New
Executive
Director for NM POZ Coalition
The New Mexico POZ Coalition is pleased to announce that it has named Stuart Flavell as its new Executive Director.
Stu is the past International Coordinator of the Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+) in Amsterdam, from 2001 until mid 2005. During that time he was the principal producer for the International Conferences for People Living with HIV/AIDS in Port of Spain, Trinidad in 2001 and Kampala, Uganda in 2003. He also was a key community participant in the creation of the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria, serving as the initial Communications Focal Point and organizer of the delegation to the Fund Board representing Infected and Affected Communities then chairing the Resource Mobilization and Communications Committee of the Board 2004-2005.
Administratively at GNP+, Stu expanded the staff and administrative structure, from working solo at the start of 2001 to a staff of seven full and part-time people mid 2005. He also instituted new fiscal systems and, at the time of his departure mid-2005, he had sourced a global strategic planning process for GNP+ through the Ford Foundation.
Prior to his work with GNP+, Stu was an organizer and advocate for the Connecticut Positive Action Coalition, based in his hometown, Hartford, Connecticut. He chaired the Connecticut Statewide HIV/AIDS Consortium and served as founding co-chair of the Greater Hartford Ryan White Title I Planning Council, 1995-1999. He spent hundreds of hours planning and delivering trainings for HIV+ people across Connecticut in both English and Spanish. During the 2000 reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act, Stu served on the board of the CAEAR Coalition, representing Title I and Title III CARE Act recipients in DC advocacy. Stu retired in 1996 from the Connecticut State Department of Education as a demographic analyst and fiscal policy specialist.
Currently working as a consultant, based in Arlington, Virginia, Stu will be joining us as soon he can relocate.
On behalf of the board of Directors New Mexico POZ Coalition,
Ingrid Kloet, Chair
Rio Rancho
April 24 , 2006 |
The Embracing Our Traditions,Values, and Teachings: Native Peoples
of North America HIV/AIDS Conference,
Ingrid, Kloet, Marie Kirk, Marilyn Ramone, Kory Montoya
designed by and for Natives Peoples, was held in Anchorage,
Alaska from May 2 through May 6, 2006. The Native Peoples HIV/AIDS
Conference, provided a critical opportunity to reflect on the
state of the HIV/AIDS response among Native communities and to
plan new strategies in response.
The impact of HIV and AIDS on Native communities may appear
small when compared with some other populations. The Native population,
however, numbers only about 3.5 million in the United States.
Incidence rates can therefore have a huge overall impact on this
small community in the potential not only for loss of language,
culture, and ceremonies, but also for overall extinction.
 Ingrid
Klot, Marie Kirk, Darlene Hunt, Marilyn Ramone
Efforts are underway
to educate communities and to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS in
American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, First Nations,
and U.S. Territorial Pacific Islander populations. Some of this
work is extremely successful, and other Native programs are struggling
for resources and effective means of sharing information.
The conference was not a tribal consultation activity. We do
hope, however, that participants will engage in information-sharing,
network-building and creating relationships to further the work
to mitigate the spread and impact of HIV/AIDS in the Indigenous
population.
The concurrent
sessions that followed provided participants with an opportunity
to learn more about the six track topics, which include research,
mental health, prevention, special populations and stigma,
spiritual issues and leadership, and treatment, care, and support.
One conference session, titled "Living with HIV: A Family
Journey," detailed
the need for family support for HIV-infected individuals. The
session brought attention to the importance of HIV-status awareness
to prevent the detrimental effects of not receiving treatment.
 Darlene
Hunt, conference participant, Ingrid Kloet
"A
Patient-Centered Approach to Treatment: An Adherence Model," presented
by Dr. Jonathan Iralu of the Gallup, New Mexico, Indian Medical
Center, examined HIV/AIDS specifically within the Navajo Reservation.
Dr. Iralu practices culturally appropriate care by attempting
to understand and incorporate the traditional ways of Natives.
One particular medication, efavirenz, for example, dramatically
affects patients' dreams. Dr. Iralu often has to explain the
scientific effects of this drug because many Navajos rely deeply
on their dreams and visions. He also detailed the extreme poverty
level on the reservation and the deterrents this creates to receiving
treatment. He stressed the need for strict patient adherence
and cooperation to help in living with HIV. Donald Warne of Arizona State University discussed "Comparisons
of Western Medicine and Traditional Approaches to HIV/AIDS Prevention
and Intervention." He informed session participants that
40,000 new infections occur each day. New drug therapies have
dramatically decreased mortality rates, but resistance to medications
can still occur. Communication between doctors and Native patients
is critical to achieving optimal outcomes from drug therapies.
 A
PWA who is participant from Hawaii with Ingrid
"The
Healing Lodge: A Faith-Based Ministry Approach to HIV/AIDS Treatment
for American Indians in Rural Areas" highlighted
the Healing Lodge in Pembroke, North Carolina, including its
vision, mission, and projects. The Healing Lodge serves as
a gateway to health services by providing ministry to American
Indians in the area. Session speaker Margaret Opitz emphasized
the importance of perseverance in delivering nurturing, faith-based
services. The last concurrent session was held that included
presentations on cultural identity, risk behaviors, and community-centered
research methods. Research presented in "Historical Trauma,
Microaggressions, and Colonial Trauma Response" informed
participants that the number of American Indians/Alaskan Natives
diagnosed with AIDS has grown more rapidly than in any other
ethnic group, increasing almost 800 percent from 1990 to 1999.
Natives' high-risk status is a result of hundreds of years of
Spiritual, colonial, and sexual trauma. These historical events
have created distrust among Natives toward non-Natives; this
distrust has resulted in their resistance of medical and mental
health assistance administered by non-Natives.
Tools for strengthening Native communities were
provided in "Active
Community Prevention." Presenter Janice Wolfe showcased
original, successful tips on spreading HIV/AIDS awareness. She
has helped organize efforts to establish a medical mobile van
that conducts HIV testing, an HIV/AIDS float for a town parade,
and AIDS awareness- themed teen dances.
Two presentations geared toward HIV and Elders
stressed the importance of implementing sex education for older
adults, who are often unaware of risk behaviors and lack knowledge
of HIV prevention. One of the presentations, "Intergenerational
Approaches to HIV/AIDS Prevention Education with Women Across
the Lifespan Program," focused on improving the well being
of women over 50, many of who are unsure of their physical changes
and sexual capabilities. Through the culturally appropriate sessions
that were presented during the conference, health care providers,
Elders, Tribal leaders, Natives living with HIV/AIDS, and friends
of Indian Country built networks and learned invaluable skills
to take back to their communities and stop the spread of this
silent predator.
 Friday's closing plenary session, which included
a Traditional blessing from a sweat lodge leader, formally concluded
the Embracing Our Traditions, Values, and Teachings conference.
Important highlights from the six conference tracks were presented,
including session outcomes and goals. Conference Track Chair
CeCe Big Crow stated, "This
week we have helped educate our leaders, assess our resources,
and build relationships in the Native community, which can now
produce sustainable approaches to health issues."
 Ingrid
in the snow
During the closing, a special announcement was made
proclaiming March 21, 2007, as the first American Indian HIV/AIDS
Awareness Day. In addition, drummers performed an honor song
for all Natives living with HIV/AIDS, and conference speakers
and planners were thanked for their efforts. Ingrid Kloet, Chair
Rio Rancho
April 24 , 2006
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