This month, we honor the 14th annual National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NNHAAD) which revolves around the theme of “Resiliency + Action: Ending the HIV Epidemic in Native Communities”. Founded in 2007, this community-driven national mobilization effort was designed “to encourage Natives (Native Americans, Native Alaskans and Native Hawaiians) across the Unites States and Territorial Areas to get education, get tested, get involved in prevention and get treated for HIV”.

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, held annually on March 10, is an opportunity for “local, state, federal, and national organizations come together to shed light on the impact of HIV and AIDS on women and girls and show support for those at risk of and living with HIV.” This year marks the 14th annual observance of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD).

In August of 2019, I released an open letter in The Skanner to acknowledge that CAP’s work with the Black community in Portland has been lacking. At the time, our time for showing up at the table was far overdue.  Today as I reflect back, I realize I should have started the conversation with two simple words.

I’m sorry.

Next time you visit us on the web, you might notice that things have changed up a bit! Starting February 5, CAP will be launching our brand new website to our community!

Cascade AIDS Projects appreciates each and every one of our volunteers and the many contributions they provide to the agency, but every year we recognize a number of outstanding volunteers with our Action Awards. They will be publicly recognized at our annual volunteer appreciation event, Party for the People, on Thursday, February 13. Here are our 2019 Action Award winners:

The new rule would make it harder for them to obtain tourist visas and follows an incident in which a Hong Kong airline, under pressure by government authorities, forced a woman to take a pregnancy test before she was allowed to board a plane to the U.S. Pacific island of Saipan. We, along with the undersigned organizations, have signed an open letter to Secretary Pompeo urging the administration to immediately rescind the Pregnancy and Racial Profiling Rule now!

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is observed each year on February 7 to “increase HIV education, testing, community involvement, and treatment among black communities”. Coordinated by the Strategic Leadership Council, thousands of organizations and groups across the world organize to address HIV disparities that exist within the Black community nationally and globally. This year’s NBHAAD theme, “Together for Love: Stop HIV Stigma” raises awareness that we all have a role to play in stopping HIV stigma.

Thirty five years ago CAP incorporated as a nonprofit under a mission designed to support men, women, and youth affected by HIV and AIDS, prevent the spread of HIV in populations at highest risk, and advocate for an effective community response to the epidemic. We were a reflective light for many in the darkest of days. A time where diagnosis for most meant a death sentence. Today, an individual’s journey with HIV has transformed from dying from, to living with, to now thriving despite.

The award will help support Camp Activities this holiday season, including the annual toy drive and holiday party at the Hi-Lo Hotel. Kevin Cook, Director of Camp KC, was overjoyed to receive this gift at iQ Credit Union Vancouver office. “Thank you [iQ Credit Union] and your employees for your generous donation to Camp KC! Our campers, families and volunteers greatly appreciate it!”

CAP joins 51 other LGBTQ+ and HIV/STI organizations in an open letter to Facebook in an effort to address ads pushed by the tech company surround HIV Prevention and PrEP. The misinformation has increased fear among patients about PrEP and PEP, especially those most susceptible to HIV transmission, despite messages from health officials and federal regulators validating their safety. The full letter can be read below.

It was fifteen years ago that I participated in my first AIDS Walk. I had only known my status for a few short months and I remember feeling incredibly vulnerable as I had only just begun adjusting to my new life living with the virus. However, looking back, taking that first step towards my future at the walk was a defining moment in my journey.

I’m writing this open letter to our community on behalf of Cascade AIDS Project (CAP) to acknowledge that our work with the black community in Portland has been lacking.  Our time for showing up at the table is far overdue, and I am deeply sorry that CAP has not been historically more responsive to the black community.

Cascade AIDS Project has been awarded a grant for $15000 from The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) in partnership with Macy’s.

CAP is very pleased to announce it is a recipient of the $20,000 Finalist Award from Ninety-Nine Girlfriend.

Cascade AIDS Project (CAP) is very pleased to announce a partnership with Gilead Sciences, Inc. for the 2018-2021 Aging Well Program. Gilead is funding the three-year $375,000 program that focuses on supporting the wellbeing of aging adults living with and affected by HIV.

Cascade AIDS Project’s Peer Support Program, led by Program Manager Hannah G., has been a driving force in empowering those affected by HIV in our community. The diverse set of Peer Support Specialists (Peers) are selfless heroes that make this work possible.  Running six years strong and expanding, CAP’s Peer Support Program lives by the unofficial motto “meeting individuals where they are”.

CAP and Kaiser Permanente have kicked off a project aimed at changing both the way individuals disclose their gender identity when enrolling in Kaiser insurance and the way gender non-conforming patients are then routed through the healthcare system.

Prism Health is Oregon’s first and only lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus all other gender and sexual minorities (LGBTQ+) primary care clinic. As of May 2018, Prism has been open for one full year. To commemorate the event, Prism Health is having a One-Year Anniversary Open House Thursday May 24th 4:30 to 6:30 pm at 2236 SE Belmont Street, Portland. No RSVP necessary.

Through the efforts of Laela Wilding, Ambassador of The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) and the 2018 Portland Film Fundraiser “Cleopatra”, over $3000 was raised for CAP’s Camp KC. Camp KC is a summer sleepaway camp that takes place every year on the Oregon coast. It is attended by children infected or affected by HIV.

Ms. Curtis is a Regional Bank President for Wells Fargo & Company. As an Executive Vice President, she is responsible for managing the customer service, sales and community involvement activities of nearly 800 team members at 74 bank branches in northern Oregon and Southwest Washington. A native of England, she began her Wells Fargo career in 1988 as a teller.