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World AIDS Day 2011 - Time for Action
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On December 1st, 2011 -- around the world and throughout the United States -- communities will come together to mark the 23rd Annual World AIDS Day.
Throughout Oregon and SW Washington, HIV/AIDS service organizations working both locally and globally have come together for the third year in a row to ensure a coordinated World AIDS Day campaign. Last year via this coordinated effort, over 40 events took place throughout the region.
Anyone can host an event -- be it a school, government body, religious organization, bar, non-profit, you name it. For tips on organizing your own event, or to register your event and ensure others know about it -- simply go to www.worldaidsdaynw.org. You get the event organized and registered, and we'll help get the word out with 13 billboards around town for World AIDS Day advertising the site, and hundreds of posters in neighborhood shops.
At Cascade AIDS Project we're taking more than one approach to observing the day. Via our "What's New in HIV?" educational symposiums, we're thrilled to host National Minority AIDS Council Executive Director Paul Kawata as he talks about treatment as prevention and a possible route for ending the AIDS pandemic. Later that night, we go from education to party as Kimpton Hotels (Hotel Monaco) show their commitment as a partner in the fight against AIDS by once again hosting a Red Ribbon Party benefiting Cascade AIDS Project.
Join friends, donors and CAP staff on December 1st from 7pm - 10pm at Hotel Monaco for the Red Ribbon Party. Poison Waters will host "Drag Queen Bingo," and Hotel Monaco will provide a Live Auction (travel-oriented packages), Raffle (comfortable travel items), and signature cocktails. This event is free to attend but it is a fundraiser, so come prepared to party and give. There will be Red-Ribbon-clad models on hand selling raffle and drink script. It's a fun way to honor World AIDS Day and to help make a difference!
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What's New in HIV Symposium
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Join Paul Kawata, Executive Director of the National Minority AIDS Council, on December 1st for this town hall style presentation about the latest information on HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment. Light refreshments and networking time are included.
Thursday, December 1, 2011, World AIDS Day
Doors open at 5pm - Presentation begins at 5:30pm,
followed by hosted reception ending at 7pm
TasP, HPTN, NHAS: what do these letters have to do with the end of HIV/AIDS, and why do we care?
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Paul Kawata
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Join us for an evening with Paul Kawata, Executive Director of the National Minority AIDS Council, as he talks about the beginning of the end of HIV/AIDS. Paul will discuss the new concept of Treatment as Prevention (TasP) and how it dovetails with the HIV Prevention Trial Network's (HPTN) latest research, demonstrating that early HIV treatment can reduce transmission by 96%. He will provide a roadmap on how TasP and HPTN align with the nation's first ever National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) to create more than a list of letters. What is your role in this movement? We are at a turning point in the epidemic. Make sure you have the latest information so you can play your role.
Mercy Corps Action Center Event Space
28 SW First Ave, Portland, OR 97204
RSVP to whatsnew@cascadeaids.org or 503.278.3801.
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HIV & STD Testing in Clark County
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 CAP's clinic in Vancouver, WA (3701 E Fourth Plain Blvd) is now offering free STD screening, in addition to rapid HIV testing, as part of a new collaboration with Clark County Public Health. The services offered at the clinic now include hepatitis A/B vaccinations, as well as screening for gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis. Everything at the clinic is free for guys into guys, including gay, bisexual, and trans guys.
We are open every Tuesday from 11am - 1pm and Thursday from 4 - 8pm. And remember, with CAP HIV testing locations also in Clackamas and Washington counties, you can Test Where You Live! For more information about CAP's work in Clark County, feel free to email Daniel Schollaert or call our clinic at 360-750-7964.
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Support for Positive African Americans
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Maurice Evans
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CAP's Housing and Support Services is excited to launch an education and support group specifically for African Americans living with HIV. Led by Maurice Evans, the Minority AIDS Initiative Services Navigator, the group will meet monthly and provide an opportunity for participants to learn new skills and information, share challenges and strategies with one another and build community. The group will feature speakers from the community on topics such as staying adherent to medications, tips for supporting mental health through the rainy winter months and ideas for how to talk with family and friends about HIV.
This group is supported by CAP's Ryan White funding from Multnomah County. If you'd like more information, please contact Maurice Evans.
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National Latino AIDS Awareness Day Event
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On October 14th Cascade AIDS Project (CAP) and Pivot commemorated National Latino  AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD). NLAAD was established in 2003 to draw attention to the critical role HIV testing, prevention and education play in stemming the spread of HIV/AIDS among Hispanics/ Latinos. This year the theme for NLAAD was: "Latinos unite! Let's stay healthy! Get tested for HIV. Latinos unidos y saludables! Hazte la prueba del VIH."
During the month of October you may have seen the art of many local Latin@ artists in Pivot. These works of art represent the ideas and inspirations of these artists and are an example of their identities. As part of the celebration, participants left wishes and memories on a giant paper mach� skull created by CAP staff. This skull is on display in Pivot, so stop by and take a look.
As a celebration of Latino culture, art and music, this event honored the unique experience for Latin@s in Oregon. A strong theme for the night was health and wellness, and many folks decided to get an HIV test while at the event. To see more images from the event plus a video of one of the performers, Edna Vasquez, click here.
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City of Portland & CAP win $1.3 Million Award from HUD
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This summer, via a partnership including the City of Portland, CAP, and Work Systems, a proposal was submitted to the Department of Housing and Urban Development / Housing Opportunity for People with AIDS / Special Programs of National Significance (HUD/HOPWA/SPNS). Well over 40 proposal were submitted across the country, and only seven -- including the Portland collaboration -- were selected for award. While the City of Portland will be the primary recipient of the $1.3 million award over a three year period, over $1 million will be sub-contracted to Cascade AIDS Project.
This funding provides ongoing support for three full years of CAP's employment program, Working Choices, with a goal of also ensuring linkages and synergies with Work Systems. In addition, funding will provide for another full-time housing position at CAP and $182k per year for three years in direct rent assistance, thereby helping CAP take a significant bite out of the current wait list of those in need of stable housing. The program is anticipated to begin in January of 2012.
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Across The Country & Around the World
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HIV Risk After Release from Prison -- Former inmates face numerous challenges when they leave prison and reenter into society. They may struggle with finding housing, employment and community, plus many former inmates have histories of substance abuse and other behaviors that put them at risk for HIV and hepatitis C. A group of researchers designed a study to "understand how such individuals perceived their risk for these diseases after prison, the behaviors and environmental factors that put patients at risk for new infection, and the barriers to accessing health care." The study was composed of a diverse group of twenty men and nine women who were interviewed within two months of their release from prison to the Denver, Colorado community. The researchers found that the former inmates engaged in risky behaviors such as unprotected sex, transactional sex and drug use; the majority of these activities took place within the first few days post-release. It was concluded that immediately after release from prison the risk factors for HIV and hepatitis C were prevalent among former inmates. Collaborative efforts are needed between correctional facilities and other organizations to educate inmates about HIV and hepatitis C to prevent new infections.
Politician Attacks Gay Blood Ban -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced a plan to study the law banning blood donations by gay men. Representative Mike Quigley (D) from the Illinois Congress stated, "science, technology and education have advanced since the inception of this discriminatory policy, and it's time the policy evolves as well." He noted that by updating the U.S. policy on blood donations, the U.S. will "demonstrate our commitment to equality and offer those in need of lifesaving blood transfusions much-needed help."
More on Treatment as Prevention -- In the past few months multiple studies have confirmed the effectiveness of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and early initiation of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in the prevention of the transmission of HIV among heterosexual couples. The CDC released results from the TDF2 study stating "the first evidence that a daily oral dose of antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV infection can reduce HIV acquisition among uninfected individuals exposed to the virus through heterosexual sex." The TDF2 study used a once daily tablet containing tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) more commonly known as Truvada.
Another study conducted by the University of Washington called the Partners PrEP study, used two separate antiretroviral regimens, tenofovir (Viread) and TDF/FTC. Both regimens were shown to significantly reduce HIV transmission among serodiscordant couples (where one person is HIV-positive, the other negative). The director of CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention said, "these are exciting results for global HIV prevention. We now have findings from two studies showing that PrEP can work for heterosexuals, the population hardest hit by HIV worldwide. Taken together, these studies provide strong evidence of the power of this prevention strategy." A previous study showed PrEP reduced HIV transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM), but a study had not shown the effectiveness of PrEP among heterosexual couples.
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Thank You Donors!
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Our work at Cascade AIDS Project is only possible thanks to the generous support of thousands of contributors. While we can't list all of them here, we're grateful for every donation of any size. Below, we highlight those gifts of over $1,000 received from September 7 to October 26, 2011:
Alaska Airlines
Amica Companies Foundation
Ball Janik LLP
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS
CC Slaughters
Cuda Beach Club
Equity Foundation
Eric Lancaster Household
Estate of Lloyd W. Nelson
Fred Meyer
Garberos Photography
Heather and Tod Killough Household
Herman and Andi Marenstein Household
Independent Dispatch, Inc.
JetBlue Airlines
Jody Murray Household
LANpro Solutions LLC
Mike Potter
Pride Financial Partners
Robert Hoyman Household
Sheldon Donig Household
Spirit Mountain Community Fund
Susan Svetkey
Sweethearts of Portland
Team Portland Tennis Association
William Carter
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