Role Model Stories: Erica

I am a 48-year-old lesbian living with HIV. Even so, I decided to have sexual relationships with men because I was afraid of the backlash. At 14, I started a relationship that gave me two children.

The relationship lasted till I was 21. Not long after the breakup I started a new relationship. It was then that I decided to get tested for HIV and STIs. It turned out I was positive. I immediately told my boyfriend, and he told me not to tell anyone. He refused to take a test and we continued to have sex with condoms. He ended the relationship a few months later.

Two years went by, and he contacted me and told me he went for a test and it came back negative. Thinking back to when I got my diagnosis, I was so depressed that I had tried to take my own life. After that, I decided to take charge of my life. I went to the doctor and was prescribed medication.

In 1999 I moved to California and found an organization that helped people that lived with HIV. I worked there until 2002. Due to economic reasons, I had to move back to Georgia. Unfortunately, there were still no organizations that helped people that lived with HIV. In 2006 I moved to Florida where I found an organization called Thap. Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay because I tested positive for marijuana.

Due to spiritual circumstances, I had to move back to Georgia. I stayed in Georgia until 2018. I then received a call from a friend that needed my assistance in New York City. This move was what I needed to make a fresh start. I found another agency that assisted people living with HIV called Brightpoint. While at Brightpoint, I met an outreach worker Diane Tinglin from Alliance of Positive Change who was promoting The Positive Life Workshop (TPLW).

I went for a visit and became part of the Alliance family. I knew Alliance was the place for me. It was there that I became a whole person. A person that was not ashamed of the backlash of my sexuality, my status, and most definitely made me take charge of my life.

After TPLW, I became a Certified Recovery Coach, graduated from PREP and soon after that I became a Peer and completed my courses to become a Certified Peer Worker with the AIDS Institute.

Role Model Stories: Helen

I am a 67-year-old female living with HIV. I didn’t have an easy childhood. I was molested by my stepfather and to ease the pain I started to drink.

A year after that I tried heroin, which wasn't hard to do because my friends also did it. I continued to use because I used to get my drugs for free but that ultimately had a price. I was beaten repeatedly but didn’t care because the drugs always felt good.

At the age of 14— the first time I had sex— I had gotten pregnant, but I was too young to care for another as I was still a child myself. So, I decided to get an abortion. Unfortunately, I was never able to carry again. I continued to use heroin, but as I got older I needed to buy it for myself and couldn’t afford it. That’s when I went to a methadone clinic. That lasted 4 years but I needed my high, so I decided to go to pills. At this point, I didn't care if I lived or died because all I wanted was to get high, so I had no choice.

I started sleeping with men for money and that made me happy though it also turned my life upside down. I was diagnosed with HIV. Even though it was a setback, it also saved my life because I realized that I did want to live. I got myself into a program where I could take back my life.

A friend then introduced me to ASC n/k/a Alliance of Positive Change back in 2008 where I became a Peer intern. That was the greatest thing that could happen to me. I have been so grateful for all my mentors, especially Ramona Cummings. I am also grateful that I can share my story of positive change and inspire others to do the same.

Role Model Stories: Yolanda M.

My name is Yolanda Mitchell and I am 53 years old. I wanted to share my journey of positive change with you. I was raised in what you call a traditional family. I was the only child and had loving parents.

One thing about me is I was a bully. I was always getting in trouble at school and had friends that would allow me to control them. At the age of 14, my mother’s boyfriend attempted to sexually abuse me. I made my mother aware of the situation, and on the second attempt, we beat him up and were arrested.

When I was 18, I decided to leave home to go work at Amserv Home Service as a home health aide where I lived in a rooming house. Not long after that, I met someone and got married. He happened to be a drug dealer even though I never messed with drugs. One day while I was cleaning, I discovered a package and was curious— that is when my addiction started.

My addiction lasted for 14 years. During the time I was using, I was arrested several times which landed me in drug treatment programs and a methadone clinic. After, I knew I wanted and needed a change and that is when I found Alliance in 2014.

Alliance continues to help me with my recovery and getting my life back in order. In 2018 I became a Peer and couldn’t be happier.

Watch "Who's Got Narcan?" and Register for Narcan Trainings

Alliance is proud to share “Who’s Got Narcan?” a short film made in collaboration with production designer and acclaimed stop-motion filmmaker Rachel Razor and photographer/videographer Jordan Hollender. Watch this short film and register for an upcoming Narcan training so you can say “We’ve Got Narcan!”

Carrying Narcan is being a good samaritan, and it’s easy. Virtual trainings are held every Friday at 11:00am: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81555099824?pwd=dGVVZE5FN0gyc1R5TkRVQyttRk0vUT09

Meeting ID: 815 5509 9824. Passcode: 123456

Alliance and Save NY's Safety Net Rally for Community Health in Albany

This Tuesday, Valentine’s Day 2023, over a dozen Alliance staff, Peers, and program participants joined 100 allies from fellow community health providers to protest the state’s plan to carve out Medicaid benefits for 8 million New Yorkers.

“Without intervention by April 1, safety net providers will lose critical resources to care for our communities. The pharmacy benefit program funds services for over 1,000 people at Alliance, alone. Cutting this funding would be a massive moral failure of government.”

— Brenda Starks-Ross, COO, Alliance

Samuel Rodriguez's op-ed on the Medicaid carve out for Gotham Gazette

Our Treatment Adherence Manager Samuel Rodriguez wrote a powerful op-ed for the Gotham Gazette on New York State’s dangerous plan to dismantle the social safety. The pending Medicaid pharmacy benefit “carve-out,” would devastate safety net providers like Alliance and disrupt care for the people we serve. The result? Reduced treatment adherence, increased hospitalizations, and higher healthcare costs, as Samuel points out. Read his article today and email communications@alliance.nyc to get involved today.

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.