Alliance Celebrates 63rd Graduating Class of Peers

(New York, N.Y.) — On Thursday, November 14, Alliance for Positive Change celebrated the 63rd graduating class of its Peer training program at a ceremony featuring graduates, families, and friends at its Midtown Central location. View all photos HERE.

For 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.  NewYork-Presbyterian sponsored the graduation, and Booking.com Cares was a community partner.

Alliance’s Peer program is an intensive 8-week capacity-building and skills training program that harnesses the power of mentoring to help others initiate and maintain healthy behaviors. Participants learn about HIV, hepatitis C, STIs, harm reduction, outreach skills, overdose prevention, and more. Graduates become community leaders who use their lived experience and training to help fellow New Yorkers facing health challenges. Since the first class, Alliance has graduated more than 1,500 Peers.

“When I came to Alliance’s Peer program, I was looking for a sense of direction, acceptance, community, and positive reinforcement,” said Jose A., an Alliance Cycle 63 Peer graduate. “I found all that and more. I see the staff and Peer Workers helping people every day without judgment and stigma. I am looking forward to helping others who have been through what I have been through.”

“We are proud to celebrate our graduates, who have shown tremendous dedication to developing their skills and expertise, and who will harness their own lived experiences to support others,” said Brenda Starks-Ross, Alliance’s Deputy Executive Director/COO. “Peer Workers expand and deepen our impact every day, showcasing the power of positive change for individuals and entire communities.” 

 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. Each year, these community ambassadors connect with an estimated 15,000 New Yorkers.

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 as 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.

Alliance for Positive Change Celebrates 62nd Graduating Class of Peers

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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Alliance Celebrates 61st Graduating Class of Peers

Find photos from the moving ceremony here (Photo credit: David Nager/Alliance) - 

(New York, N.Y.) — On Wednesday, November 29, Alliance for Positive Change celebrated the 61st graduating class of its Peer training program at a ceremony featuring graduates, families, and friends at its Midtown Central location.

For 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.  NewYork-Presbyterian was the lead sponsor of the graduation. Other generous sponsors included Mutual of America and community partners Aurora Private Wealth, Corporate Synergies, and PPI Benefits Solutions.

Alliance’s Peer program is an intensive 8-week capacity-building and skills training program that harnesses the power of mentoring to help others initiate and maintain healthy behaviors. Participants learn about HIV, hepatitis C, STIs, harm reduction, outreach skills, overdose prevention, and more. Graduates become community leaders who use their lived experience and training to help fellow New Yorkers facing health challenges. Since the first class, Alliance has graduated more than 1,500 Peers.

“Alliance’s Peer training has equipped me with the awesome tools to handle various emotions, situations, and challenges. It has prepared me to be a well-informed advocate for prevention and treatment,” said Cindy S., an Alliance Cycle 61 Peer graduate. “Alliance has reinforced my belief that whatever I aspire to achieve in this organization—and in life—is within my reach.”

Cindy S. Photo: David Nager/Alliance

“We are proud to celebrate our graduates, who worked tirelessly to build their skills and expertise, and who will harness their own lived experiences to support others,” said Brenda Starks-Ross, Alliance Deputy Executive Director/COO. “Peers are truly the heart and soul of Alliance who expand and deepen our impact every day. Their work is a testament to the power of positive change for individuals and entire communities.”

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. Each year, these community ambassadors connect with an estimated 15,000 New Yorkers.

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 as 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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Portraits of Positive Change: Cycle 58 PREP Graduates Share Their Stories

Alliance’s Peer Recovery Education Program (PREP) Training launched in 1992 and has graduated over 1,500 people. PREP empowers people to learn more about health issues like HIV, safer sex, and substance use, bring prevention messages to their communities, and grow their careers.

The 58th PREP Graduation marked the first in-person graduation ceremony in almost three years and included a special address by Congressmember Carolyn B. Maloney, who was instrumental in securing federal funding for the program.

We spoke with four graduates to learn what motivated them to enroll in Alliance’s Peer program, and what was next for them.

Carmelo Adorno, at graduation, with Jean Pierre-Louis, and Joyce Myricks. Photo: David Nager/Alliance

Carmelo

Carmelo first came to Alliance LES Harm Reduction Center in 2015, to access sterile syringes and other harm reduction supplies and resources. LESHRC Peer Celeste—who values mentorship at Alliance—suggested he do some volunteer work with LESHRC and try to become a Peer.

“I’ve worked in customer service for years, and I’ve worked almost all the time since I’ve been out of prison. I started, but never finished college or my certificates like Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC)” he said. “I wanted to get into the social work field, and share my lived experience, so I could give back to society.”

During Peer training, the class was reviewing different health diagnoses when one classmate began to cry. “I was consoling her, and it made me feel good, useful,” he said. “That’s the way I’m hoping to make people feel when I can use the Peer training. Everyone in these sessions was honest about what afflictions they had, and what they wanted moving forward.”

Barbara Walker. Photo: David Nager/Alliance

Barbara

Barbara has always been open about her HIV status and was interested in sharing knowledge and empowerment with others. She got involved with Alliance as part of her transition back to community life after incarceration through Alliance’s Criminal Justice Initiative. Alliance’s Eugene Eppes was her case manager, helping her find stable housing, and checking in on her frequently.

Eugene notes that what’s special about Alliance is “we have so many specialized programs, we don’t have to refer someone out—we can refer them in.” And he did. Barbara accessed many Alliance programs, including trainings, The Positive Life Workshop, Women Involved in Life Learning from Other Women (WILLOW), and others, absorbing skills and knowledge to share with her community.

Barbara was diagnosed with HIV in 1996, while pregnant with her son. “I felt dirty, poisoned, ashamed. I didn’t hide it, but I didn’t speak about it at first. People looked at me funny, and I came to feel that it was better for me to be open in sharing my story, to tell people about myself, rather than them tell me about me with their preconceived notions,” she said.

Barbara hopes to become a case worker at Alliance or another nonprofit where she can work with people who’ve faced similar challenges.

Brittany Gomez. Photo: David Nager/Alliance

Brittany

One of our two graduation speakers, Brittany was the youngest member of training cycle 58. She was kicked out of her home at 17 and began using drugs, in her words, “chaotically.” Nine years ago, she stopped using.

“This was the first time I felt supported in a safe, learning environment,” says Brittany. “The atmosphere was important for me. No other agency gave me the level of support I got the second I walked through Alliance’s doors. What I didn’t get in middle school, high school, or anywhere else, I got from Alliance.”

Barbara became close with Brittany given their similar childhoods, “even though she’s two decades younger than me,” said Barbara. They encouraged each other throughout the five-week course.

Brittany wants to be a Peer Advocate and help people dealing with substance use, mental health crises, homelessness, and other health-related issues.

Havanna Knight Carey presenting for the class. Photo: David Nager/Alliance

Havanna

Havanna came to our Peer training seeking community and perspective. Havanna identifies as an Afro-Latina transwoman from the Bronx. A strong advocate for transwomen, she’d looked for opportunities to connect more with her community. At Alliance, she joined our Transgender Women Involved in Strategies for Transformation (TWIST) program, and then signed up for our Peer training.

“I was developing my transness, and needed something to help me feel like I was worthy, and contributing to society,” Havanna told us. She’s been frustrated by not seeing women like her in the private sector, where she has worked in retail management, as a certified welder, and in other trades. “Transwomen aren’t seen as worthy of being in leadership, and I wanted to dive into this community here at Alliance, where I can see women of the transgender experience, as well as the need for my perspective.”

Peer training helped Havanna learn about health issues—and about herself. She gained skills to explore her own emotional triggers, as she puts it, “my non-verbal cues—how I react to stress, and anger. My boyfriend sees the change in the way I communicate verbally and non-verbally. Other people see it too.”

“I never thought I could be in social work,” says Havanna, “but I learned so much about getting through to people, hearing their stories. They might not want to be ‘fixed,’ they just want to be heard. Peer training was the first time I really learned to use my listening skills.”

All graduates of the Cycle 58 Peer Training attended every single class. Anecdotes from Cycle 58 showcase the deep bond and moments of levity that they group shared together. Brittany wrote Carmelo a note at the end of the training, saying that she had learned a lot from him and to make sure he always keeps fighting. Barbara recalled a teambuilding experience where her team was asked to do an innovative educational presentation on safer sex. Partnering with Brittany, Charles, and Delon, she made the choice to demonstrate safe condom application on an ear of corn. Everyone loved it.

Learn more at alliance.nyc/path-to-jobs.