What We Do...

After working with many groups in many capacities in many parts of the world, we have found that there is one thing that is for everyone to be tested for HIV.  In addition, basic education such as knowing the 4 body fluids that transmit HIV is vital.  These are at the core of all that we do.  But we have also found that we run into cultural and institutional barriers to change that would make testing a routine part of our lives.  In order to do this, we have to work with a multi-generational, multi-modal fashion that reaches not only the high-risk groups, but also the surrounding communities and the next generation of at-risk groups.   Our role is to identify the gaps, and then to turn to community groups to help fill the gaps and advocate for change.

 Specific projects we are working on include:

·    In the suburbs of Chicago, we are working with campus and church groups to promote and offer testing while building community collaborations to make counseling accessible, factual and respectful of the broad spectrum of values that exist.  The Centers for Disease Control encourages all people to get tested for HIV, so we work with individuals and groups to make this a reality.  This entails encouraging individuals to get tested through their medical providers, often having to serve the role of educator.  It also entails encouraging groups (such as campus groups, high schools and churches) to organize testing and education events.  The major challenge here is to work with group leaders to educate the community about why testing matters, and to work with prospective testing agencies to modify their pre-test questions and process so that appropriate and accessible information is shared confidentially and respectfully.  Our belief that we have many of the resources to stop the spread of HIV is challenged here as we work to bring all these resources together.  It is a model and vision of collaboration that is rarely seen in our society.

·    Why do so many people care have passion and understanding for the plight of people with AIDS in Africa, but not for the residents of our own urban areas – our nation’s capital in particular where over 1 in 20 people has HIV?  This is the driving question that fuels our HIV Leadership Development Program (in partnership with William Penn House).  This program will bring young adults from college campuses to Washington, DC for a multi-day immersion in the history, politics, economics and culture of HIV, with a clear vision of prevention that starts in our own backyard (which, for each participant, will be different).  This program will also develop a pilot program for a grassroots, community-based testing and education program – moving us closer to a society where home-based, self-administered HIV testing could be a possibility.  A part of this program will entail meeting with legislators and policy makers to discuss the barriers to accessible testing (such as requiring the majority of funded tests reach the high-risk groups while not creating a plan for reaching this group).  For people interested in participating, please download and complete this application and return it to us either by mail or e-mail. 

·    We are also focusing on making internet dating and “hook-up” sites safer and more responsive to fact-based messages. 

·    We are continuing our Kenya Initiative, supporting the grassroots education and awareness efforts in Buchifi that parallels our work here in the United States.  Our shared successes and challenges help all of us see where we have common humanities despite geographic differences.

We invite all of you to join us.  At a minimum, we encourage you to tell your medical provider you would like to get tested for HIV.  If you have concerns about what he/she might say, please contact us and we would be glad to come up with some suggestions.

Please contact brad@mosaicinitiative.org  for more information about our Volunteer Programs.