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TruthAIDS is a non-profit organization established for the purposes of:
- promoting gender equity within relationships as an HIV prevention strategy
- creating community based popular education forums that advance preventative health
- developing internet-based media tools to foster collective efficacy
- engaging individuals to contribute directly to developing a human rights culture in the United States
BUILDING A MOVEMENT:
" learning, teaching, changing..."
May 2008
5/30/08
TruthAIDS will be a partnering with Milcreek Baptist Church for the Stop the Violence Conference in Philadelphia. We will be helping buy back guns off the street. Come support. To learn more click here.
5/1/08
The first in a pipeline of TruthAIDS Community Partnership Media projects for 2008 is completed!!! TruthAIDS filmed and interviewed the women of the Young Women of Color HIV Coalition during their second annual health summit and the 32 minute documentary film is done!!! It is an inspiring piece of activism with the young women of YWCH speaking for themselves.
5/1/08
PALMS ladies group finished off with a Bang!! The ladies comments about sisterhood were fierce. The lesson of the day was: young women need to learn to prioritize their female friendships instead of fighting for the attention of men. Sisterhood is a relationship that takes work, just like any other. Support each other ladies... the men will follow.
April 2008
The Black Organization of Soul Sisters at Barnard, TruthAIDS' first college partner, is ready to follow-up in action as a result of their February Truth Circle. They have decided to use oral histories as a way of telling their own stories collectively. Tiara Miles will be leading efforts. Go ladies!!!
4/29/08
The fifth round of interventions with PALMS begins. This times it's the ladies!
4/28/08
TruthAIDS featured in the Women in Business issue of NV magazine. Cover title names Dr. Mandefro and Dr. Silva as "The Lifesavers: Modern Day Medicine Women Battling the Ills of HIV." NV After Hours will be honoring TruthAIDS at their After Hours event Monday at Barna (365 Park Ave South), 6-10pm. Go support as a portion of proceeds from the bar will go to TruthAIDS.
In Washington, D.C. the Women's Collective welcomed back Dr. Mandefro for the graduation of their intergenerational sexual health program participants, Sister Act! Dr. Mandefro taped their video journals as reminders to the ladies of the lessons learned. The theme was "sisterhood is power"! The stories and thoughts the ladies shared were examples of courage and action. Sister Act deserves to be commended and the video narratives will speak volumes about the lessons the participants learned. Shout out to Jeanine, Abby, and Nayantara!!! You ladies are graceful guides with much to share.
4/22/08
Fourth round of HIV prevention intervention with PALMS is underway. It was a tough group of young men but after the first day, more than 50% of participants got tested!!!!
4/19/08
Dr. Bob Fullilove (Columbia University) officially joined the TruthAIDS Advisory Board. His background in community organizing as a former SNCC member combined with his extensive contribution to the HIV research literature, especially as it relates to African Americans, is a welcomed blend that will add much wisdom to the TruthAIDS family.
4/18/08
Dr. Robert Roswell will be holding the first official male TruthCircle in Washington D.C.!!! Pictures and stories to follow.
4/17/08
TruthAIDS officially welcomes its new advisory board members Dr. Evan Lyon (Harvard Medical), Dr. Mindy Fullilove (Columbia University) and Pat Harriet Jackson (Montefiore Adolescent AIDS Program). Combined they bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in HIV prevention internationally, domestically, and among marginalized population. We are thrilled to have them join the TruthAIDS family.
4/16/08
Second Philadelphia community partnership officially launched!!! Dr. Mandefro helped kick off a fatherhood mentorship program at E3 Center West. The outgrowth of the February male TruthCircle. The journey of 18 young men begins... TruthAIDS is excited to finally start working with young men and the many lessons that lie ahead.
4/14/08
TruthAIDS officially launched it's Washington, D.C. community partnership with the Women's Collective. Dr. Mandefro ran an oral history workshop for their intergenerational sexual health program. Dancing, laughter, crying, and love was in the air with the baddest little 12 year old drummer Charmia keeping the beat for the evening. Unbelievable!!! The movement has definitely begun... Their video narratives will be a gift to us all. Keep speaking truth to power!
4/6/08
Dr. Silva was a panelist on a forum entitled "What Our Girls Need to Know! Teen Pregnancy Awareness Forum" organized by P.E.T.A.L. (Positively Empowering Teengirls About Life). It was an amazing event, attended by over 100 teen girls, and several parents. We talked mostly about self-esteem and healthy relationships, and had some very honest discussions about love and sex. Check out http://www.petalinc.org/
4/5/08
Day 1 of production on the first video narrative for the Philadelphia based-oral history project. David Jenkins shared wisdom, love and light on camera. His truths leave little room for doubt. He's got a message for the children and he is intent on telling it.
4/3/08
Dr. Mandefro and Visiting Professor Sarah Lewis talked about TruthAIDS Expressive Rights interventions at Yale University, as part of the African American Studies Endeavors Colloquium. The talk was received well and the Anthology of Love was publicly birthed.
March 2008
3/23/08
Oral history project continues in Philadelphia with the first Philadelphia participant David Jenkins! David was featured in Dr. Mindy Fullilove's book Root Shock and took Dr. Mandefro to Easter Sunday mass to meet his church home. David has been HIV positive since 1981 and is a walking testimony to the history of the HIV epidemic in the United States. It will be an honor to tell his story.
3/22/08
Dr. Mandefro spoke at the Young Women of Color HIV/Collective Health Summit in Brooklyn, New York. The theme of the summit was Me, Myself and I: Thinking of Me First. Over 150 young women were at the event and 54 got tested!!! Go YWCHC. TruthAIDS will continue to collaborate with you as you grow. Many of the girls shared their stories with Dr. Mandefro as part of the oral history project TruthAIDS is kicking off highlighting the steps communities are taking to heal. There were tears, laughs, and lots of dancing. The theme in many of the conversations was exploitation.
3/18/08
TruthAIDS participated in a third round of HIV interventions in partnership with PALMS (Preventing AIDS Through Live Movement and Sound). The partnership continues to grow and thrive. It has been the biggest gift of 2008. TruthAIDS work with PALMS is being written up in the quarterly report to formalize the partnership. It's official, the Philadelphia community-based partnerships have begun!!!
3/15/08
Dr. Mandefro presented TruthAIDS work as part of the Left Forum on a panel discussing HIV prevention at Cooper Union. Co-panelists were Dr. Bob Fullilove and Dr. Rodrick Wallace.
3/10/08
Dr. Mandefro spoke at Women's HIV Testing Day event at the E3 center, Philadelphia, PA. We surpassed the goal of getting 50% of participants tested!!!! The event was a hit and the two TruthCircles were amazing. 54 young women attended the event.
3/07/08
Shout out to Shea Scott at UCLA who wrote and performed her senior thesis MFA on TruthAIDS' founder Dr. Mandefro as part of the UCLA Activist Project. The play was called "Stripped: Triple Consciousness". The TruthAIDS family was blown away by the performance. There will be a video recording on the new website. Shea joined the TruthAIDS family to help out with West Coast efforts.
Shout out to Men United for a Better Philadelphia. Mark and Hassan you are shining examples of positive strength and commitment. TruthAIDS would be honored to support your efforts in whatever way possible. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge and passion.
2/27/08
The young men of E3 West stole my heart in Philadelphia today! I have never seen so much intellect, honesty and emotional exchange among a group of young men. It was the first male TruthCircle in its highest form. Thank you for sharing your stories and your time.
TruthAIDS starts production on a free documentary Disparities: Peoples and Places (Part I of 4-part series) with Project54 Tour!!!!
TruthAIDS will be recruiting their first college campus of volunteers at Barnard College. BOSS will be an official TruthAIDS collaborator.
January 2008
TruthAIDS is officially collaborating with Philly-based HIV prevention project, PALMS, that uses live drama based on real patient stories to teach about HIV. After the interventions, TruthAIDS is helping with testing, counseling, and answering questions. The participants are 16-22 and represent at risk young adults that are either court-mandated or trying to get their life back on track.
December 3, 2007
TruthAIDS attended the CDC National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta, GA. Many valuable contacts made and new leads on promising partnerships.
December 1, 2007
TruthAIDS is teaming up with Jacqui Patterson (ActionAid USA) and Aishah Shahidah Simmons (AfroLez Productions) to create a documentary about the intersection of HIV/AIDS and violence against women. Once completed this feature length documentary will be available for FREE. Thank you for all your entries which spanned from the Ukraine to Kenya! The contest is officially closed. The production team tallied the votes and the name is Painting Our Courage: A Revolution to End Gender Based Violence and HIV & AIDS. We are very excited about the title!!!! Telling this story takes nothing short of courage.To learn more about the documentary. (click here) . November 2007
TruthAIDS joined Women of Color United, thanks to Jacqui Patterson.
Dr. Mandefro lectured to Penn undergrads about African American women and HIV/AIDS as part of the Health and Society majors course. New volunteers joined the TruthAIDS teams.
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