ASALWAYS SPRING 2020 NEWSLETTER
BONNIE’S STORY pg.7
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS pg.6
COMMUNITY SUPPORT pg.10
Today we find ourselves with a new opportunity, one that gets us closer to crossing the finish
LOVE. RIDE. REPEAT
line in the fight against AIDS. Continued on pg 3...
AMPLIFY AUSTIN FEATURE
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4/25/20
WWW.HILLCOUNTRYRIDE.ORG
Life-affirming care for all! Amplify Austin returns March 5th-6th for 24hrs of giving to raise critical funds for non-profits like ASA. Through generous support of the St. David’s Foundation, all donations made to ASA through Amplify Austin will receive a matching percentage. Donate or schedule your gift today at www.amplifyatx.org and help ASA advance world class HIV care. Continued on page 4…
CONTENTS STAFF MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
mission The mission of AIDS Services of Austin is to enhance the health and well-being of the community and people affected by HIV and AIDS.
VISION AIDS Services of Austin envisions an empowered community committed to healthier lives, free from stigma, for people affected by HIV and AIDS.
AT THIS YEAR’S LUNCHEON, Gemma Goodson welcomed everyone to the 2020 Building Healthy Futures Luncheon. Gemma is the Lead Early Intervention Services Specialist in our Health Promotion Department.
CORE VALUES Adaptability • Collaboration • Diversity • Integrity • Respect
WHAT’S INSIDE Leadership Letter
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Amplify Austin
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Program Highlights
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Hill Country Ride AIDS
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Bonnie’s Story
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Events Calendar
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Community Support
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Thank you
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Gemma is part of the team that connects newly diagnosed individuals or people who have fallen out of care to services. EIS is critical in connecting clients to our medical services and our integrated model of care to meet their comprehensive needs. Thank you Gemma for all the work you do in ensuring that we continue to build healthy futures for all Central Texans impacted by HIV!
LEADERSHIP LETTER STRONGER TOGETHER.
AS A LEADER IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HIV, we carry the responsibility for setting the standard of care for Central Texans impacted by HIV. Since our grassroots beginnings as the Austin AIDS Project, we have maintained a steadfast commitment to the health of our clients. Keeping their health in focus and the end of the epidemic in sight has led us to where we are today, so close to crossing the finish line. ASA has never been about remaining the same. When the chance presents itself to enhance and broaden access to care for those we serve, we have always seized upon that opportunity. When Paul Clover believed we could establish an organization that would care for people with AIDS, we did that together. When we had the opportunity to establish the only dental clinic in Central Texas that specialized in HIV, we did that together. When we had the chance to open our doors to comprehensive and life-affirming medical care, we did that together too. Today we find ourselves with a new opportunity, one that gets us closer to crossing the finish line in the fight against AIDS. That opportunity is a partnership with an organization that mirrors our history, our level of care, and our commitment and dedication to our client’s health. That partner is Vivent Health. In Vivent we found a kindred spirit, a nonprofit AIDS Service Organization, and the only Certified Medical Home in the country for HIV. We have done extensive due diligence in exploring this partnership and believe Vivent can be a catalyst in expanding the integrated care model you have helped us build over the last 33 years. ASA remains a strong, healthy organization, and over the next four to five years we could grow on our own to address the needs of the 1,000+ people living with HIV who are not in care. But we do not believe our community can wait that long.
We believe those in need deserve access to lifeaffirming care now. Together with Vivent, we can make that happen sooner. Partnering with Vivent means investments in infrastructure for current services and expediting the expansion of programs and services for communities most at need. The partnership would expand and increase access to our integrated health model and engage more patients in care. Most importantly, our patients and clients will have even better access to life-affirming care that addresses multiple social determinants of health (housing, case management, food and nutrition, legal, social support, behavioral health and more) to optimize health outcomes and achieve viral suppression. This opportunity is the right choice for our patients, clients, and the community. We will be stronger together. Your support, and every donation will always stay local and only serve Central Texas. We will continue to be a Texas nonprofit under our current 501c3. Our local leadership and ASA staff will remain in place. And legacy programs such as the Women Rising Project and The Q will continue their amazing work. Our name will change, but our focus on our clients and those impacted by HIV never will. With Vivent, and with you, we can cross the finish line and truly win the fight against HIV. Together. Thank you for your continued generosity, investment, and stewardship of our work, and most importantly, for your continued support of our clients, patients, and Central Texans impacted by HIV.
CEO
BOARD CHAIR
LIFE-AFFIRMING CARE FOR ALL! Amplify Austin, presented by I Live Here I Give Here (ILHIGH), is a 24-hour fundraising period focused on raising critical funds for over 700 local nonprofits like ASA. This year, it all kicks off on March 5th at 6pm! Join ASA and hundreds of other Austin non-profits in our goal of raising over $10 million for the community. We are stronger together and our clients continue to need your support and investment.
MARCH 5TH - 6TH
100% of all donations and community support stays local. Your amplify gift will only serve Central Texas. You are investing in the only comprehensive care for all Central Texans impacted by HIV.
Through the generous support of the St. David’s Foundation, all donations made to ASA through Amplify Austin will receive a matching percentage. Amplify Austin is your chance to make your gift go even further and help us advance the world class care that we have built together. As we continue to expand our services, your investment is needed to reach more clients. It’s also for those that are not in care, have yet to be diagnosed, and reaching communities that need your support the most to end HIV transmissions. We know you choose to invest in ASA because your gift has an impact on our clients. We will always share that commitment and have the health of our clients in focus. By renewing your support through Amplify Austin, you are renewing your commitment to the health of thousands of Central Texans impacted by HIV. Please support our programs and services with a generous gift on Amplify Austin Day
at www.amplifyatx.org.
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LOVE. RIDE. REPEAT. It’s that time of year the again to hit the hills with The Wheelie Nelsons for the 21st Annual Hill Country Ride for AIDS on Saturday April 25th. Thousands of Central Texans impacted by HIV rely on the programs and services that ASA and the Ride’s nine other benefitting agencies offer. Community support is essential to the success of our clients, which is why we are proud to announce that we have not one, not two, not even three, but FOUR Co-Captains for the Wheelie Nelsons. We are stronger together in the fight against HIV! Your support not only helps clients access medical and dental care, counseling, and social support but also reaches thousands of people through testing and education programs. Our Co-Captains are committed to supporting access to the care our clients need and reaching communities through testing and education programs. They need your support! Donate, Register and join ASA’s Team “The Wheelie Nelsons” at www.hillcountryride.org Wheelie Nelsons Co-Captains: Brandon Metcalf, Lane Strickland, Jen Moreno, and Loren Foseid
REGISTER | RIDE | VOLUNTEER | DONATE JOIN ASA’S TEAM “THE WHEELIE NELSONS” at www.hillcountryride.org!
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HIGHLIGHTS OFFERING CLIENTS THE STABILITY TO FOCUS ON THEIR OVERALL HEALTH is critical to better health outcomes. When we opened the Moody Medical Clinic, we launched behavioral health as part of our full continuum of care for those impacted by HIV. This allows us to address mental health challenges that people impacted by HIV may face. Clients need these services to cope with stigma, trauma associated with their diagnosis, or coming to terms with their sexuality amongst other mental health issues. As we enter year two of clinic operations, the next step for our Behavioral Health Program is expanding access to more people, in particular uninsured persons.
We are proud to be 2020 beneficiaries of Texas Pride Impact Funds. Thanks to their support we will start offering short term mental health services to LGBTQ+ people who are uninsured this spring. In collaboration with the Moody Medical Clinic and our Health Promotion team, clients will have up to 5 sessions with our Behavioral Health Specialist at our Springdale location. Not only will we be expanding behavioral health services at ASA, but this continues our strategy to mobilize services to communities in East Austin. In the last year we have added food bank hours at our Springdale location and now behavioral health. These programmatic expansions mean our services are more accessible than ever before. Thank you to Texas Pride Impact funds for their support in expanding behavioral health services for LGBTQ+ clients at ASA.
ASA Springdale
L to R. Maddy Dwertman, TPIF Board Member with ASA staff members, Paul Scott, Anthony Felder, Alberto Barragan and Martha Breck.
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COMPREHENSIVE CARE:
BONNIE’S
STORY
BONNIE WAS DIAGNOSED IN HER FIRST YEAR OF EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS in Texas after ending up in the hospital for a kidney infection. After a blood test, she was diagnosed as living with HIV. With only 33 T cells and no knowledge of HIV, she didn’t know how long she was going to live. She was immediately connected to care thanks to the health department but continued to experience homelessness for years. After 6 years of living in the woods with her pet pig and two other friends, she knew it was time to secure stable housing so that she could get her daughter back. Bonnie turned to ASA to secure housing, provide nutritious meals through our food bank, and social support through the Women Rising Project, which gave her the stability to focus on her health. By getting her into a two-bedroom apartment, Bonnie regained custody of her 16 year old daughter and is so happy to be by her daughter’s side everyday. Thanks to our peer to peer support programs, she has regained the confidence to start dating again. Her current partner has started PrEP so that he remains negative, and he supports Bonnie remaining in care.
“Having a place to call home is not a luxury. It’s a basic human right.” – Mamadou Balde, Director of Housing Services
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UPCOMING EVENTS
MARCH 5th - 6th
Amplify Austin
APRIL 1st
Vivent Health Launch
10th 18th
25th
MAY 16th JUNE 19th
ART EROTICA The Octopus Club’s sexiest fundraiser is back benefiting the Paul Kirby Emergency Fund.* More info coming soon.
20th
JUNK SHOW
27th
*The Octopus Club and Art Erotica Event are being spearheaded by Roger Grape and Dee Frazier and currently recruiting. Contact Christopher Alberts if interested in getting involved by emailing christopher.alberts@asaustin.org.
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SAVE THE DATES 6/20
Junk Show
What’s Junk got to do with it? Save the date for ASA’s first annual, Junk Show! Fashion and awareness collide to showcase intimate pieces themed around HIV awareness. More details coming soon! If you are interested in modeling or designing a piece for Junk Show, contact our Development Coordinator at devin.walker@
asaustin.org/events
9/5
Freddie for a Day
Is it too early to start growing that mustache out? Freddie for a Day returns to the ABGB for a night of live music, lip sync battles, and Freddie Mercury swag! $15 donation suggested at the door. More info coming soon!
asaustin.org or 512-406-6112.
9/19
2020 Step to Zero
Want to go on a FIRST DATE? Join us for a First Date with ASA to hear client stories and learn about our integrated approach to HIV care.
We’re taking AIDS out of the AIDS Walk and we need your help to remove AIDS from our community with zero new HIV transmissions. Join our Step to Zero Committee! We’re recruiting advocates and community leaders to make this year’s Step to Zero a huge success! Email our Development Coordinator at devin.walker@asaustin.org
First Dates with ASA are the second Wednesday of every month from 6:15pm-7:15pm at 7215 Cameron Rd. Austin, TX 78752. RSVP to Devin Walker at devin.walker@ asaustin.org or 512-406-6112. Interested in hosting a First Date with ASA at your company? Contact our Development Coordinator at devin.walker@asaustin.org or 512-406-6112.
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COMMUNITY SUPPORT 2020 LUNCHEON MATCH CONTRIBUTORS
Thank you to our long standing supporters and stakeholders for their contributions to our Luncheon Match and their commitment to maintaining the legacy of ASA and model of care we have built together until the end of the fight against HIV. With your support we will continue to make decisions that are in the best interest of our clients.
Lew Aldridge Jason Berkowitz & Matt Smith Bill Dickson Terry Eaton and Robert Williams Jeremy Guiberteau & Dan Jackson Richard Hartgrove & Gary Cooper 2020 LUNCHEON SPONSORS
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Kirk Rice Anna Sanchez & Katrina Pruitt Mary Herr Tally & Rusty Tally Kirby Watson Vivent Health
THANK YOU LUNCHEON CO-CHAIRS:
Thank you to our Luncheon Co-Chairs for making the 2020 Building Healthy Futures Luncheon a huge success!
MATTHEW REDDEN
MATT SMITH
AISHA WHITE, M.D.
Thank you to our 2020 Patron Circle Inductees for their generous support of ASA, and dedication and commitment to building healthy futures for all Central Texans impacted by HIV:
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Thank you to Maria for sharing her story with us at the 2020 Building Healthy Futures Luncheon. “In one of our support groups, we were asked to paint un dibujo. I painted a sunrise on the beach. El sol representa the sunlight that we all have within us that comes and goes, but never fades away. If you look closely, there are some rocas en el océano. If people were like the ocean then todos nos movemos juntos. We all have to stick together even if some of us are crashing into some rocks. We are not any less human because we are viviendo con VIH.” Maria’s Painting
-Maria
To donate on behalf of our Patron Circle Inductees visit asaustin.org
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2020 AUSTIN LEADERSHIP Paul E. Scott, Chief Executive Officer Susan E. Campion, Chief Programs Officer Christopher Alberts, Director of Development Mamadou Balde, Director of Housing Services Alberto Barragan, Director of Health Promotion Leah Graham, Director of Grant Resources Ana M. Herrera, DNP, RN, FNP-C, Director of Clinical Services Ericka Hobbs-Session, Director of Finance Antonio Menchaca, DMD, Director of Dental Services Melissa Rios, Director of Access Services
Vikki Whorton, PHR, SHRM-CP, Director of Human Resources David P. Wright, MD, Director of Medical Services Caitlin Simmons, Associate Director of Food & Nutritional Services Lane Strickland, Associate Director of Development
ASA Staff at 2020 Staff Retreat
Thanks to our major 2020 annual sponsors
www.asaustin.org
