The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH)
Offers New Workshop for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS

The NYC DOHMH will host The Positive Life Workshop onThursday, December 8^thin the Bronx.  This four hour workshop is for persons living with HIV/AIDS and provides participants with the knowledge, motivation, and skills necessary to improve their health, support their immune system, increase treatment adherence, reduce risk behaviors, and develop health supporting routines.  This free, interactive workshop will be coordinated by the NYC DOHMH and led by men and women living with HIV. The workshop will include a variety of empowering presentations, skills building activities, and peer-led group discussions in a safe and confidential space. Continental breakfast and lunch are provided.  People who are newly-diagnosed with HIV or who have been out of care for the previous nine months are strongly encouraged to attend.

Registration:
Please call The Positive Life Workshop registration line to register. The phone number is 347-396-7596.

Pre-registration is required.

The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH) will host The Positive Life Workshop: September 28-30, 2011.

The Positive Life Workshop is a new HIV education workshop series for persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). This workshop series will give PLWHA the knowledge, motivation, and skills necessary to improve their health, support their immune system, increase treatment adherence, reduce risk behaviors, and develop health supporting routines. These free, interactive workshops will be coordinated by the NYC DOHMH and led by men and women living with HIV. Workshops will include a variety of empowering presentations, skills building activities, and peer-led group discussions in a safe and confidential space.

Free condoms, metro card, nutritious food, resource manual, health journal, pill box, and health fair will be provided.

A flyer for the workshop can be found here.

For more information or to register for the workshop series, please call 347-396-7596.

What a difference 20 years makes.

Since our launch in 1990, ASC has grown into a multi-service, multi-lingual, multi-million dollar organization.  With more than 90 staff and four community centers throughout Manhattan, we provide HIV testing, treatment and care to more than 3,600 people affected by HIV/AIDS.  We reach another 14,000 people through peer education and community-outreach initiatives.

Just as important, ASC has become a social-change agency.  People first encounter ASC as clients.  Once they stabilize their health and lives, they join our Peer Program, bringing information and resources to communities in need.  Many Peers leave welfare and rejoin the work force, either at ASC or other organizations. These men and women courageously turn their lives around.  It’s a joy to know that ASC’s safe, supportive environment plays a role in that process.

The picture was very different two decades ago.  ASC began with three staff  in donated office space from the Design Industry Foundation for AIDS (DIFFA).  With the help of one $170,000 grant from the NY State AIDS Institute, we were able to offer service coordination and technical support for people affected by the HIV/AIDS health crisis. 

Within a year, we doubled ASC’s budget, staff, and services.  Seven of us crammed into a tiny space, sitting in a circle, sharing three phones. Whenever I’d say “step into my office,” we’d go into the stairwell, because that was the only private place.

During the past year our focus has expanded to building effective partnerships with medical facilities.   Our aim is to connect those living with HIV/AIDS in quality medical care – and help them maintain that care.  Despite the economic downturn, ASC is proud to be expanding our programs, service sites, and jobs to meet an ever-growing need.  

Looking back at ASC’s two decades of service, I am humbled by our modest beginnings and proud of our extraordinary accomplishments. Our 20^thyear anniversary celebrations will begin with a “Poetry Slam” @ NYU in January and culminate with a gala anniversary event to be held next fall. 

It’s been an honor and privilege to be part of this remarkable organization’s evolution and positive impact. I look around ASC and see so many people who have turned their lives around, giving so much back to the community. They are my heroes, and my inspiration for doing this work.

- Sharen I. Duke, Executive Director/CEO

ASC has given our website a facelift by giving our organization a face.   Only the address remains the same:  www.ascnyc.org.  Now you can meet our clients and see their stories come to life through breathtaking, heartwarming pictures in our website’s photo gallery.  We’ve created direct feeds to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.  Let us know what you think of our new, user-friendly, easier to navigate, up-to-date website.  Our sincere thanks to Brooke Brailey, David Nager, Jesse Lansner and Kim Atkins for their work in making the new website happen.  

It’s never too late to make the holidays special for the men, women and families we serve.  Contribute to ASC’s Annual Holiday Gift Drive.  Clients have been so grateful for gifts including new cosmetics, toiletries, warm clothing, books, games, videos, and other fun and useful items. All donated gifts will be distributed at our annual December client holiday gathering. 

Put a smile on the face of an ASC client.  Donating is easy.  Contact Brooke Brailey at (212) 645-0875 x 303, or email brooke@ascnyc.org (All donations are tax deductible.).

Hosted by Nick Flynn and Gerry Gomez Pearlberg

Thursday, January 6, 2011, 6 p.m.–8:00 p.m.

Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House at NYU

58 West 10th Street, Manhattan

Our nationally recognized Creative Writing Workshop marks a milestone this year.  Join acclaimed poets Nick Flynn and Gerry Gomez Pearlberg for ASC’s electrifying 10-Year Poetry Slam. You’ll hear from clients who’ve discovered their voices as poets thanks to this groundbreaking creative program.  

Award-winning actress Lili Taylor will join other surprise guest readers.  Don’t miss one of the literary events of the year!  

For more information, contact Brooke Brailey, Special Projects Manager, brooke@ascnyc.org.

Front Runners Wellness Room Naming

Friday, February 4, 2011 6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m.

ASC/Union Square, 41 East 11^thStreet, Manhattan

ASC will dedicate the Front Runners NY Wellness Center in our Union Square facility, providing people living with HIV/AIDS a special venue for training sessions and wellness programs.  It’s named for Front Runners New York, a remarkable group of lesbians, gay men and gay-friendly athletes with a strong commitment to helping people living with HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening illnesses. “Front Runners’ commitment to fitness and wellness is a perfect match for ASC’s holistic services that help people living with HIV/AIDS to stay strong, balanced and healthy,” says Sharen Duke, ASC CEO.  Join us for this inspiring ceremony.

FRNY has partnered with ASCNYC on health initiatives like the Front Runners New York Annual Gift Basket Extravaganza, which collected and wrapped warm-weather clothes and gift cards for people living with HIV/AIDS.  FRNY is also creating a beginners’ running clinic at ASC in the New Year. “Front Runners New York feels blessed this holiday season to give back to those in need,” says FRNY president Rob Lennon.  “Our partnership with AIDS Service Center furthers our mission of building a healthier life through running to LGBT and LGBT-supportive people.” 

One Hour Swim

Sunday, January 30, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

John Jay College, 899 10^thAvenue, Manhattan

ASC is proud to be one of this year’s beneficiaries of Team New York Aquatics’ 21^stannual “One Hour Swim”, January 30^that John Jay College.  

The One Hour Swim works like a wetter, more athletic AIDS Walk.  Swim team members gather pledges from friends and families and then jump in a pool and swim for one hour…without stopping!  Throughout the event, ASC staff and volunteers will be poolside, cheering the swimmers on and providing them with sports drinks, protein bars, healthy snacks, and at the end of the hour, ASC masseuses provide rejuvenating body massages for the swimmers. 

As always, we send profound appreciation and admiration to Team NY Aquatics and One Hour Swim organizers, swimmers, and donors.