Positive Change Hero: Luis Worrell

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

I have been at Alliance for 10 years. I had been working in Public Relations for high-fashion companies including Ralph Lauren when I was diagnosed as HIV positive in 2011. I took a break from the industry and wanted to learn more about my diagnosis and found Alliance. Immediately got great connection to services and wanted to give back, to help the HIV-positive community. Like many folks at Alliance, I’ve worn many hats. I’ve worked as a Case Manager at Midtown Central and at Pelham Grand, our supportive housing location. My current role is Prevention Manager, so educating and leading outreach for populations that are at risk for contracting HIV.

2.        Why did you feel you needed to “give back” as you put it?

I’ve felt a greater sense of purpose doing this than in my previous career, though I loved that. I never thought HIV would happen to me. The letters HIV seemed like a death sentence, so I put off getting tested even as I noticed changes in my body, like shingles, and I put off getting tested because I was scared. I refused the tests the doctors wanted me to take. But finally, a friend who’s a nurse really encouraged me to take it, and manage my condition. It broke the stigma for me. I realized that I needed those people gently pushing me to get tested, get educated, and stay healthy. I wanted to be that person for others.

3.        Can you tell me about a specific person you’ve helped who was struggling with their diagnosis?

As an intake manager, I had one client who was a professor and in denial about his diagnosis. I made sure I spoke to him honestly about what could happen. He felt because of his social status, contracting HIV couldn’t happen to him.

I don’t always feel like I should have to share my story with clients, but in this case and some others, I did, because I was around for the start of the AIDS epidemic in the 80s and lost a lot of friends who would’ve done anything to access the medicine we have now.

I told him I was HIV positive, and he said “Oh my God, you don’t look like you have HIV.” I said, “HIV doesn’t have a face, it looks like everyone.” Well, he let me connect him to medical services. A lot of time, the work is really about breaking down stigma and shame that unfortunately many people have internalized. 

4.        Shifting gears: how has your work changed during the pandemic?

I was working at Pelham Grand at the time, and our HIV-positive clients really had a tough time because it’s such a social place, and it’s harder to bond, kid around, and build structure virtually or with limited physical interaction.

We did everything we could, and I know the residents appreciated it. There was less in-person socializing, so we tried to be even more accessible for our residents, whether that was arranging telehealth visits for them, or answering late-night calls and emails. Many of the residents are or were in recovery, and the pandemic was hard for them, for obvious reasons.

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

I would probably be doing art public relations, like I was before my diagnosis. I love art and I’m a creative person. Creating campaigns for clothing lines, helping at fashion shows, and making creative choices for magazines. It’s still a hobby for me and I do some of that on the side, but I feel more productive by giving back to our HIV-positive community working here. It’s like a calling. Fashion/art is more of a fun side project.

6.        Anything else I’ve forgotten to ask?

I’m a social person. I love to be around people. Being away from people due to social distancing really made me appreciate being able to socialize again, and all the people that matter. 

Alliance arranged a group chat every Friday for us to just have a safe space to talk. That helped not just me, but others. And Alliance connected us with therapists—which was huge for me.

New York Team Aquatics Launches 1 Hour-Swim fundraiser to benefit Alliance

Longtime partner organization Team New York Aquatics is hosting its annual One Hour Swim on Saturday February 25, and will again be sharing 50% of the raised donations with Alliance.

TNYA’s first One Hour Swim was held in 1990 during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis, and the money raised was used to pay medical bills for members of their team fighting the epidemic. Nowadays, they donate the proceeds to LGBTQ+ community organizations like ours (and we remain so grateful.)

TNYA’s scholarship programs support swimming lessons and community events for the LGBTQ+ community in New York. If you have the resources, please consider donating to One Hour Swim HERE.

National Mentoring Month: Acknowledging the Mentors at Alliance

January is National Mentoring Month, a time to recognize people who help others grow, lead, or better themselves. Mentors come in many forms, and mentorship can be formal or informal. Someone might not even know that they’ve mentored someone else—and THAT’S why we ask, for a chance to celebrate mentors and their mentees. See Nicky, Jonathan, Ox, Hassan, Donald, Rinaldo and Ismael’s stories of mentorship on our Instagram page.

Alliance and SNYSN's Statement on Governor Hochul's 2023 State of the State

Alliance is proud to be a part of the Save NY’s Safety Net. Our member statement is below.

For Immediate Release Jan 10, 2023 Contact: Matt Hamilton, mhamilton@marathonstrategies.com  518-570-0430  

GOVERNOR HOCHUL’S SILENCE IN STATE OF THE STATE ON IMPENDING STATEWIDE SAFETY-NET CRISIS IS DEAFENING 

Despite Her Pledge To Protect Vulnerable New Yorkers, Governor Fails To Address Disastrous Plan That Will Exacerbate Health Inequities, Reduce Access To Care, Cut Jobs 

The Save NY’s Safety Net coalition issued the following statement in response to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s State of the State address:  

“Governor Hochul’s State of the State was largely noteworthy for what she failed to say. Despite her lofty promises to transform New York’s health care system, she glossed over the fact that in a few short months, 2.3 million vulnerable New Yorkers statewide will face a health care crisis of significant proportions. 

“Governor Hochul has thus far refused to cancel the Cuomo-era Medicaid pharmacy benefit carve-out that will divert critical funding away from where it’s most needed, in the name of unsubstantiated cost savings. The state is poised to exacerbate health care inequity and disrupt care for millions of New Yorkers by disintegrating the pharmacy benefit from Managed Care. 

“She must right this wrong in her forthcoming executive budget proposal and stop playing politics with people’s lives.”

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Save New York’s Safety Net is a statewide coalition of community health clinics, community-based organizations and specialized HIV health plans committed to serving vulnerable New Yorkers across the state, ending the epidemic, and saving the 340B drug discount program. 

Alliance CEO Sharen I. Duke published in Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal on Friday, December 30, published a portion of an op-ed by our CEO and Executive Director, Sharen I. Duke, about the need to save the 340B Pharmacy benefit that remains in jeopardy, slated to end this Spring, unless Governor Hochul intervenes. “Thirty years ago, the federal government created the 340B program to ensure that people in under-resourced communities have access to quality treatment and lifesaving medications,” writes Sharen.

“The 340B program enables safety-net providers to stretch scarce federal resources by reinvesting savings into patient care—all at zero additional cost to taxpayers.”
— CEO and Executive Director Sharen I. Duke

Longtime Alliance Participant Charles Waters Pens Op-ed for AM New York on Food Insecurity

Just before Christmas, Alliance Peer advocate Charles Waters shared his experiences with food insecurity in a powerful op-ed in AM New York. Thanks to Alliance's Food and Nutrition Services helping him meet essential needs, Charles has graduated from our Peer training programs and participates in our Creative Writing Workshop—with several poems set to appear in our next issue of Situations. 

Positive Change Hero: Marcia Deer

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

I am from Jamaica. I have been at Alliance for over 20 years and am currently the Director of Benefits Navigation and Linkage to Care. (Which consists of different regional and national programs that have different enrollment qualifications). 

I have worked in our care management program in partnership with Mount Sinai, supervising teams that go out in the field, and recently overseeing our Food and Nutrition Services program.

 

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

Absolutely. This is our fourth year providing linkage to insurance, and we’ve grown enrollment well above what we were contracted by the city and other agencies. That’s great for the agency, but even better for the people who’re talking to: by getting bigger enrollments for both health insurance programs, we’re helping people with their health and finances proactively.

We do referrals and linkage to other services for about 350 participants a month.

 

3.    What do you think is behind the growth?

We have a great team of Luis, Miguelina, Avis, and Carla, plus Yelmy, our Peer on the team, working on our team for all programs. Because of how we treat the participants that we work with, they refer friends and acquaintances to us. I’ll give you an example: if a person is eligible for insurance through both the marketplace and HASA, we help them understand what each does and doesn’t do. In this case, I encourage them to select the benefits that work for them and help connect them to other benefits like food stamps.

 

4.        How has linkage to health insurance changed during the pandemic?

Before the pandemic, we were out in the community and at hospitals in the beginning, canvassing, and talking to people. But COVID-19 offered a lot of new opportunities for people to access free healthcare.

Before the pandemic, the marketplace rules would only allow us to enroll participants in person. That changed during the pandemic and that allowed us to enroll people over the phone, which has been huge!

Immigrant communities in particular didn’t really know about all the COVID-19 specific and general insurance availability so that’s who we’ve really been trying hardest to reach, and link to care.

 

5.        You also took on the responsibility of running our Food and Nutrition Services. What has that been like?

With one of our FNS team members being on maternity leave, I was offered the chance to take on the role. FNS is a crucial service and some people who come for food might not know all the other free services we can help them with.

I cook at home and feel like whatever you serve the people who come to us should be something you would be happy to eat, too. We should eat the food we’re serving to them, not see their needs as inferior to ours. If a participant is diabetic and notices a dish has too much salt, I will call the provider and make sure they know in the future to make a low sodium alternative.

I have a good sense of our participants’ basic needs, with my work in linkage. Because I know behavior, and I studied case management in social work school, I’ll read the room and when people seem unfulfilled, or need special services, I pick up on that, and try to connect with them.

 

6.        How did you available for this role plus FNS?

I think I’m a good self-manager, so I carve out time to. I make a list and prioritize building my days efficiently.

 

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

I would still want to work. A more flexible schedule, but I would still be doing social work. I would travel and enjoy myself. And I would give Alliance some money, haha, because I’ve been here so long, and I’ve got so much out of my work here. When I came here to New York, I had zero experience in case management. I was interviewed here for client services and prevention team roles. Ms. Brenda gave me a chance to learn on the job even before I had my degrees and encouraged me while I was getting my Bachelor of Social Work. Like a lot of Alliance people, I started out as an intake worker and now I'm a director.

 

8.       Is there anything else I’ve forgotten to ask about your work, or who you are as a person outside of work, that you’d like to share?

I’m a people person: I like talking to people. I enjoy conversations. I don’t make assumptions or judgments about people because I’ve worked with so many people in different situations. I don’t judge by appearances. I wait to get information from talking to people. If you make assumptions that are too positive, that can be hurtful just like making assumptions that are too negative.

In terms of hobbies, I like to dance. I also read and watch news about a lot of political issues. I still remember a state of the union speech that President Obama gave that I wrote a paper on for school. My family and friends ask me to explain certain political issues in the news, but I don’t judge anyone because of their political views.

Alliance Celebrates 59th Graduating Class of Peers

Graduates will become community leaders helping others navigate systemic inequities and achieve health and well-being

Photos from the moving ceremony here (Photo credit: David Nager/Alliance)

For three decades, Alliance for Positive Change has provided New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic conditions with leadership and economic mobility opportunities through its renowned Peer training program.

On Monday, November 28th, Alliance celebrated the success of its 59th graduating class of the Peer Recovery Education Program (PREP) at a ceremony with graduates and special guests at The Door, its second consecutive graduation held there.

Alliance’s Peer Recovery Education Program (PREP) is a 6-week intensive capacity-building skills training program that harnesses the power of Peer mentoring to help others initiate and maintain healthy behaviors. PREP Cycle 59 participants received information on HIV, hepatitis C, STIs, harm reduction, outreach skills, overdose prevention, and more.

"My journey has been hard; I am a transwoman of color from Guyana. When I attended PREP Cycle 59, it was the first time I was given the chance to be myself. This experience has been life-changing for me [and] inspired me so much that I have decided to pursue the goal of becoming a social worker,” said Peer graduate Rare-Pearl in her address to her classmates at the ceremony. “Alliance helped me to set that goal, and I will work very hard to achieve it. I am no longer Rare-Pearl, the outcast, the shunned, the unworthy. I am a person who loves herself and is ready to reach back and help others come out of the darkness."

Peer graduates become community leaders who use their lived experience and training to help fellow New Yorkers facing health challenges. Since the first class in 1992, Alliance has graduated more than 1,500 people from its renowned Peer program.

During their training, Peers develop 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 approximately 15,000 New Yorkers.

Funding for the Alliance Peer Recovery Education Program (PREP) is made possible through the generous support of the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute.

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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Interview with Guy Williams, Recipient of Health Commissioner's Special Recognition Certificate

Guy Williams, Alliance’s Director of Prevention Services, will be awarded a Special Recognition Certificate tomorrow, World AIDS Day, from the New York State Department of Health Commissioner. He shared what this award means to him:

I'm just a Guy from Long Island

Who happens to be black

Who happens to be gay

Who happens to be HIV positive

I never thought I would get any recognition for the work I love to do.

But without the support of the Alliance for Positive Change this day would never happen for me.

Thank you, Alliance, for nominating me.

Alliance helped me manage multiple programs that reach MSM of color who are at risk for HIV infection and transmission.

My goal every day when I go to work is to equip my clients with tools so they can make positive change in the decisions they make in their life. Whether it be decisions around HIV prevention, harm reduction, or life skills. So to that end I must also thank my clients for believing and trusting this old man.

Read more about Guy’s work and values below:

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

My name is Guy Williams. I am a graduate of Cycle 14 of Alliance’s Peer Recovery Education Program (PREP). I was newly diagnosed and came here to learn more about my HIV diagnosis. After graduating PREP, I took a job elsewhere but still kept in touch with people in the agency, and soon enough, a Harm Reduction Specialist position became available doing one-on-one work. I later worked as a Trainer, then an Outreach Specialist for people with HIV, and substance users. Today I’m the Director of Prevention Services.

 

2.        So you only work with people who don’t have HIV?

Oh, no, not at all. I oversee the MSM (Men who have Sex with Men) programs at the Luis and Lillian Outreach Center (LLOC) and we work with HIV-positive and HIV-negative folks. We work with high-risk individuals, like people who share drugs and sex workers, immigrants coming here fleeing persecution, and many others.

  

3.        Can you talk about the services your programs provide to immigrants? What exactly do you do, and why do they need you?

 Many of the people new to America are proud to be gay, and felt repressed where they used to live. So it’s a transition process, being in a place where they’re not the only openly gay person they know.

We have groups like Brunch with The Brothas (meeting every third Saturday of the month) to invite people in to share their experiences in a safe environment, help them find community, figure out how they can better themselves, whether that means socially, economically, whatever.


4.        Can you tell me about a specific person your program?

I’ll tell you about someone who came to the U.S. from the Caribbean. He had been sexually assaulted by a relative and was dealing with suicidal ideation—that’s not uncommon for our program participants. He’s coming to a lot of interventions, we’re trying to get him set up with permanent housing and a stable source of income.

He shares these conversations in both one-on-one settings and in large groups. We’re very tight at the LLOC.

Now, we also work with a lot of people born in America but nowhere near New York. Often, they need just as much help adjusting as people born outside the U.S. There was a couple who came to New York together from Tampa because they heard they could get HASA services. They came during a blizzard, and all they had were shorts and hoodies. The first place they came was LLOC. We took them to an emergency shelter, and got them clothing, housing. They’ve continued using Alliance’s services and are living in a safer HASA-building. One person is working and the other is currently taking Alliance educational programs to develop their skills.

 

5.        Shifting gears: how have people’s reactions to HIV, and separately, to harm reduction work, changed in your time in the field?

I think that HIV prevention has evolved in the sense that now you can say “I have HIV” and people won’t turn white with fear, like they would for so many years. Florida has their awful “Don’t Say Gay” law. In New York, there was a “Don’t Say HIV” atmosphere for many years. Not the case today, but we have to stay mindful that NYC is not all places, and the culture is different here. Over half of our participants are not from the NYC area, and they’re adjusting to this place.

Now, how has harm reduction changed? It’s more prevalent, it’s talked about more openly now, especially over the last few years, with people knowing words like “safer use” and “Narcan,” even people who don’t use drugs.

 

6.        How has your program changed during the pandemic?

We had to do more Zooms during the pandemic. A lot of our clients are young, and adapted to technology, but it still wasn’t the same level of intimacy.

We tried to expand our working hours and virtual game days to Sunday nights, just to build community. We also had to do a lot more case management and checking up on clients’ medication adherence. People used to show up to different offices on their own schedules, no big deal, and things like medication refills would take care of themselves, but in the early days of the pandemic everything had to be planned out. We had to do more work on the fly.


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

I would be chilling in Montreal, that’s my favorite city. And I would be traveling around the world. I’d take a cruise and go around the world, seeing a different port every day.