Fund Travel for HIV Health Advocate to Volunteer IAS Kigali

I started my HIV and community health advocacy in the late 1980s as a street action member of ACT-UP Philadelphia and working at Horizon House, a set of group homes for then recently released individuals with severe mental health diagnosis and substance misuse to People of Color In Crisis and the Brooklyn AIDS Task Force in NYC in the 1990s. I have been working at Shanti Project in San Francisco for 20 years since last April as a Care Navigator and Health Counselor.

Over the decades, have been involved in IAS conferences as a delegate, local organizing team and last year - a community volunteer and advocate/exhibitor. When I have attended I involve myself in activities - engaging local communities about HIV research.

This year I received acceptance as a volunteer and am looking to support a series of short engagement groups between local HIV+ community folks and those of us who are IAS volunteer delegates. I hope to garner support for travel and housing for a week at this year's host city, Kigali. I received my official invitation to volunteer this week. I’ll be supporting the researchers and other delegates getting their bearings around the conference and their presentations. I’m also planning to organize a local, and visiting international, community advocates group to connect and share experiences.

The funds will go directly to return premium economy flights between SFO and Kigali starting July 7th to 18th estimated at approximately 2000+USD, then accommodation near or near easy transport to the conference estimated at approximately 1800+USD. The remaining funds will be for meals and transportation to and from airports and hotel to conference over the 11 days.