Positive Change Hero: Perla

1. Tell us a little about yourself, who you are, what you do, and what you brought you to Alliance?

My name is Perla Romero and I am a Harm Reduction Manager at Alliance LES Harm Reduction Center. I came to LESHRC as an intern through AHEC (Area Health Education Center), which was a program I was connected to through City College. Once I completed my hours for my internship, I stayed as a volunteer, then eventually became a staff member. When I first interned with LESHRC, I knew that I was coming to a special place. The work we do is truly necessary for and by the community we serve. The impact that LESHRC has had and the place that it holds in the community has been something I wanted to be a part of.

2.  Tell me about your program/service and what problem it solves.

My role at Alliance has expanded quite a bit since I began working here. One of the most central components to the work that I do is addressing hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is a viral form of hepatitis that is often overlooked and stigmatized, but can have fatal consequences when undiagnosed and/or untreated. The majority of the new cases being reported in NYC are within the community of people who inject drugs. This means that people who are often not engaged in the healthcare system are also being burdened by a chronic health condition that does not have enough resources or funding. My job is to help bridge the gap between the resources that do exist and our clients. Through our participation in various initiatives, programming, and partnerships, we are able to do outreach to people who are disconnected from healthcare and bring them to places where they are welcome, respected, and safe. Through these healthcare navigation services that can take many forms, we are able to work with our clients so that they can receive medical care again.

3.  Tell us about specific people you’ve helped within your program.

One of the people that I worked with had several chronic health conditions when I first met them (like many of our clients do), and had undergone a major surgery at a young age. I think they felt like there were limited options of whom they could work with because they primarily spoke Spanish and had felt dismissed in the past. This person was able to become cured of hepatitis C through the span of our work together. I really enjoyed seeing how they grew to advocate for themselves and knew that they had a say in the care that they chose to engage in or not to engage in. I think that getting through treatment made them feel empowered to look at and work on other areas of their life. The last time that we spoke they shared that they were looking into areas of work that they wanted to move into and that they would be comfortable in; they were prioritizing their well-being!

4. Is there an achievement or contribution to this program you are particularly proud of?

I am extremely proud of the clients that have been cured of hepatitis C through our navigation services. Due to their history of drug use (past or present), many of the clients that I have worked with have been stigmatized by medical providers that they worked with previously. It takes an incredible amount of courage to advocate for your health after facing discrimination and abuse in settings that should have been safe. I am proud of the way that our team works with clients to restore a sense of autonomy when it comes to their health care. Overall, I am proud of our clients.

5. What’s your outlook for the future for this program and beyond?

Hepatitis C treatment has changed so much within the last decade and our programs have been crucial in communicating advancements to the people that benefit most from them. Our programs have also been important to the organization, our clients, and others by raising the issues of hepatitis C awareness, hepatitis C education, and healthcare access. My hope is that the people cured through our programs and positive health outcomes are seen as motivators to invest in the health of people who use drugs, particularly those who are unhoused. Beyond hepatitis C, I hope that the work we do can be a catalyst to move our health system towards a harm reduction framework. It would be great if our work could help move medical providers towards a re-education that includes how to practice from a harm reduction framework. Of course there are already medical providers that practice harm reduction (some that we are fortunate to work with), but we need to make this the rule, not the exception.

6. If you could do anything in addition to what you are doing now, what would it be?

I would like to make different materials that aid in expanding who knows about harm reduction. A lot of us who do harm reduction work are doing this work because either we saw the need for this in our immediate surroundings or we have direct personal experiences. To me, this says a lot about who is doing harm reduction work. It says that we are very invested, but also that we arrived at harm reduction out of necessity. I want harm reduction, for what it really is, to become something that can aid in reshaping the relationships that people develop and have with substances. Particularly, I would like to make harm reduction materials that are intentionally written in Spanish. 

7. Is there another question that I have not asked you that I should?

What is Harm Reduction?

I think this is one of my favorite questions because the response you receive tells you a lot about the person responding and what they have been exposed to. Oftentimes, people will respond by saying that harm reduction can be defined as "meeting people where they're at." This is definitely part of it, but within the context of social services/healthcare, it can be providing people with options so that they can decide what is best for them. I think at its best harm reduction is giving people their power back and working with them towards their goals. Harm reduction work should always stem from a place of love for your community and others while respecting their autonomy.

Positive Change Hero: Lillian

1. Tell us a little about yourself, who you are, what you do, and what you brought you to Alliance?

My name is Lillian Anglada, and I am President of the Consumer Advisory Council (CAC). I acquired HIV in 1986, was diagnosed in 1989—just a year after getting married. I was given two years to live from my doctors. I made it past those two years, and went on to volunteer for Peter Krueger Clinic as a data entry specialist. While there, I saw a flyer for a health fair called Loved in the Time of AIDS put on by a collaboration of HIV agencies to bring the education to the streets where families hang out (like the East River Park Health Fair). I picked up a brochure to what was then the AIDS Service Center of Lower Manhattan (ASCNYC) now The Alliance for Positive Change.

I came aboard at ASCNYC in October 1992 and graduated in January 1993 from the Peer Leadership Training Program. The staff was small, but attentive to my needs. The intensity of the 8-week training program gave me knowledge about HIV and what I could expect from the virus. There were only 12 of us in my class, and I am the only survivor, by the grace of God.

After graduating, for two years I served as a Peer Educator at Alliance’s drop-in center on the Lower East Side, which would eventually be named after me, now Alliance’s Luis & Lillian Outreach Center at P.S. 122 Cultural Center on 9th street and First Avenue in Manhattan. It was named in memory of Luis, my mentor and a staff member at Alliance, who died two days after I was released from the hospital.

2.  Tell me about your program/service and what problem it solves.

As of 2001, I was honored to become the President of the Consumer Advisory Council (CAC) of The Alliance for Positive Change. Its mission and purpose is to create a partnership amongst clients, also known as consumers, providers, and community members that strives to raise Alliance’s programs to a higher level of excellence. In addition, we look to ensure that services to people with HIV/AIDS are never interrupted and always perfected. Moreover, it is a mechanism for accountability.

3.  Tell us about specific people you’ve helped within your program.

In 1993, Luis (former staff member at Alliance) and I created a woman’s group comprised of solely HIV+ women who felt broken and needed to gain the hope to regain control of their life at PS 122. In the process, I taught meditation, safe sex, and various other topics. Ultimately, the group gave me a gift: meeting peers, who would eventually become my new family. Before meeting these peers, I did not know about hugs, tears, kisses, and how to say I love you—all of which I did not do at home. Hearing these women’s testimonies have taught me to be humble, empathetic, and to listen to other people’s experiences. With my being given two years to live, I could identify with these other women. Life has no guarantee.

4. What was their life like before they began the program

They had no HOPE!

5. What was the biggest challenge they were facing?

They were in denial about their HIV status.

6. How have you helped them?

I helped my peers find a solution for all types of situations. While I got involved in a struggle to save a village, I ended up saving a community. Helping my peers has given me the capacity to continue to fight. I have firsthand experience and I share my story in order to help them and mentor them.

 7. Is there any moment that sticks out to you from your time at Alliance?

There was this lady on the train, soiled and uncomfortable. My head said leave her alone, but my heart said help her. I told her to get off at 35th Street with me. I went into our Wonderful Wearables clothing room, and helped get her a coat, clothes, and shoes. From there, we went downstairs and washed her up. She thought I would be disgusted by her. But I was not raised that way. I take pride in my ability to be able to go above and beyond. She came back to become a client, and get help with her mental health. I didn't have pity for her, I had empathy for her.

8. Is there an achievement or contribution to this program you are particularly proud of?

I started “Life Affirming” events in 1995 with the support and in collaboration with Alliance. Thanks to them, I have always been able to do my Life Affirming events like Mother’s Day of Pampering serving 50-100 mothers and daughters, Thanksgiving dinner, the Annual Dinner Dance, and Holiday dinner dance (serving around 400-500 clients and peers).

I am also proud of becoming CAC president, learning about policies changes, and helping the community adapt to change.

9. If you could do anything in addition to what you are doing now, what would it be?

During the pandemic, I taught myself to sew and have donated over 200 masks.

In addition, my daughter says I am crazy, but I would love to be a part of the solution for homelessness. I envision creating building and floor plans.

10. Is there another question that I have not asked you that I should?

What Is my message to the community?

You can do anything with an HIV diagnosis, it is not a life sentence!

Also, since 2003, I created a community-based organization called Caring Hands for Positive Woman, Inc. focused on women of color. It delivers prevention and education in East Harlem, NYC. Our mission is to develop cultural, grassroots trainings that aim to reduce the rate of health disparities among minority young women of color. We hope to help them receive medical and educational services. By empowering, educating, and providing leadership and advocacy trainings, we will enable these women to make healthier decisions for themselves and their families.

Hero of the Day: Alliance for Positive Change

On Thursday, March 4, 2021, Fox 5 NY featured the Alliance as their Coronavirus Hero of the Day, highlighting our Food and Nutrition Services, which have provided meals for hungry New Yorkers during times of unprecedented food insecurity in NYC.

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!

Positive Change Hero: Samuel

Tell us a little about yourself, who you are, and what brought you to Alliance?

My name is Samuel Rodriguez and I am an Assistant Manager for Treatment Adherence Services at Alliance. I wanted to work with people that are HIV positive. I lost my baby sister to this disease in the early ‘90s. I told myself if I ever got a chance to work in the HIV field, I would do it. I've been with Alliance for about 12 years. I started as many have, having graduated from Alliance’s Peer Program. Once I completed that, I was hired as a consultant. From there I was hired as a staff. Now, I have been a staff member for over 8 years.

Tell me about your program/service and what problem it solves.

In our Treatment Adherence Program, our goal is to connect as many people as possible to our Pharmacy Access services and treatment support. We provide a safe, quiet, and confidential place where clients can come in and pick-up their medications or even take them right there as part of DOT (Directly Observed Therapy) support. We make sure our clients get what they need to adhere to medication. We refer them to support services or make sure they are going to see their doctor. Our goal is to make sure every client becomes Undetectable.

Is there an achievement or contribution to this program you are particularly proud of?

There was a man sleeping in front of our office building. Every morning when I came in, I would see him there on the street with a bag of cans he’d collect throughout the day. Every morning, I would start a conversation with him. In our conversation, he told me he was HIV positive. I asked if he was taking his meds. He said yes, but people robbed him, thinking his pills were drugs. I explained what I do and told him he could come every day and take his meds at our office. He said he would think about it. Two days later, I picked up all the cans in the office and brought them down to him. I reminded him how easy it would be for him to join our program. Not only could we help him with his meds, but also he could eat breakfast and lunch with us every day. He finally came up with me one day and had something to eat from our Food & Nutrition program. When he finished eating, he did an agency intake and came upstairs to enroll in Treatment Adherence and Pharmacy Access services. Part of his support was DOT where he would come in every day and take his meds in front of us. Now, you have to remember, he was sleeping in the streets, and only had two pairs of pants and three shirts with him. I told him it was time he gets a safe place to sleep and helped him find a shelter. He started coming to the office every day and when he was comfortable I connected him with a psychologist. He got on psychiatric medication and began taking them every day as prescribed. He got his own apartment, a part-time job, and after about a year in the program became Undetectable (when the amount of HIV viral load is under 200 copies per ML, or undetectable). The following year he found a partner. They moved upstate and he continues to do well.

You never know who is ready to get help. I was very proud to help this client, it only takes a connection from one person.

What’s your outlook for the future for this program and beyond?

The Treatment Adherence Program and Pharmacy Access Center have a group of special people working together. We continue getting clients involved and hopefully make them whole again.

Recently, the NYS made a seemingly small change that puts our Treatment Adherence Program at risk. The FY 20-21 budget directs the Department of Health to carve out the Medicaid Pharmacy benefit from managed care and transition it to a fee-for-service model starting April 1, 2021.  This change will destroy the safety-net and reverse the progress we’ve made toward ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic by impacting the 340B drug discount program, and the people who rely on the services and programs that it supports.

We have joined others to oppose the carve-out and will do whatever it takes to keep these services and continue to offer a place where lives change for the better.

If you could do anything in addition to what you are doing now, what would it be?

The only other thing I would be is a professional poker player (haha). But in seriousness, I am so lucky that I can come into work on any day and help someone feel a little better than when they first came in.

Is there another question that I have not asked you that I should?

I've always worked to help people. For ten years I worked helping people affected by domestic violence and three years on the domestic violence hotline. I worked eight years in Brooklyn Criminal Court in Red Hook, helping defendants get treatment so they wouldn’t have to go to jail. And now, twelve years working with HIV-positive clients. I do this because I know I was meant to help people. I also know how easy it is to get frustrated and want to give up on your clients. But I can't!!! I am here to help people change their lives for the better—even if it's just making them smile for a few minutes. From there, I get ready for the next person that is asking for help.

Positive Change Hero: Melvin

1. Tell us a little about yourself, who you are, what you do, and what you brought you to Alliance?

I'm a 66 year old Black man who started working at the Alliance in 2004. I have been HIV-positive since 1986. I'm in control and undetectable. I have also been cured of hepatitis C. I've been in recovery for drug addiction since 1997, and am no longer involved in any criminal activity. Currently, I work as an outreach Peer . I came to Alliance to better my life.

2.  Tell me about your program/service and what problem it solves.

As a Peer, I help people learn how to manage their HIV/ AIDS, so that they can live a healthier life—free from drugs and alcohol.

3.  Tell us about the impact you’ve had within your program.

Overall, I can speak to many people, who I’ve met and worked with that have inspired me to reach higher. When I first do my outreach to meet prospective clients, I meet them at shelters, soup kitchens, subways, and on the streets. They are dealing with drug use, homelessness, and health issues.  Most of these individuals seem depressed and hopeless. The biggest challenge these clients are facing are trust issues, especially around being accepted for their past. I have been able to help clients by telling them good news: that they can get help, and take control of their lives. Their lives are much better now than they were before. Now, they know there’s a program at Alliance that will help them reach their goals.

 4.  Is there an achievement or contribution to this program you are particularly proud of?

I am always particularly proud when I am able to give out clothing and food through our basic needs and lunch program.

6.  Is there another question that I have not asked you that I should?

Overall, in order to do this job, you have to be a people person, you have to believe in giving second chances, and you have to have compassion. As an employee, you are a door to people who are looking for help. As a door, you’re giving clients an opportunity to better their lives. That’s what I do, and why I give back at the Alliance. I’m giving what was given to me so freely in 2004.

Alliance Responds to Governor Cuomo's World AIDS Day Press Release and Misleading Statements about 340B Carve Out

Positive Change Hero: Deborah

Tell us a little about yourself, who you are, and what brought you to Alliance?

I found out about Alliance through word of mouth, when it was still the AIDS Service Center of Lower Manhattan. I was at a women’s HIV support group in a little church in Brooklyn when a woman gave me an application to the Peer Recovery Education Program—that’s what brought me to Alliance: Cycle 5 in 1996. It was in PREP Cycle 5, that I realized that I was able to live with HIV and not die.

Tell us about your experience in PREP?  

Coming to the Peer Recovery Education Program, I got more than I bargained for. I was in an environment with like people, who were living with something that didn’t necessarily define them. I realized that I had a lot of life to live, and there were opportunities beyond just the training. It opened up a whole new world for me. I didn’t have to deal with stigma, and I wasn’t being treated differently because I had this virus. I had a new community I could rely on. I had hope for myself and my life beyond my status.

What do you do now at Alliance, and tell us about your program. 

I am the Director for Peer Training at the Alliance for Positive Change. I work in training individuals to develop pathways to reenter the workforce, develop skills and knowledge, or attitudes that will be helpful in their communities, and ultimately helping themselves. Our foundational training offers soft skills, basic knowledge around HIV and AIDS, presentations skills, outreach/engagement skills, motivational interviewing, how to connect with people, and much more. Many of these individuals become integral in helping Alliance staff do their work (i.e. outreach into communities). From here, many individuals obtain certifications, gain higher level degrees, reenter the workforce, and beyond.

Is there someone you have helped create positive change?

I met a woman in a mutual aid meeting. I was open with my HIV+ status, and we connected. This person was also HIV+. She had been isolated for many years, her son had been murdered, her aunt had just passed away from complications with liver disease (and also had an AIDS diagnosis). Her family was secretive, and encouraged her not to talk about any of her traumas. I talked her into coming to PREP. Overtime, she got inspired to enter the workforce. She began as a cleaner in a city level job, and over the years she has become a conductor.

Is there a contribution to this program you are particularly proud of?

Because we believe in individuals, individuals have come to believe in themselves. And now they are able to reenter the workforce.

I am also incredibly proud of my team, and the dedication they bring.

Positive Change Hero: Floyd

Tell us a little about yourself, who you are, what you do, and what you brought you to Alliance?

I began my career journey in 1987, when I was trained by NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) as a Substance Abuse Counselor and Outreach Worker. This was during the height of the AIDS epidemic in New York City. This work became my passion. I found out about Alliance through my wife. I was semi-retired after having heart surgery and getting bored sitting at home when she met a member of LES Harm Reduction Center. I learned more about its mission, and I signed up to volunteer because Alliance’s work is very meaningful to me. 

Tell us about your program. 

Alliance LES Harm Reduction Center is more than just a syringe exchange. We provide referrals for those seeking treatment, we have counselors for individuals seeking aid, and we have a mental health therapist and a psychologist on board. We also help with Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)—all while stemming the tide of overdose and reducing HIV transmission. 

Is there someone you have helped create positive change?

I am proud to help many people through my work with Alliance LES Harm Reduction Center. One person I am especially proud of is a gentleman who came for syringe exchange services, and whose life was in chaos because of substance use. The first time I met him, he didn’t want to talk about anything. He said, “Just give me what I ask for, so I can go.” As we built a rapport and relationship, our conversations became longer and friendlier. I let him know about the many services we offered to help him on his journey. Today, he is in recovery and employed with Alliance after completing our Peer training program. I will never forget the look of pride when he graduated from the Peer training program—he is truly creating positive change in his life. 

Is there a contribution to this program you are particularly proud of?

I am proud I can offer my two decades of experience working with at-risk populations to help even more people in need!

If you could do anything in addition to what you are doing now, what would it be?

I have been very blessed to have found my calling. I do what I love: counseling and helping people. It is a great feeling to have someone say, “Thank you for helping.” I don’t want to do anything else.

Alliance grieves the loss and honors the legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

We grieve the loss and honor the legacy of the brilliant, resilient and courageous Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who fought fiercely for dignity, fairness and opportunity.  As only the second woman to join the nation’s highest court, she long championed many of the rights we cherish and was a committed champion of full gender and LGBTQ equality.

Her inspiring words loom large today. She avowed, “We should not be held back from pursuing our full talents, from contributing what we could contribute to the society, because we fit into a certain mold ― because we belong to a group that historically has been the object of discrimination.”

I heard the news of her passing as I celebrated Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, with my family. Those who pass away on this holiday are regarded as tzadik, a title bestowed to the righteous.

As we mourn Justice Ginsburg, let us also celebrate her legacy, and reflect on her life’s achievements, ones that will continue to guide our efforts as we continue our work towards social justice, inclusivity, respect and equity. She will always be a hero in our hearts.

-       Sharen I. Duke, Executive Director/CEO

Alliance Statement on Passing of Congressman John Lewis

Sharen I. Duke, Executive Director and CEO of The Alliance for Positive Change, issued the following statement about the death of U.S. Congressman John Lewis on Friday, July 17, 2020:

“This weekend, we lost a hero and icon of the civil rights movement – the Honorable Congressman John Lewis. Marching side-by-side with Dr. Martin Luther King, Congressman Lewis never gave up on the dream to achieve justice, dignity and equality for all. He stood up against discrimination on any basis, and as a staunch supporter of the HIV/AIDS community, he told advocates, “Your life is valuable. You are beautiful and strong, you must stay the course, and you must continue the fight. You cannot give up, and you cannot give in.  Please know that you are not alone.” We mourn his loss, celebrate his life, and revere his commitment to creating a more equitable, just, and hopeful world for all of us.”