVEY AND IRMA ANNOUNCED AT USCA
Sept. 7, 2017 – A $1 million fund to help HIV organizations impacted by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma was announced today at the opening of the 21st annual U.S. Conference on AIDS in Washington, DC. The $1 million is being donated by Gilead Sciences.
The announcement was made at the USCA’s opening plenary as the conference honored those working in communities devastated by the hurricane. Delegates from the affected regions were on stage for the announcement. Grants from these funds are being coordinated by AIDS United in collaboration with NMAC.
“Gilead’s generous contribution will make a tremendous difference for people living with HIV and for organizations serving them that were ravaged by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma,” said NMAC Executive Director Paul Kawata. “We must make sure that we reach the organizations most in need as rapidly as possible.”
AIDS United will support the administration of the funds as part of the rapid response arm of its new Southern HIV Impact Fund. NMAC will appoint an HIV Hurricane Relief Advisory Panel made up of local community leaders to identify local needs and priorities to support AIDS United grantmaking.
“There is no greater emergency than the devastation of these powerful hurricanes,” said AIDS United CEO Jesse Milan Jr. “We are thankful this rapid grantmaking process is in place and thrilled that Gilead is making available up to $1 million to support relief efforts for the HIV community.”
In addition to the $1 million donation by Gilead Sciences, AIDS United has allocated $150,000 from the Southern HIV Impact Fund. AIDS United today released a request for applications for organizations in the affected communities. The awards will be made on a rolling basis.
“With hurricane-impacted regions facing a long recovery process, it is more important than ever that the critical services provided by HIV organizations in these areas continue to reach those in need,” said Gregg H. Alton, Executive Vice President, Corporate and Medical Affairs, Gilead Sciences. “Gilead, AIDS United, and NMAC are committed to supporting their efforts to restore and maintain programs.”
The U.S. South is an epicenter of the HIV epidemic in the U.S. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than half of new AIDS diagnoses and deaths occurred in the south. In 2015, Florida ranked first among states in terms of new diagnoses, Texas ranked third, and Louisiana ranked 11th.
“Hurricane Harvey adds a heightened sense of urgency to the organizations serving people living with HIV/AIDS,” said John Barnes, executive director of Funders Concerned About AIDS, which brought together Gilead Sciences and other partners to create the Southern HIV Impact Fund. “We are calling on organizations across the country to join Gilead Sciences and others in supporting the work that must be done to reverse these troubling trends.”
Organizations, businesses and individuals can make donations to the AIDS United Southern HIV Impact Fund at 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: https://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.
AIDS United’s mission is to end the AIDS epidemic in the U.S. through strategic grant-making, capacity building, formative research and policy. AIDS United works to ensure access to life-saving HIV/AIDS care and prevention services and to advance sound HIV/AIDS-related policy for U.S. populations and communities most impacted by the epidemic. To date, our strategic grant-making initiatives have directly funded more than $104 million to local communities, and have leveraged more than $117 million in additional investments for programs that include, but are not limited to HIV prevention, access to care, capacity building, harm reduction and advocacy. aidsunited.org.
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It Broke My Heart
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Dr. David Williams from Harvard University will speak at the opening plenary of this year’s 
Our Movement Needs You – What YOU Can Do Today!
Our movement needs YOU. My name is Sable K. Nelson and I’m a Policy Analyst at NMAC. The current proposed cuts to HIV funding would be devastating to our movement because they would both reduce and eliminate vital programs that the most vulnerable people in our community need to stay in care or access HIV services.
Over the past three decades, NMAC has worked in coalition to ensure people of color have a seat at the table and our voices are heard in the fight against HIV. This year, NMAC is asking you to:
(1) Participate in HIV/STD Action Day on Capitol Hill on September 6th. Action Day is being held one day before the
2017 United States Conference on AIDS. This is your opportunity to meet with your Member of Congress and/or Senator and share your story as to why it is so important to protect programs such as SMAIF, HOPWA, and Ryan White. Since you will already be in DC for USCA, we were hoping you would also join us on September 6th to make your voice heard as part our movement on Capitol Hill. Thank you to those who have already registered to take part of this important event. There is no cost associated with registering for Action Day. In order to participate in Action Day, all you would have to do is register ahead of time and NMAC will schedule your legislative meetings. If you have any questions about Action Day, please contact Sable Nelson or Matt Rose for assistance.
(2) Engage the media. We are also looking for spokespeople 
who will work with NMAC’s communication team to place local op-eds in the mainstream, people of color, HIV, and LBGT press in August. Our team will work with you to generate content for these pieces. If you would be willing to work with us on these editorials, please contact Daniel Pino or Chip Lewis.
(3) Prepare to speak to your federal elected officials and/or the media. To help you in your advocacy, we a
re hosting a variety of webinars that offer real-world skill-building resources that will impart practical information, offer suggestions, and answer questions about how to make the most of your time working with your elected officials both ON and OFF Capitol Hill. Here is a list of all webinars being offered to interested attendees:
Effective Story Telling (Part 1): Aug 23 (3:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST)
Effective Story Telling (Part 2): Aug 28 (3:00 PM – 4:00PM EST)
How to Navigate the Hill & Engage with Media: Aug 31 (3:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST)
We encourage you to visit our official HIV/STD Action Day webinar website and find out more ways to join us for one, two, or all of these sessions. You do NOT need to pre-register for these webinars. But, we do encourage you to mark the dates and times on your calendars.
(4) Attend the Opening Reception for USCA at the Library of 
Congress on Wednesday, September 6th. This reception will be an opportunity to meet with your colleagues and members of Congress. It is vital that our movement shows up for this reception. More information about the logistics for the opening reception will come to as we get closer to the date.
We are so close to an end to this epidemic and we can only achieve an HIV-free generation if we maintain federal investment in HIV prevention and treatment services. Now is not the time to be silent and wait for action – we MUST join together and ensure all of our voices are heard.
Yours in the Struggle,
Sable K. Nelson, Esq
Policy Analyst
NMAC
USCA Registration Deadline – This Friday!
USCA Registration Deadline – This Friday!
This Friday, August 11 is the registration deadline for this year’s USCA. Be sure to register now to take advantage of the lower rates.* After August 11 the registration rate increases to the “on-site” registration rate o
f $815. Click here for a full breakdown and explanation of the registration categories for this year’s USCA.
The 2017 USCA will be a family reunion like no other. NMAC is excited to welcome our family as we come together once more to celebrate and honor one another. Through innovative programming and networking opportunities we will develop connections and share plans for ways to end the HIV epidemic once and for all. Please join us this year in Washington, DC on September 7 – 10th to be a part of this important moment in our history.
Still not convinced? Download our official 2017 USCA mobile app on the iOS or Android stores and find out more about conference workshops, social events, and plenaries! It is your way to explore the conference and set up your very own agenda and social networking feed all before you even arrive at USCA.
We look forward to seeing you at this year’s conference and if you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact us at: conferences@nmac.org.
*Please note all registrations paid by check, money order, and/or purchase order must be postmarked (NOT received) by August 11 to be processed at the lower rate.
Yours in the struggle,
Tara Barnes-Darby, CMP
Conferences, Director
Official 2017 USCA Conference Mobile App Launched Today!
Download the USCA Conference App Today!
BY: TARA BARNES-DARBY · NMAC · August 1, 2017
The official 2017 USCA Conference App is here! This year’s USCA app serves as the main source for breaking conference information and on-site updates. Not just that, but the app is an excellent way to research specific session topics and build your very own personal conference agenda before arriving to the event! By downloading, you have the chance to better engage and network with fellow conference attendees and share photos, tweets, and other social media updates that can be seen by all USCA delegates! Now is the time for you to network, connect with people, and create roots that will help you build ties to members of the HIV family both during and after the conference. Be sure to keep your push notifications on and check regularly as we start to confirm more conference activities.
Download – It’s important that you download the current 2017 app so that you stay up to date on all conference announcements and programming opportunities! When clicked from a mobile device, this link will direct you to the app store of your device (Apple or Google) where you an access the app free of charge. Additionally you can search the app store for the 2017 USCA. If mobile apps aren’t your thing, we have you covered – you can view all information featured on the app on this website.
After you have created your own profile and login for the app you can build your very own personalized agenda. Once inside you can search for specific topics, sessions, and speakers! By clicking on the “Schedule” and “Search” icons you can find the respective information and customize your time at USCA even before arriving to the conference. Not just that but if you are interested in specific conference topics you can search by pathways and tracks to maximize your conference experience. Simply, click on the “Sessions by Tracks” or “Sessions by Pathways” icons and to find the information you need! It’s important to note that you MUST create a profile on the app to take advantage of this feature.
Network – This year’s conference app features two new ways to engage and connect with your fellow conference attendees. By clicking on the “Social Media Feed” icon you will be prompted to either post on the “Event Feed” or the “Social Wall.” Here’s what you need to know about both options.
- Event Feed – This is a social media feature specific to users of the app who have created their own app profile. Once logged into the app, users have the chance to easily share photos, text, or a combination of both with a higher character count than traditional social platforms. To use, simply download the app, create a profile, and allow the app to have access to your camera and photos. Then, when a photo is selected or taken, you can post it to the event feed with up to 410 characters of text
and the post is already pre-populated with the official #2017usca hashtag! - Social Wall – The social wall is your way to participate in the social sharing aspects of the conference should you not wish to create a profile in the app but still want to be featured in the app’s social media functionality. For example, when posting on your own Instagram or Twitter profiles use the hashtag #2017USCA or #nmacyouth17. Then, after you have made the post, the 2017 USCA app will auto populate that content on the social wall! However, because these posts are made external to the conference app you will be bound by the character count of the platforms you’re using and must enter the hashtags on your own.
Whichever way you choose to use it, the 2017 USCA app is a dynamic and innovative tool for you to make the most of your experience at this year’s conference. From customized scheduling, social media interfacing, and even gaming, we highly encourage you to create your own app profile so you can take advantage of all the opportunities the app has to offer. Download it today and by using the #2017usca hashtag begin sharing your thoughts and expectations for this year’s USCA experience. We want to hear from YOU! Now is your chance make your unique voice heard to the USCA family!
USCA’s registration deadline is less than 2 weeks away! Be sure to register for the conference on our website and reserve your spot to attend what is sure to be a dynamic and powerful experience! Be a part of our movement’s history and make your voice heard!
Yours in the struggle,
Tara Barnes-Darby, CMP
Conferences, Director
Votes to Preserve Health Care Coverage Deserve Applause – Activists Must Continue to Resist, Persist
Votes to Preserve Health Care Coverage Deserve Applause
Activists Must Continue to Resist, Persist
CONTACT: Cory Combs
combs@sunshinemedia.com 202.280.2398
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 26 JULY 2017 – We are deeply concerned by the Senate’s continuing efforts to take away life-sustaining health care coverage and protections from millions of people who desperately need them. All of the iterations of this legislation threaten the health and well-being of people living with and affected by HIV and other STDs at a time when our nation is making important progress to end the epidemic and STDs are at a 20 year high.
We urge Congress and President Trump to cease these efforts and work, in a bipartisan way, to improve, not tear down, our current system of coverage and care. All Americans – not just the most well off – have a right to affordable, high-quality care. We must work together to make that happen.
If enacted, all of the versions of so-called reform now pending in the Senate would be devastating and cost more while covering fewer people. Premiums for those with insurance will rise dramatically, vital consumer protections will be wiped away, and Medicaid – which provides coverage to 42 percent of all Americans living with HIV who are in care- will be decimated.
Senators have a clear choice to make. Vote to take away coverage, increase costs, and put people’s lives at risk or call a halt to these misguided attacks and come together to improve care and health. We call on Senators to follow the lead of their courageous colleagues who have voted to end this dangerous debate.
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AIDS United (AU), NASTAD, the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD), NMAC, and The AIDS Institute (TAI) are national non-partisan, non-profit organizations focused on ending HIV in the U.S. They have been working in partnership to identify and share resources to sustain successes and progress we have made in HIV and STD prevention, care and treatment in the United States.
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Senate Must Halt Attacks on Healthcare for People Living with HIV and Millions of Americans
Senate Must Halt Attacks on Healthcare for People Living with HIV and Millions of Americans
CONTACT: Cory Combs
combs@sunshinemedia.com 202.280.2398
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 26 JULY 2017 – We are deeply concerned by the Senate’s continuing efforts to take away life-sustaining health care coverage and protections from millions of people who desperately need them. All of the iterations of this legislation threaten the health and well-being of people living with and affected by HIV and other STDs at a time when our nation is making important progress to end the epidemic and STDs are at a 20 year high.
We urge Congress and President Trump to cease these efforts and work, in a bipartisan way, to improve, not tear down, our current system of coverage and care. All Americans – not just the most well off – have a right to affordable, high-quality care. We must work together to make that happen.
If enacted, all of the versions of so-called reform now pending in the Senate would be devastating and cost more while covering fewer people. Premiums for those with insurance will rise dramatically, vital consumer protections will be wiped away, and Medicaid – which provides coverage to 42 percent of all Americans living with HIV who are in care- will be decimated.
Senators have a clear choice to make. Vote to take away coverage, increase costs, and put people’s lives at risk or call a halt to these misguided attacks and come together to improve care and health. We call on Senators to follow the lead of their courageous colleagues who have voted to end this dangerous debate.
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AIDS United (AU), NASTAD, the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD), NMAC, and The AIDS Institute (TAI) are national non-partisan, non-profit organizations focused on ending HIV in the U.S. They have been working in partnership to identify and share resources to sustain successes and progress we have made in HIV and STD prevention, care and treatment in the United States.
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Official August Recess Webinar
This is a critical time for our movement. With a proposed budget and terrifying health care bill that would seek to decimate coverage for people most at risk for and living with HIV, we must take action like never before to apply the pressure to our elected officials and urge that they maintain essential health care services for millions of Americans.
That’s why NMAC is hosting a special webinar this Thursday, July 27th at 3:00 PM EST for you to learn specifically about ways to engage your Member(s) of Congress during the August recess.
At the end of the summer, your representative will be back in their district and they need to see and hear from you like never before as we collectively work to ensure HIV services and prevention methods are funded for all communities.
We have fought too hard for too long for us to go backwards in the fight against HIV. Join us this Thursday as we discuss effective strategies around how to meet with your Member of Congress, work within coalitions, and learn more about this year’s HIV/STD Action Day.
Now is the time Congress needs to hear about the real-life impacts of their work. We must hold those in Washington accountable. Our movement depends on all voices being heard. We must make those in positions of power realize the life and death implications of their work. We cannot sit idly by and wait for others to advocate for us.
Join us this Thursday for this webinar at the following credentials:
You can join from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
Registration URL: https://attendee.gototraining.com/r/7547861835807703298
Training ID: 964-688-540
We look forward to your participation and taking the steps to include your voice to your movement at this important moment in our history.
Yours in the Struggle,
Matthew Rose
Policy and Advocacy Manager