On Wednesday, May 22, Alliance for Positive Change celebrated the 62nd graduating class of its renowned Peer training program. The ceremony was held at Alliance’s Midtown Central location, with over 50 guests in attendance.
You can find photos and videos from the moving ceremony here.
For over three decades, Alliance’s renowned Peer training program has provided New Yorkers living with and affected by HIV/AIDS and other chronic conditions with leadership and economic mobility opportunities. Peer graduates become community leaders who use their lived experience and training to help fellow New Yorkers facing health challenges.
Alliance’s Peer program is an intensive eight-week capacity-building and skills training program that harnesses the power of mentoring to help others initiate and maintain healthy behaviors. Through the program, participants learn how to help break down barriers to health care access, and to become leaders in their communities. Alliance employs over 100 Peer Workers—the majority of whom are graduates of its Peer training—who provide prevention education, HIV and hepatitis C screening, linkage to care, harm reduction support, overdose prevention, accompaniment to appointments, and more to thousands of New Yorkers across the city.
"Fifteen years ago, I graduated from the Peer Training program, and now I'm a full-time staff member. Alliance never judged me for my experience but instead provided me with harm reduction tools to lead to positive change. My graduation from the Peer Training program was one of the biggest steps I made towards making a difference in my life," said Ashley Johnson, Assistant Director of Trainings & Interventions, who spoke at the graduation.
"The success of Alliance’s Peer Program highlights the remarkable potential for positive change within individuals and communities,” said Sharen I. Duke, Alliance CEO & Executive Director. “We are thrilled to honor our graduates, who have dedicated themselves to developing their skills and knowledge and will now use their personal experiences to help others."
For three decades, PREP has provided New Yorkers living with and affected by HIV/AIDS and other chronic conditions with leadership and economic mobility opportunities. Since its first class, more than 1,500 people have graduated from Alliance’s renowned Peer program.
During their training, Peers developed skills to coach and support New Yorkers to overcome health challenges, navigate systemic inequities, and achieve health and well-being. The Peer program connects low-income people to care and support; reduces the burden on under-resourced healthcare institutions; and creates more economic mobility for people who need it most.
Avita Pharmacy was the presenting sponsor of the graduation. Other generous sponsors include Aurora Private Wealth and Nationwide
“We’re beyond proud to sponsor Alliance for Positive Change’s Peer education program again this year,” said Avita Care Solutions CEO Michael Yount. “Congratulations to this year’s graduates who are leveraging their experience and leadership to help others initiate and maintain healthy behaviors, and to Alliance for empowering change that fosters community wellness in the face of historic health inequities.”
About Alliance for Positive Change
Alliance for Positive Change is a leading multiservice organization that provides low-income New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic conditions with access to quality health care, housing, harm reduction, coaching, and our renowned peer training and job placement program that cultivates leadership and economic mobility. Alliance opened in 1991, at the height of the HIV crisis—a welcoming community of transformation and opportunity. Today, we deliver on the promise of Positive Change with services and resources that equip people to navigate systemic inequities and achieve health and well-being. Learn about all the ways we inspire Positive Change at www.alliance.nyc.
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