Positive Leadership Summit for HIV Positive Young Adults Ages 18-25
The Ohio AIDS Coalition held its second annual Leadership Summit for HIV Positive young adults ages 18-25 at the Holiday Inn City Center in Downtown Columbus.
The three day Summit, held January 25-27, 2008, brought together participants from counties throughout Ohio to continue a much needed dialogue about living with HIV as a young adult. Workshop and group discussions centered on stigma, health & wellness, self expression, treatment, and the barriers preventing young positive Ohioans from taking their first steps towards becoming the new leaders in the AIDS epidemic.
“What we saw at the second annual summit was really quite amazing. A diverse group of young adults from around Ohio coming together, all from different communities, of different race, age, gender, and sexuality, but most impressive has been the increase in more than twice the number of participants than in year one.
Year two of the summit has allowed for returning participants to continue in their growth as role-models for first time participants.
It has been truly empowering to see these young adults, my peers, blossom and take strides towards leadership roles over the last year."
The Ohio AIDS Coalition has recognized that today's young people are the “AIDS generation.” They have never known a world without HIV. Stopping HIV/AIDS requires comprehensive & innovative programming that focuses on young adults. With more than half of new HIV/AIDS infections worldwide affecting young people age 15-24, It is critical to educate HIV Positive young adults about the disease with which they are living, about how to access care and treatment, how to protect themselves as well as their partners and provide them with the needed skills to become the future leadership within the epidemic.
“When I learned I was HIV positive at the age of 21,” says TerMeer “I needed more than anything to have a social support system of peers who truly understood what I was going through. In developing this Summit, it was my hope that we would provide an atmosphere that was safe and confidential from the outside world. It took great courage for these young adults to travel across the state, but it takes immense bravery to return to a community confident, educated, and empowered.”
The thoughts of one participant by the end of the summit give the essence of the weekend.
“I cannot …No, I will not let my HIV hold me back.
- It’s just a wall I have to climb.”
The Ohio AIDS Coalition - Positive Leadership Summit for HIV Positive Young Adults gives OAC the opportunity to target Ohio HIV Positive Young Adults whom are not currently being reached by programming and positive prevention messages. The Ohio AIDS Coalition is committed to continuing programming and providing networking opportunities for the young HIV positive community in Ohio.
Click Here for an Overview of the 2008 Summit Agenda
Summit Goals and Objectives
1. To establish community among young people living with HIV/AIDS within the state of Ohio .
-reducing feelings of isolation and the impact of stigma brought on by living with HIV/AIDS.
-develop trusting relationships with others whom can relate to and/or understand what living with this disease is about.
-understanding related social issues (the DL, minority communities, online, etc…)
2. To improve communications and awareness within self and other partnerships/relationships (dating, family, friends, etc…)
-educating oneself about HIV/AIDS
-health & nutrition
-disclosure (how do I do this?)
-educating loved ones
-work place/school issues (do I have to tell?)
-sex & dating
-holistic health/treatment options
3. To encourage advocacy including that of self and on a broader spectrum
-helping youth to ‘find’ their inner activist voice within the HIV/AIDS community.
-strengthening the local view of HIV/AIDS as well as developing a global one.
-building up the ‘second wave’ of the movement.
4. To empower youth with the tools to navigate necessary systems and improve their quality of life.
-knowing how to get needs, medical or otherwise, met.
-self advocacy when dealing with professionals.
-develop independence within the systems and establishing self-sufficiency.
-understanding the ins and outs of funding and possible lack thereof.
For More Information Contact Tyler A. TerMeer at 1-800-226-5554
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