Monthly Musings from THP's Executive Director
"Life isn't a matter of milestones, but of moments." ~ Rose Kennedy
November 1st marked my ten year anniversary as executive director of Triad Health Project and believe me, I have had my share of moments - good, bad, gut wrenching and breathtaking.
 | | Addison Ore, Executive Director |
Anniversaries are a good time for reflection and over the last week or so, I've found myself recalling an early powerful moment for me. I had barely started at THP when a long time client died and made it known that he wanted to have his memorial service held at Higher Ground. The client's pastor, upon learning that his congregant had passed away due to AIDS related complications, refused to conduct his service.
The service went on, of course, without the pastor, but it was a brutal introduction to the harsh reality of stigma for me.
I wish that I could tell you that things are so much better ten years later but that would not be true. Stigma is still the number one barrier to just about everything we try to do at THP. It's what keeps people from getting tested and knowing their status; it's what keeps infected folks from getting into care - the fear of someone they know finding out; it's what keeps some people from supporting our mission - an inherent negative judgement about people living with HIV/AIDS.
I've learned so much about stigma from our clients - some who shout angrily about it, others who speak very softly with their heads down. Robin Dorko, our wonderful board member and long time volunteer at Higher Ground, recently captured some clients' feelings about stigma and what THP means to them. She did this with a simple art project, giving everyone a blank sheet of paper and some markers.
I want to share a few of these pieces with you because I want you to see stigma through the eyes of some of our clients. And I also want you to see something else many of them see because of THP - and because of you - Hope.
My profound hope is that we are not still talking about HIV/AIDS stigma in ten more years.
Thank you, as always, for sharing this journey with us.
With gratitude -
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Winter Walk for AIDS and Inaugural Ron Johnson 5K Run!
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Registration is now open for Triad Health Project's 23rd Annual Winter Walk for AIDS and Inaugural Ron Johnson 5K on December 7th at UNCG!
The Winter Walk for AIDS is one of the most significant and important fundraising events for Triad Health Project. The funds raised through sponsorships and community support are essential to maintaining our case management services, Higher Ground day center, and prevention and testing services. This year alone, we'll serve nearly 600 clients living with HIV/AIDS, and reach about 2,500 others through testing and education.
The walk registration is free and a commemorative t-shirt comes with a minimum of $50 raised. The registration fee for the runners is $35 through November 15, then $45 up until race day. All 5K runners will receive a special 5K commemorative t-shirt.
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Mark Cassity, Director of Higher Ground
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Recently, one of our brothers returned from the wound clinic carrying the regular mountain of paper that comes from most routine medical visits these days. And since
he was a smoker he had an additional four pages warning of the toll the addiction
takes on the speed and thoroughness of his recovery. Wounds need the oxygen carried by the blood in order to heal properly.
It struck me as a small but pointed echo, if not validation, of what we pause to do every day here before lunch. We breathe. 
Now clearly, we were all breathing before we paused to start breathing; but it was Thich Nhat Hanh who famously pointed out that the ordinary daily actions of his brother monks (sitting, eating, walking, breathing) are important precisely because of the mindfulness of the act, not the act itself. "When we breathe, we know we are breathing," he says. It makes all the difference in the world.
From Tai Chi to yoga to meditation to acupuncture to __________ (fill in the "alternative" therapy of your choice) and apparently even to some Western medical philosophies, sending energy and oxygen deeply to all of our wounds is fundamental.
Air, it turns out, is great medicine; mindful breathing is good healthcare; and our daily communal exercise may well be the breath of life.
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Cooking with Ninevah
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This is one of my favorite pie recipes, which was adapted from the 1986 edition of Forest Hills Favorites. My family truly embraces the "brown food group", so we use any occasion to enjoy this easy-to-prepare chocolate chess pie. You might question my use of reduced fat butter and fat-free evaporated milk...but believe me...I've also prepared this pie with the regular forms of butter and evaporated milk and I guarantee that you'll find my "modified" version to be just as good...and maybe you'll feel less guilty eating a delicious slice!
Melt in Your Mouth Chocolate Chess Pie
makes 8 servings
Ingredients
½ stick Land-O-Lakes Light Butter, melted
2/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup (5 tablespoons cocoa)
2 medium eggs at room temperature, beaten
1/2 cup fat-free evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pie crust ( I use a Pillsbury Pie Crust that comes rolled up, 2 per box)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the pie crust in an 8 or 9 inch pie plate which has been sprayed lightly with Pam or another cooking spray. Prick the pie crust with the tines of a fork, then set the crust aside while preparing the pie filling. In a medium bowl, stir together the white sugar, brown sugar and the cocoa, then add the melted light butter. Blend the eggs into the sugar/butter mixture until smooth. Gradually stir in the fat-free evaporated milk until it is blended and then add the vanilla. Gently pour the filling into the pie crust and bake for 40 - 45 minutes or until a thin crust forms on the top of the pie. Let cool slightly, then garnish with approximately a tablespoon of whipped cream or Cool Whip, if desired. (It should be noted that that the pie filling can be mixed using only a wire whisk. No mixer is necessary!)
Note: This recipe was developed by Ninevah Wood Murray for use by Make This Yours Teaching Studio.
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Thanksgiving Volunteers Needed!
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On Thanksgiving morning, hundreds of meals will be delivered to THP clients and their families thanks to the generosity and kindness of a small army of volunteers. We're now signing folks up to help. If you're in town on Thanksgiving morning and would like to get into the true spirit of the holiday, this is a great way. Other opportunities to help with meal preparation, packaging, and running are also available.
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Thank You, Addison!
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November 1st marked Addison Ore's ten year anniversary as THP's Executive Director. On behalf of the Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, and loyal supporters, Happy Anniversary!
May you continue to inspire us for many years to come! And may you always remember how much you are needed, respected and valued!
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Your Vote = $1,000 for THP
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Election Day has come and gone, but there is another opportunity to cast your vote!
Please
find THP and vote for us!
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THP's #TBT Film Series
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JOIN US THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20th @ 6:30 pm at Geeksboro for the screening of RENT
This film adaptation of the Broadway musical based loosely on La Bohème features many members of the original cast. It follows a year in the lives of seven friends living the disappearing Bohemian lifestyle in New York's East Village. AIDS and both its physical and emotional complications pervade the lives of Roger, Mimi, Tom, and Angel; Maureen deals with her chronic infidelity through performance art; her partner, Joanne, wonders if their relationship is worth the trouble; Benjamin has sold out his Bohemian ideals in exchange for a hefty income and is on the outs with his former friends; and Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, feels like an outsider to life in general, always behind the camera recording the events but never playing a part.
The show will start at 6:30 pm and admission is FREE. The first 25 tickets will be available for pick up at Geeksboro one week in advance and the other 25 tickets are first come, first serve at the screening. We will host a short discussion after the screening about the relevance of HIV/AIDS in the film.
Please mark your calendar and invite your friends to the last screening in the 2014 #TBT Film Series, The Normal Heart on December 18th!
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Congratulations Mac & Linda!
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Congratulations to Mac and Linda Stroupe for receiving the 2014 Bob Page Equality Champion Award, which is named for a visionary leader in North Carolina's LGBT movement!
Mac and Linda have been longtime THP supporters. Mac, a retired nurse, served on our Board of Directors for 8 years and Linda is the current PFLAG Regional Director for the South Atlantic Region.
Linda and Mac became active after their son, Carter, came out at the age of 13. Following Carter's death in 2010, Linda and Mac continued their pro-equality efforts, advocating for equal rights and justice for all LGBT citizens and becoming dedicated activists for an array of issues, including the HIV/AIDS and the fight for marriage equality.
We thank the Stroupe's for their tireless fight for HIV/AIDS and equality and congratulate them on this award!
Mac and Linda Stroupe
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Welcome, Matt!
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Matt Johnston is our newest member of the THP team! A senior at Elon University, Matt is excited to use his Spanish-speaking skills with clients, assist the Development team with Winter Walk plans, oversee our Christmas Angel program, and volunteer recruitment for Thanksgiving. Always willing to jump right in, Matt is already a huge asset to our team!
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