20TH Annual AIDS WALK NEW YORK
May 15, 2005

On May 15, 2005 Harlem East Life Plan participated in the 20th Annual AIDS Walk benefiting the Gay Men’s Health Crisis and other AIDS Service Organizations. An AIDS walk committee of several staff members and the patient advocacy committee collaborated to mobilize staff and patients to participate and raise money for this event. The AIDS walk committee launched in-house informational drives as a strategy to recruit members to walk for the May 15th event. The committee members were responsible for registering all staff, patients and their families who were interested in walking or making a monetary donation.  In total, HELP registered 176 walkers.  The theme of “Change The Course of The Epidemic” was the message for bringing about a greater awareness of HIV/AIDS and to educate the public on prevention / treatment.  Our staff, patients, and families were provided with H.E.L.P.’s tee shirts and hats that were worn as a tradition to symbolize our cohesion as a group.  We carried our clinic banner and personal signs and messages in memory of loved ones who have succumb to HIV/ AIDS.  The day was filled with mixed feelings of happiness, sadness, grief, hope and an overwhelming sense of pride.

Staff members, patients and families all walked together for many different reasons. When speaking to them about why they are walking, the most common response was “I’m walking because my friend or family member died of HIV or AIDS.  Some said, “ I’m walking because I am infected or affected by the virus that causes AIDS”.  Many others just simply responded, “I’m walking for a cure and hope that we find one soon” before this gets too out of control. Whatever the underlying reasons was for coming together in unity and collaboration, the message was understood and accepted by all who participated.  The day was festive; there were nationally recognized politicians and other celebrities who shared in the message. Political speeches were made to advocate for monies and legislation to improve the quality of life for those who a living with HIV/ AIDS.  Others participated through volunteerism or donations required to successfully launch an event of this magnitude. 

Harlem East Life Plan has a commitment to its patients, community and society.  We strive to engage our patient’s and community to be more educated about HIV/ AIDS and to have the ability to know their options and make accessible medical / preventative health care in combating HIV/ AIDS.   Through our primary care services and counseling educational services we make available quality treatment that is unique to the needs of our communities. The AIDS walk covered approximately 10-kilometers (6.2 miles).   In total 45,000 walkers and 2,000 volunteers participated on the day of the AIDS Walk raising a sum total of $5.8 million dollars to support HIV / AIDS research.

EAST HARLEM AIDS WALK

On Saturday September 10, 2005, Harlem East Life Plan participated in the 5th Annual East Harlem AIDS Walk and Health Fair, which was collaboration between The East Harlem CARE Network and Iris House Inc.  The role of H.E.L.P. was to assist in raising awareness in the community about HIV/ AIDS and educate individuals about the benefits of getting tested so that they can make informed health care decisions about their lives. East Harlem suffers from the city’s second highest cumulative AIDS and living with AIDS case rates.  Each year many community residents are diagnosed with HIV.  A staff of four (4) from Harlem East Life Plan accompanied by a group of patients eagerly assisted and participated in the AIDS Walk.

Our message for this day was prevention, education, and health care treatment. H.E.L.P.’s primary goal was to strive towards promoting the effectiveness of treatment and health care by making available service access that is unique for the population and community residents. Two staff members were stationed at the informational table providing condoms, educational pamphlets, substance abuse information, methadone education/ service access, free tee shirts, pens, and other incentives.  Community residents were given the opportunity to learn more information about the services that are currently provided at H.E.L.P. and encouraged to scheduled appointments or walk- in to the clinic for access to services and to learn more about the program. 

By having an understanding of the problems that impact the community and being aware of the needs of this community our staff members demonstrated warmth, compassion, and empathy in engaging people who presented to the table.  Living and working in the East Harlem Community, we cannot ignore the overwhelming disparities in HIV/ AIDS, substance abuse and other co morbidities, which plagues East Harlem.  We strive to achieve our mission by making available substance abuse, health care and preventive medicine to those who are at risk and affected.   We believe that the goal was accomplished because a total of one hundred and seventy four (174) people ventured to the table showing interest and several inquiries about how to gain access to these services that were discussed.

Harlem East Life Plan set out to bring awareness about the program and the availability of addiction treatment combined with medical health care treatment which can improve the quality of life for community residents who access these services.  We believe community education is the first step in reducing the sigma that is associated with HIV/AIDS and substance abuse. We have a responsibility to our communities and the residents who live within the communities by providing treatment that works.  We will continue our plight by participating in future health fairs and community education initiatives.

Graduation 2005
Second Annual Commencement Ceremony

On March 24, 2005 a celebration toward sobriety, self-achievement and pride took place as patients from Chemical Dependency and Methadone Maintenance obtained recognition due to overall progress within treatment. Ms. Violet Garcia of Edwin Gould Services for Children, an initiative to end family violence, served as a keynote speaker to inspire patients to continue with sobriety and adherence towards positive achievements obtained.

The following agencies and or representatives were in attendance to solidify the overall commitment devoted from their various agencies in the effort of assisting and servicing their community. Such agencies/representatives noted in the ceremony where OASAS, representative from Councilmen Bill Perkins’ office, representative from Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell, IV office, representative for SEIU Local 7, New York Presbyterian, Mount Sinai Medical Center and the active staff member of Harlem East Life Plan.

Chemical dependency patients were recognized for overall achievements as they were awarded certificates of recognition in response to successfully completing Chemical Dependency program, as well as having obtained significant changes within their lives. Methadone Maintenance patients were awarded certificates as a symbol of continued progress and abstinence with treatment.       

The evening was filled with joy, laughter, accomplishments and an overall sense of self-fulfillment from our patients, whom expressed having obtained stability, security and a feeling of companionship from their experiences obtained in their time of attendance at Harlem East Life Plan.

Also noted in the evening were the various groups, which are conducted by Harlem East Life Plan staff, such as,  Women’s Group, Reality in Recovery as well as Skies The Limit (Spanish oriented group designed to address Hispanic patients’ needs in their first language). The various group members were awarded various memorabilia’s as a symbol of their commitment towards their treatment.

The evening followed by entertainment was an overall success as patients interacted with members of the community, and fellow patients shared mutual accomplishments and long-term commitments with their treatment.

As the evening concluded, patients were granted reassurance by the staff of Harlem East Life Plan in their continued efforts in maintaining a healthier quality of life.

Treatment Works Day Outcome

September is National Recovery Month. Recovery is an inside job and does not relate only to substance use. There are thousands of individuals who are recovering from alcoholism, high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, domestic violence, recidivism and unemployment. These issues are addressed on the socio-economic level and through politics, but what about the “average Joe “ who doesn’t know where to go to get help for their “Recovery”?

Once, again, the Harlem East Life Plan has responded to the needs of the community. The Annual Words Day event was hosted at HELP September 9, 2005. Treatment Works Day is a collaborative effort of service providers who recognize the importance of assisting the community to utilize its resources. The interaction between patients, service providers, HELP staff and the simply inquisitive was great!

There was representatives from Mount Sinai Medical Center, the Osborne Association, NADAP, Iris House and the 88th Street Apothecary. Ms. Elena Baranav, of the 88the Street Apothecary, was attending this event for the first time and was overwhelmed with the turnout and response from the community. She said that she felt honored to be invited to this annual event and looks forward to participating next year.

One of the ore poignant moments that I witnessed was the greeting receive by the representatives of the New York State Probation Department. Their patients were elated to have their probation officers witness their interaction in an environment that fosters health relationships, positive personal development and the incentive to move forward.

There as face painting for the children, lots of food and games. For those individuals who wanted to just sit down and relax, there was a live band playing to the grooves and move from as far back as the 70s to present day hip-hop!

A wonderful time was had by those who attended the event. So, you might ask, what makes an event like this successful? I’ll tell you what, it was three days later when a young woman approached me outside the clinic and asked if I had any more condoms and information on about the myths marijuana use. HELP set out to heighten this community’s awareness and infuse it with information. The young lady on Monday convinced me that our mission was accomplished. Look forward to seeing you next year.