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

 It’s been a few weeks since I was asked to write one of NMAC’s weekly e-newsletters. At first, I was hesitant to speak to NMAC’s constituents through this platform; after all, it has been five years since I have spoken on a national stage. Since then, I had hoped a lot would have changed for the better.

For nearly 26 years I have spoken out as a voice in the HIV community. I believe there is a distinct difference between being a voice and being an advocate. An advocate is someone who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy. A voice is a source of strength that can move others to make change. Voices of all tones (be them whispers or be them shouts) are powerful.

As an advocate I am mistakenly branded as angry. But I use my voice to assert that I am not angry and I don’t apologize for creating a place in this movement to lift up all people. I refuse to apologize for not living in fear as a black woman living with HIV. In fact, I spent the first 25 years of my life living in silence. But when I learned of my HIV status, I found my voice.  As I fought for my life, I learned to raise my voice and walk in authority.  This authority came not only from learning about my HIV status but from a newly acquired education, and the strength of overcoming low self-esteem, bad relationships, poor education, and cocaine addiction.

Mistakenly, some would suggest that this authority has given me the label of being vain, but as I walk in authority, I feel immense pride – not vanity. I would never have imagined that for all my trials I would now be living drug free for 29 years, be happily married, be a mother, be a grandmother, and be a great-grandmother. I love that I am a friend, a mentor, an entrepreneur but most importantly I love that I am me.

I have learned to give of myself freely and I believe that as people of color living with HIV it is time to stop whispering simply because others might be uncomfortable when they hear our voices. I know firsthand that when we use our voices we gain power and can create change.  For those of us of color and living with HIV finding our voices isn’t easy – but it’s important that we do so in order to create the change we want to see in this world.

I came to NMAC with the understanding that the shoes I had to fill were huge. To be honest, I never considered myself in such a partnership with NMAC. In 2012 I started a new chapter in life when I co-founded Ribbon Consulting Group with the thought that I would step back into the movement and allow others to ascend by doing behind the scenes work with national HIV partners such as NMAC.

I believe, unlike ever before, it is imperative once again for people of color living with HIV to be intentional voices in HIV leadership. When it comes the question to how we can support our needs and others living with HIV we can provide our own answers. We must raise our voices and be silenced no more. That’s why we created the Building Leaders of Color (BLOC) Initiative.

BLOC is the first program of its kind. It is designed to elevate, enhance, and create leadership opportunities specifically for and by people of color living with HIV. BLOC is a HRSA funded cooperative agreement that engages people of color living with HIV to be full, active, and engaged participants in planning bodies, medical and support care teams, boards of directors, and other efforts to address the National HIV/AIDS Strategy Goals.

It’s been a few months since I stepped into a new opportunity to partner with NMAC as a consultant to head up NMAC’s Leadership Pipeline Department. A major part of this position in leading the BLOC. NMAC partners with PWN-USA, THRIVE SS Transgender Law Center (Positively Trans), and the US People Living with HIV Caucus – all of which are nationally recognized coalitions and PLHIV networks to make and carry out the program goals of BLOC.

When I was approached by NMAC, I knew this was a call from the universe to continue working in the movement. I have always understood the role of a leader and many of you in the community have helped shape me over the past 26 years. Over the past few months NMAC staff and partners have embraced me back to the front lines. I have found that Paul and other NMAC team members truly value my life lessons and experiences, and I value their mentorship in this new role as we work side by side to give voice to people of color living with HIV.

Yours in the Struggle,

Linda H. Scruggs
lscruggs@nmac.org
Acting Director of the Leadership Pipeline

PS: This year we invite Ryan White HIV/AIDS Programs Part A & B recipients and graduates from the Regional Trainings to apply for our BLOC Training of Trainers (TOT) Training Institute to be held Aug. 6-11, 2017.  Participation is limited and applications are due July 17, 2017. To learn more about the program and the application process please visit us here.

The Urgency of Now: The Real Cost of HIV Testing

Today, NMAC recognizes National HIV Testing Day. For 30 years, we have advocated that efficient, effective, and inexpensive HIV testing be made available to all communities, especially to communities of color. This year’s theme for National HIV Testing Day is Test Your Way. Do It Today. While innovative treatment options such as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Treatment as Prevention (TasP) are leading pathways to end the epidemic, knowing one’s status is still a vital step in the HIV health care continuum.

While great strides in HIV prevention and treatment have been made, HIV is still a public health crisis. Today, more than 1.1 million people in the United States are living with HIVand nearly one out of seven of them is unaware of their status. We have the tools to end the epidemic, but it is vital that our movement receive the funds it needs to save lives.

When considering the long-term financial costs of HIV, it’s important to understand that preventing HIV is more cost-effective than subsidizing the cost of someone’s lifetime HIV treatment. Despite this reality, this Administration has proposed budget cuts that would result in at least 1,000,000 fewer HIV tests to be performed each year – meaning that thousands of people will be unaware of their HIV status and, as a result, increase their risk for HIV and/or fail to start treatment altogether. The fact is: testing is essential.

So, today, register for our HIV/STI Action Day being held on Wednesday, September 6, and meet with your member of Congress. Now is the time for you to demand that they save our services. Our movement must work together to ensure that the costs for these life-saving services are not cut.

Yours in the Struggle,

Daniel Pino
202.853.0021

USCA Scholarship Deadline – June 30, 2017

The 2017 United States Conference on AIDS scholarship deadline is June 30^th.  This year, NMAC has set aside a special amount of scholarships for residents of the following cities and states.  If you know any HIV leaders who live in these areas, please encourage them to apply.  NMAC will waive the membership requirement when applying from these regions:

States

• Missouri
• New Hampshire
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• West Virginia

Cities

• Commerce, CA
• New Haven, CT
• Doral and Naples, FL
• Boise, Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, Pocatello, ID
• Cambridge and Framingham, MA
• Morristown, NJ
• Midwest City, Norman, Duncan, Lawton, Ardmore, OK
• Allentown, Hamburg, Hershey, Annville PA
• Vancouver, Chehalis, WA
• Madison and Beloit, WI

We are prioritizing these regions because they represent the states and districts of key members of Congress. No government or corporate support will be used to fund these scholarships. These awards are financed from the proceeds of the sale of NMAC’s corporate headquarters.

In honor of our 30^th Anniversary, NMAC has committed to give out 330 scholarships.  230 scholarships for USCA and 100 scholarships for the Biomedical HIV Prevention Summit in December.  Additionally, we have a special $30 membership for youth and people living with HIV.

Our movement is in a critical fight for funding.  This year all scholarship recipients are asked to participate in HIV/STI Action Day on September 6, 2017.  September is a critical month for the FY18 budget negotiations.  Our movement needs to show up and show out. Your movement needs you, please join us in Washington this September!

Yours in the struggle,

Paul Kawata
202.277.2777

Senate Health Care Bill is Disastrous for the HIV and STD Community

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2017

CONTACT:
Kyle Taylor, Senior Manager, Communications, NASTAD
ktaylor@NASTAD.org | (202) 434.7134

Today, AIDS United, NASTAD, the National Coalition of STD Directors, NMAC and The AIDS Institutejoin together to condemn the inhumane Senate healthcare bill, which will decimate Medicaid, change private insurance reforms that protect people living with or at risk of HIV and/or STDs, and undermines public health infrastructure.

The Senate health care bill will be catastrophic for our nation’s health care system. If passed, not only will people living with or at risk of HIV and STDs suffer, but our efforts to end the HIV and STD epidemics will be impeded,” stated Jesse Milan, Jr. President and CEO of AIDS United.

“The changes to Medicaid, including the repeal of the expansion and the drastic cuts to funding beginning in 2020 will harm people living with and at risk for HIV and STDs. This proposal guarantees limited access to care and benefits,” added David C. Harvey, Executive Director of the National Coalition of STD Directors.

“This bill creates a false narrative that says it will help people with pre-existing conditions, but instead it allows states to waive essential health benefits such as vital prescription drugs, mental and behavioral health services, and preventive services. These cuts would allow insurers to deny the services people who are living with and who are at risk for HIV and STIs need to stay healthy,” commented Paul Kawata, Executive Director of NMAC

“In addition, this bill eliminates funding for vital services provided by the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which funds 12% of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s budget beginning in FY2018, just over three months away. This will decimate the federal government’s response to public health issues, including HIV and other STDs, and exacerbate the cuts proposed in the FY2018 President’s Budget,” observed Michael Ruppal, Executive Director of The AIDS Institute.

“We call on the Senate to reject this bill and protect people living with or at risk of HIV and STDs. The Senate must keep its promise to the American people and protect their care,” finished Murray C. Penner, Executive Director of NASTAD.

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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Honoring Orlando United Day

June 12^th has been designated as Orlando United Day.  On this day, we remember the 49 angels who were killed at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. This was a deliberate attack on the LGBT community that must never be forgotten.

To show our support for Orlando and the LGBT community, NMAC is pleased to announce that we will hold the 2018 United States Conference on AIDS in Orlando on September 6-9, 2018.  Please save the date.

The 2018 meeting will highlight the contributions made by the LGBT community to our efforts in ending the epidemic.  Our community has suffered so many losses and we must stand together.

The 49 beautiful portraits in this e-newsletter were created by 49 different artists across the country.  Each portrait portrays someone who was killed in the Pulse shootings.  They are all on exhibit at the Terrace Gallery at Orlando City Hall from May 1 – June 14, 2017.

Yours in the struggle,

Board & Staff of NMAC
Stronger Together!