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GAY PE PLE'S CHRONICLE
communitygroups
Volunteer Juanita Smith receives David's Award
Toledo David's House is an HIV and AIDS service organization serving a 20-county area in Northwest Ohio. David's House exists to enhance the dignity and quality of life for people with HIV and AIDS, and to provide housing, emergency financial assistance, case management, and other supportive services to over 460 men, women, and children living with HIV and AIDS and more than 350 uninfected family members. Educational programming offered by
David's House reaches over 10,000 people each year.
In 1998, the board of trustees of David's House Compassion, Inc. established an annual award, the David's Award, to recognize a pioneering or long-term commitment to serving the needs of peoples with AIDS and HIV infection in Northwest Ohio.
The recipient of this year's award, Juanita Smith, truly personifies the kind of commitment to the community that often goes unrec-
LBA seeks community ideas at town meeting
Columbus-As we approach the halfway mark of 2000, many of us at the Lesbian Business Association are putting plans and ideas together for directions on the organization's future. We would like to hear your ideas and what you want from the LBA. On Thursday, July 13, at 7:30 pm, the LBA will host a Lesbian Town Meeting to hear your thoughts and ideas for what you would like from the organiza-
small group of lesbian business owners banded together to create a network of support and information to further acceptance and success of their organizations. Many of their original goals and dreams have been achieved through their years of hard work and dedication to the lesbian community.
ognized. Each and every person who hears her speak is touched by her warmth, her sincerity, her dedication, and her compas-
sion.
Initially, she was inspired to become involved in AIDS activism by her son, Donald. She became a trained HIV instructor, speaking to community groups, church groups, school groups, and any one who would listen in an attempt to prevent the spread of new HIV infections and to aid compassion and tolerance.
opened doors that many had thought were barred. She was instrumental in creating an HIV/AIDS committee and an education program at Indiana Avenue Baptist Church.
David's House
Her role as a volunteer, not only for David's House, but for the Men of Color Project as well, has taken her throughout the community where she never misses an opportunity for education. Within her church, she has
On a smaller scale, but just as important, she has become an active member of P-FLAG, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, and has met with parents who have struggled with their child's homosexuality or HIV status, offering them support, information and her uniquely personal touch.
As a natural outcome of her outreach, she has strengthened our community and our sense of community. She is living proof that one thoughtful and committed person can change our world for the better.
New program will speed
It is time to set new goals and access to HIV services
expand the directions of the organization. What began with only
a handful of women has ex-
tion in the upcoming months panded to include all lesbian
and years. Please bring your
thoughts, ideas, and suggestions for events and programs that you feel would make the LBA more valuable to you.
The Town Meeting will be at the LBA office, 19 West Brighton Rd. in Clintonville, 614-267-3953.
The LBA began over 13 years. ago when a
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women and all aspects of our lives. We invite each of you to join us with your ideas and energy.
With the same spirit those few women began this organization, we can move forward in directions they only dreamed of. We joyfully ask you to be part of the spirit that is the lesbian community. Hope to see you there.
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Cleveland-The AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland will begin a new program to provide early intervention case management services to people newly diagnosed with HIV or AIDS.
Funded by a grant award from the Ohio Department of Health, the Early Intervention program will provide social work support, Ryan White access, care coordination and referrals to 100 individuals over the course of the grant cycle.
that we can assist individuals in maintaining optimal health and well-being."
The new program will be housed at the AIDS Taskforce, with satellite services provided at the Agape Program of Antioch Bap-
AIDS
tist Church, and at Proyecto Luz on Cleveland's West Side. Agape and Proyecto Luz are both faith-based HIV initiatives respectively serving the African American and Latino communities.
"The multi-agency collaboration is critical," added Pike, "because of the growing evidence of racial disparities in HIV care. AIDS is having a devastating ef-
TASKFORCE fect on the African American and
OF GREATER CLEVELAND
"Given the availability of new and effective treatments and services, it's essential that people with HIV link up with the service system as soon as possible after diagnosis," said Earl Pike, the AIDS Taskforce's executive director. "All too often there is a gap of 18 months, or even much longer, between the time people find out they have HIV and the time they access available resources and supports. Our goal is to shorten that time as much as possible, so
Latino communities, and the resources are simply insufficient to
meet the need."
For more information on the Early Intervention Case Management program, contact Katherine Caruso, LISW, at the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland, 216621-0766.
♡
Fan group's Crew tickets to benefit Project Open hand
Columbus-There's something about soccer. The World Cup probably had the highest gay male audience of any sporting event in history; all those handsome men running around in shorts small enough and tight enough to be fodder for weeks of fantasies afterwards. Gay men probably kicked up the Nielsen ratings for that event quite a bit. Now, soccer is giving something back. The Columbus Crew, Ohio's Major League Soccer team (and the
only team in the nation with a stadium made specifically for soccer) will be donating $4 of every $12 ticket sold by the gbltCrewFans mailing list for the August 16 game to Project Open Hand Columbus.
Project Open Hand Columbus is an AIDS service organization that focuses on the nutritional needs of people living with HIV and AIDS. They conduct educational workshops, as well as a free meals on wheels program, for people with AIDS. In August, Project Open Hand will be delivering their 100,000th meal.
The fan group is aiming to sell 500 tickets,
in the north side of the stadium, by August 1, for a total donation of $2,000 to Project Open Hand.
Ten tickets were sold at Columbus Pride. "I'm pleased, since people weren't really planning on picking up tickets to a soccer game," says Mark Kory Dean, head of gbltCrewFans, "that isn't going to be played until August 16, at the festival."
PROJECT
OPEN HAND
Columbus
gbltCrewFans.
Tickets are $12, a third of which will be donated by the Crew. They are available through Project Open Hand Columbus. For tickets, send check or money order, along with your name, address, daytime phone, and email to Project Open Hand Columbus, 82 East 16th Ave., Columbus Ohio, 43201; attn:
For more information, call 614-298-8334 or e-mail POHC@aol.com. To join the gbltCrewFans, log onto http:// www.egroups.com/group/gbltcrewfans. For more information on Project Open Hand Columbus, go to http://www.out incolumbus.com/POHC.