October 2005

In this issue:

1. Intro
2. What’s new at MAP – African-born Minnesotans make up a growing percentage of new HIV infections; read about our new African Services Initiative
3. Current volunteer opportunities – From Tuesday Niters to Big Hair Mania – how you can get involved
4. Upcoming volunteer opportunities – help make our forum series a success!
5. Did you know? – Is your employer recognizing you for the great things you do?
6. MAP staff recommends – get movie and book recommendations from Doug Flateau, our Wise @ Work coordinator.

Intro

October has gotten off to a busy start here at MAP! Our forum series is in full swing, and I was glad to see some of you at the recent forum with Dr. Ron Stall. I also appreciate the feedback I got from a few of you on last month’s newsletter. Feel free to keep sending me ideas, comments, etc. Read on below for new ways to get involved with MAP!

What’s new at MAP

African Services Initiative

African-born Minnesotans make up a growing percentage of new HIV infections, and we are addressing this with our African Services Initiative, led by MAP staff member Dori Makundi with assistance from African Services Intern Evelyn Kebaya. We are working to understand what is keeping many African-born immigrants from getting tested and knowing their HIV status. Norms in any community can be difficult to change, but our goal is to normalize HIV testing in the local African-born communities.

Evelyn Kebaya
African Services Intern

Over the coming months, we will interview individuals in Minnesota’s African communities to learn their attitudes and knowledge about HIV and what they think will work to prevent HIV among their peers. We will use this information along with behavior change theories to encourage community members to tell their story of how they decided to get tested and know their HIV status. These role model stories will be reproduced in print and other media and widely distributed in community gathering spaces to be used by peer educators and community opinion leaders to promote HIV testing.

We have identified the Kenyan and Liberian immigrant communities to be our first focus, both of which have high rates of HIV. We have formed an advisory committee with members from these and other African immigrant communities who are helping us access community members. As this initiative progresses, I’ll be sure to keep you updated!

Campaign to End AIDS

The Campaign to End AIDS is a coalition of individuals and organizations, including MAP, from across the United States working together to build a strong and relentless response to the HIV pandemic. Beginning in October, nine C2EA caravans will travel across the country – in vans, on buses and even on foot – converging on Washington, DC for Days of Action in November. Minneapolis will be an overnight stop for the Seattle based caravan. There are several opportunities to make the caravanners feel welcomed and supported while they are in our city. The most important is to attend the Caravan Send Off Event on Friday October 28 at 10 am (site to be announced.) For more information on MAP’s involvement with C2EA, contact Lorie Alveshere.

Pancake Breakfast

One of the 2005 Minnesota AIDS Walk Top Ten Teams, the Wildflowers, will host a pancake breakfast benefit on December 3, 2005 at the Calhoun Applebee's from 8:30-10:30. Come join this upbeat bunch of fundraisers and help them kick off their efforts for the 2006 Minnesota AIDS Walk!

Current Opportunities

Media Packets

Do you have an interest in media or non-profit communications? If so, you might be just the volunteer we’re looking for! We need someone to help assemble our Media Packets once a month. This regular opportunity entails cutting articles out of magazines and newspapers, making copies and writing summaries. This volunteer will be supporting us in very important ways, by making sure our presence in the media is well-documented. If you are interested in this position, email me.

Tuesday Niters

Our Tuesday Niters drop-in volunteer night will be on October 11th this month. If you can make it, RSVP to me!

Big Hair Mania

This annual gala will take place at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Saturday, November 12th, and will feature entertainment by Root City Band, Lady Bunny, Bruce Daniels and Margaret Cho. Volunteers will be assisting with registration, security, raffle, auction and strike crew. To find out what shifts are available, email me. You are also invited to experience the event as an attendee. You can buy tickets online or call Scott at 612-373-2411.

Upcoming Opportunities

Allan Spear Forum featuring Esther Kaplan

On Tuesday, November 15 at 7 pm at the Walker Art Center, author Esther Kaplan will host the next Twin Cities event in our forum series. She will be discussing her book, With God on Their Side: George W. Bush and the Christian Right, and answering questions on the Federal crusade to replace science with ideology. If you would like to help with registration that night, let me know! Otherwise, I hope to see you in the audience!

Did you know?

Employer Matches

Many companies and organizations have programs that provide financial matches to employees for donating to non-profits or volunteering their time. Do you know about your employer’s matching program? They are usually handled by the HR department, and many companies also put information on their websites. Why not have your employer augment the great things you are already doing? If you aren’t already familiar with your employer’s program, I encourage you to find out the details! If you have questions about how things work on MAP’s end, contact Scott Bilodeau in our Development Department.

MAP Staff Recommends

Doug Flateau, our Wise @ Work coordinator, does presentations to many business, organizations and labor unions about HIV in the workplace. His presentations discuss discrimination, harassment and other workplace issues, as well as providing a solid base of HIV information to employers. If you think your employer would be interested in having Doug speak, feel free to contact him for more information. If you would like to know what such a well-informed person reads and watches, look below!

Doug’s Recommendations:

Books

Loud And Clear by Anna Quindlen: a collection of her columns—great writer.
Tip O'Neill And The Democratic Century by Jim Farrell.

DVDs

The latest seasons of Rescue Me and Curb Your Enthusiasm (love the combination of uncomfortable and hysterical)
If you haven't seen Sideways yet, I recommend it highly.

Last Updated: Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Questions about our Web site? Email webmaster@mnaidsproject.org

Content Notice: This site contains HIV prevention messages that may not be appropriate for all audiences. Since HIV infection is spread primarily though sexual practices or by sharing needles, prevention messages and programs may address these topics. If you are not seeking such information or materials, please exit this Web site.