Our Executive Director & CEO Sharen Duke, who has shepherded our work since our founding, was recognized as a Power Player in Health Care by PoliticsNY. This recognition is a reflection not only of her leadership but of the amazing Alliance staff and Peers who have supported literally hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers’ on their path to positive change over the past 30 years.
Alliance Training Coordinator Diane Delph-Tinglin's Featured in Queens Ledger
Diane Delph-Tinglin is a fixture at Alliance for Positive Change, leading Peer trainings, helping the organization raise funds for amazing job placement programs, and offering support to everyone who walks through our doors. On World AIDS Day, she shared he story of being diagnosed with HIV in 2009, and how the diagnosis mobilized her to do amazing work for HIV positive, and negative, New Yorkers. Read the story on Diane here.
As seen in AMNY: Peer graduate Luis Viera's "My journey as someone with HIV"
On the eve of World AIDS Day, Alliance Peer Luis Viera shared his story and what World AIDS Day means to him. Luis has been an amazing resource, helping countless HIV positive New Yorkers navigate their own personal journeys. Read Luis’s full op-ed here.
Alliance's Bernice Cowell on WBAI 99.5 FM New York's Driving Forces Thanksgiving Show
On Thanksgiving Day, Alliance's Bernice Cowell gave a great interview with Driving Forces about celebrating an emotional Thanksgiving – her first in a real home, with her children – thanks to resources she found at Alliance. Bernice's interview can be heard here.
WABC Radio: Al Ostapeck on this year’s International Overdose Awareness Day
On the eve of International Awareness Day, Assistant Manager of Harm Reduction at Alliance LES Harm Reduction Center Al Ostapeck spoke to WABC Radio’s Dominic Carter. Dominic shared very moving, personal stories and Al discussed the importance of in-person harm reduction services that connect people to services that start with—but go far beyond—harm reduction.
As Al said, “We all fall down in life, do you get back up?” Since 1990, Alliance has helped New Yorkers living with HIV and other chronic health conditions get back up.
NY1 Features Alliance on the Move in honor of Recovery Month
On Thursday, September 30, 2021, Spectrum News NY1 was on hand to cover Alliance for Positive Change’s LGBTQ+ carnival and resource fair outside of CASA Washington Heights. Participants came together to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride, make arts and crafts projects, and access substance use support services, free COVID-19, HIV, and STI testing through our Alliance on the Move mobile van.
The event took place during the last day of National Recovery Month, but Alliance’s work continues every weekday at its six locations and its mobile unit Alliance on the Move every Monday through Thursday.
New York Daily News: Alliance for Positive Change leading the fight against overdose deaths
On Sunday, August 15, 2021, the New York Daily News wrote a feature story about the COVID-19-influenced spike in overdose deaths, and the tireless work of staff like Alliance LES Harm Reduction Center’s Shantae Owens.
Learn more about how Alliance is caring for our community during the coronavirus outbreak here: www.alliance.nyc/coronavirus and support our work by giving to the Coronavirus Support Fund today!
WFUV Cityscape features Alliance’s Floyd Mitchell
Alliance harm reduction coordinator Floyd Mitchell spoke with WFUV’s Cityscape about the surge in opioid use, and how Alliance’s work has become even more vital. While social distance requirements have made it difficult to keep some program participants involved on a path to positive change, Floyd and his colleagues are adapting to ensure we keep promoting positive change.
Alliance’s Floyd Mitchell in Gotham Gazette
“I know what it’s like to be on the front lines of an infectious disease,” Floyd Mitchell, a harm reduction counselor at Alliance for Positive Change writes for the Gotham Gazette. “This time, it’s the twin tragedy of the dramatic rise in overdose deaths amid the pandemic due to the anxiety and isolation of life during lockdown.”
Beginning his career in harm reduction at the height of the HIV epidemic in the 1980’s, Floyd has seen it all, and understands the measures we must all take to support our neighbors battling substance use in these difficult times.
Alliance Executive Director/CEO Sharen Duke Selected as Crain’s Notable in Health Care
Crain’s New York Business has selected Alliance for Positive Change founding Executive Director and CEO Sharen Duke as a 2021 Notable in Health Care, noting that this year’s honorees “have distinguished themselves through their expertise and innovation.”
“We cannot understate the role of the city’s healthcare professionals in helping us emerge from the pandemic,” Crain’s wrote in introducing the honorees. “This year’s Notable in Healthcare edition recognizes their efforts in bringing us to this moment, as well as their numerous contributions apart from the crisis.”
You can view the full list here (subscription required for access) - https://www.crainsnewyork.com/awards/notable-health-care-2021
In its recognition of Sharen Duke, Crain’s described Alliance’s commitment to supporting New Yorkers during the pandemic, including the delivery of personal protective equipment, pantry items, nutrition information and food gift cards.
“Throughout her tenure, Duke has supported equity in health care. Alliance serves historically marginalized communities of color. Duke has pioneered peer training, peer-delivered health-access services and workforce development for HIV prevention.”