The AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland, in partnership with Advocates for Youth, is seeking passionate youth activists for the Ohio Advocates Youth Leadership Council to improve current sexual health policies and programs in Ohio to ensure that all Ohio youth have access to complete sexual health information.

The Ohio Youth Leadership Council is composed of ten dynamic youth/young adults ages 15-24 from throughout the state who support and promote sexual health and related policies. Working closely with the Youth Activist Coordinator, council members will develop and implement strategies to advocate for comprehensive sexual health education, reproductive justice, lgbtq equality, and other related policies in Ohio.

Utilizing the power of youth activism along with strategies such as media mobilization, policymaker education, grassroots organizing, and more, the Council will work together to create significant policy changes during the 2012-2013 academic year and challenge the general culture around sexual health issues.

The time commitment is approximately 4-5 hours per week and Council Members will earn a stipend of $100 per month through May 2013.

To download the application, please click here: OA new member application 12’13

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For more information, please use this link.

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Most young people enjoy creative activities: writing, drawing and designing are ways to express who they are, how they feel, and their relationship to the world around them. Creative activities provide opportunities to examine real-life issues and problems – including HIV and AIDS and the stigma attached to it. Art is often a major way children communicate.

ArtCares Jr. is an opportunity for young artists between the ages of 3 and 14 to show off their talents and skills while offering their support for those infected, affected and at-risk for HIV/AIDS. ArtCares Jr. is being presented in conjunction with the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland’s signature fundraiser – ArtCares.

Young artists are given a blank canvas to use as they choose. Any kind of art is accepted – paintings, watercolor, pen and ink, pastel or any other medium they chose to work in. Their art will be displayed at the 78^th Street Studios popular ‘Third Friday’ on Friday, February 17 at a special reception from 5-9pm. Works will be auctioned off in a silent auction to help raise funds for the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland.

For more information about this event, contact Rebecca Murray-Strong at 216-621-0766, extension 232 or rstrong@atfgc.org.

ArtCares Jr. is presented with the generous support of:

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To purchase tickets, please click HERE.

Since 2003, ArtCares has grown to be the signature event benefiting the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland. In 2011 we were able to have a record-breaking year with over 600 attendees and $85,000 raised!

ArtCares 2012 will be no different. We look forward to another fantastic year! The 10^th Anniversary of the event will take place at MOCA Cleveland, on Saturday, April 28, 2012.  The VIP reception will begin at 6:30pm, and the party and auction will begin at 8pm.

The event will feature silent and live auctions of art and other items, live entertainment, and great food and drink. All proceeds raised go directly to supporting our mission to provide a compassionate and collaborative response to the needs of people infected, affected and at risk of HIV/AIDS.

Our Honorary Chair, Howard Lake, is returning once again along with event co-chairs Jon Benedict and Noelle Celeste. They are joined this year by two more co-chairs, Carrie Carpenter and John Corlett. We will be honoring Jill Snyder, Executive Director of MOCA Cleveland, as our 2012 ArtCares Icon for her commitment to the art and HIV/AIDS communities.

ArtCares 2012 is presented by:

and Toby Devan Lewis (who has been with us from the beginning).

Event sponsors are:

Adcom, MOCA Cleveland, Cleveland Institute of Art, MetroHealth and Mills, Potoczak & Co., US Bank, Ron Bailey & Bill Edwards, 78th Street Studios, Utrecht Art Supplies, Huntington Bank, and First Federal of Lakewood.

To purchase tickets, please click HERE.

For more information about the event, or sponsorship opportunities, please contact John Farina at 216-357-2221, or jfarina@atfgc.org

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by Judith Pindell, Director of Public Policy & Advocacy

Columbus –On Wednesday February 8, 2012, the House Health and Aging Committee voted unanimously (21-0) to approve House Bill 182, a bill that would legalize syringe exchange programs in Ohio.  Syringe exchange programs are proven to be an effective prevention method for the reduction of HIV and Hepatitis C transmission. Currently in Ohio, a syringe exchange program can only operate when a city’s Health Commissioner declares a public emergency, and must have the cooperation of that city’s Mayor and Chief of Police. The only two such programs in Ohio now are operating in Cleveland and Portsmouth.

H.B. 182, sponsored by State Representatives Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) and Mike Foley (D-Cleveland), would explicitly allow syringe exchange programs to exist in cities that obtain approval from their city Board of Health. H.B.182 was introduced in March 2011, and shortly after its introduction in the Ohio House of Representatives, a sub-committee was created within the House Health and Aging Committee to hold hearings and report back to the full Committee.

Rep. Antonio explains, “HB 182 is a result of work by sub-committee members this summer Chaired by Representative Barbara Sears (R-Toledo). The committee heard testimony provided by 18 different individuals speaking to the issue.”

Throughout the summer of 2011, three hearings were held on the bill. Health officials, police commissioners, syringe exchange program staff, and supporters of syringe exchange programs testified in support of the legislation.  Chris Krueger, Syringe Access Program Coordinator of The AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland also testified and was instrumental in promoting this legislation.

Rep. Mike Foley stated, “I first want to thank the advocates especially for their great work so far on this legislation. Hopefully, this bipartisan support for a clean needle exchange bill will continue through the full House of Representatives and then the Ohio Senate.”

Rep. Antonio said, “I am pleased to report with bi-partisan support the bill passed out of the Health and Aging Committee and will hopefully continue to move forward. Syringe exchange programs are an additional tool to prevent disease transmission and a path to treatment. I believe that this bill will save lives.”

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February 7, 2012 marks the 12th year for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, a national HIV testing and treatment community mobilization initiative targeted at Blacks in the United States and the Diaspora. There are four specific focal points: education, testing, involvement, and treatment.

To find out more, please click HERE.

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The David Feldt Institute is the ATGC’s primary means of engaging consumers in structured educational programming. From an annual membership survey to support groups such as Men’s group, Women’s group, and the Spill, to formal seminars on medication adherence, the David Feldt Institute forms a cohesive backbone for consumer engagement.

• The DFI Community Educator Scholarship is open to everyone living with HIV in the Greater Cleveland area.
• Application deadline: 13 February 2012. Applications will not be accepted after this date.
• You must be at least 18 years of age at the time of the conference (that is, turn 18 on or before July 22, 2012) to apply for a scholarship.
• You must complete an application and submit it by mail to AIDS 2012 Scholarship Committee, c/o ATGC, 3210 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44115, or email to jpatterson@atfgc.org <mailto:jpatterson@atfgc.org> with the subject heading: “AIDS 2012 Scholarship”.
  

·         Priority consideration will be given to: current members of the David Feldt Institute; those whose participation will help enhance their paid or volunteer work; and those who submit an abstract, workshop or programme activity (Global Village or Youth Programme) to AIDS 2012.

• As only one scholarship is available and the demand is so high, it is strongly recommended you also seek funding from other sources.
  

Please click here to download the Community Educator Scholarship Application

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The North Coast Men’s Chorus is pleased to announce their 3^rd Annual Mardi Gras Celebration on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012 at Windows on the River from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The event will benefit the North Coast Men’s Chorus, and the youth outreach programs of The AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland and P-Flag, Cleveland.

Come for this night of music, merriment and masquerade that has become the signature event of the year!  The event includes a performance by the North Coast Men’s Chorus, directed by Artistic Director Richard Cole, superb Bourbon Street cuisine, a live and silent auction and a French Quarter Wall with a top prize of $500.  A king and queen will also be crowned for the best costumes, plus, you can expect all the other traditions of Mardi Gras including throwing beads, king cake and tossing coins!  Adding to the revelry of the evening is Q104’s one and only Kory, who will be serving as the emcee!

The North Coast Men’s Chorus has proudly performed for 24 years throughout Northeast Ohio and beyond.  Through our musical programs and community involvement, we have seen many lives changed for the better.

Kick up that February thermometer a couple notches with some hot Louisiana-style fun!  Get to Cleveland’s Windows on the River on Saturday February 11^th for Mardi Gras 3!  Admission is only $50 per person.  Sponsorship opportunities for tables of 10 are also available.

For reservations or more information, visit us online at www.ncmchorus.org, or call 216-556-0590. 

The North Coast Men’s Chorus is generously supported by the public through grants from Cuyahoga Arts and Culture and the Ohio Arts Council.

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