Desert
AIDS Project's Public Policy Department: A One
Year Report
Palm Springs, California - July
29, 2003 - May, 2003 marked the first year since
Desert AIDS Project initiated the Public Policy
Department. The year has brought about some changes,
new ideas, and a concerted effort to empower the
clients and major stakeholders in Desert AIDS
Project.
Recently, the Desert AIDS Project
Community Action Newsletter (DAPCAN e-newsletter)
celebrated its first year of continuous publication
over 52 weeks. The subscription base continues
to grow and new clients are enrolled at every
new client orientation. This newsletter could
not have been published without the dedicated
volunteer support of Michael Wonders, editor and
Rick Villa, co-editor. Both Michael and Rick have
shown strong dedication and leadership in bringing
this important resource to the community. As a
companion to the e-newsletter, Desert AIDS Project
initiated an Action Alert that is also sent via
e-mail to the hundreds of newsletter subscribers.
Averaging over one Action Alert each month, our
clients and agency stakeholders have responded
consistently. Hundreds of telephone calls and
e-mails have come from the greater Palm Springs
region to our local and national legislators.
This makes a difference!
For over six months, Desert AIDS
Project has been airing a weekly radio show called
Keeping Pace hosted by Director of Public Policy,
Jack Newby. This show has featured discussions
on HIV Prevention, services of Desert AIDS Project
and local community leaders discussing HIV/AIDS
and related medical issues.
In addition, the Desert AIDS Project
Public Policy Department has made a concerted
effort to let the community know about our services
and new initiatives. Articles appear nearly weekly
in local and regional publications about Desert
AIDS Project, our clients and our services.
Desert AIDS Project is growing to
become a respected regional and national voice
for our clients. We will be giving presentations
at two national conferences: Staying Alive in
Denver and the United States Conference on AIDS
in New Orleans this summer. In addition, we are
active in two national organizations the CAEAR
Coalition and AIDS Action. Recently, Desert AIDS
Project was among just a few organizations that
were invited to help develop strategies for working
with both Republicans and Democrats in addressing
the growing needs for HIV prevention and treatment.
Our Executive Director, John Brown attended the
signing of the President’s Global AIDS Initiative
committing $15 billion to the global AIDS crisis.
Are there results? As a result of
years of working with local area legislators,
Congresswoman Mary Bono has initiated a bipartisan
effort to significantly increase funding for the
AIDS Drug Assistance Program. She has shown true
leadership in Congress on these issues. We are
also developing and building relationships with
our local state senators and assembly members.
Clients are encouraged to become
involved and are attending trainings to become
grassroots activists. We recently initiated a
voter registration initiative in conjunction with
our new client orientations. New voters are registered
every two weeks and a full voter registration
campaign will be unveiled in September. A cross-section
of clients are traveling to both Sacramento and
Washington, DC to tell their personal stories
about the need for increased funding for treatment,
research and prevention. Clients are also encouraged
and assisted to attend conferences to develop
their skills in grassroots advocacy.
Now, more than ever, there is a
need for a coordinated effort to educate our community
about issues related to HIV/AIDS. With increases
in HIV infection and with individuals living longer
more productive lives with HIV we are all challenged
to speak up and have our voices heard on these
issues. Our message is simple: Your Voice Matters.
Information Contact:
Kimberly Nichols, (760) 323-2118 ext. 221
Jack Newby, (760) 323-2118 ext. 262
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