Raging the LA Corp Machine Forward

LA Corp is a 501c3 public charity committed t promoting empowerment and inclusion while decreasing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS through education and advocacy. By pursuing social justice, equality, and sexual health among the community and its organizations we decrease the social determinants which increase risk. During the past year, the organization has completed many projects and programming with measurable outcomes. The publishing of "Our Lives, Our Stories, The Untold Stories of Women with AIDS," was the centerpiece of our Plus Club program which focused on the socialization and empowerment of women infected with the disease. While providing a safe space for participants, the women were able to interact as they composed their stories in journal form. Each session was designed to allow each individuals a chance to openly share their thoughts and observations of their lives before and after being infected. Prior to publishing that piece, LA Corp explored the matrix of homophobia, stigma, racism, mental health and HIV/AIDS in the book "The Set Up," penned by Carl Jackson. In an effort to chronicle the many cycles and arches of the disease, this periodical was created to support the organization vision of dealing with individuals from a holistic stance. Jackson's story peels backs layers of social determinants which impacted his slow and spiraling decline in to a manic state which caused him to be hospitalized. His book is a cautionary tale at best but one that serves as a case that illuminates the challenges and barriers often faced by those whom struggle with a myriad of issues and dilemmas while accessing linkages to care. LA Corp has been steadfast in our belief that a comprehensive system of HIV care in Arkansas is paramount. We believe an emphasis on testing, where treatment services are not available to all, creates an unacceptable "Care Paradox."  Following the National AIDS Strategy utilizing funding streams from our partnership with AIDS United, LA Corp has fostered working collaborations with other local entities to which address the lack of strategic advocacy development. Through the vehicle the Arkansas HIV Community Advocates, it was our desire to leverage those partnership into a viable  HIV/AIDS action team what would seek to construct a framework from which the group could explore and discover legislative allies while strengthening public health alliances. The need for advocacy empowerment is essential to affecting change policies and measures that directly affects stakeholders. Establishing this venture has problematic due to the complexity of attitudes, aptitudes and agendas as to how to develop the entity. Furthermore, the resurgence of the Arkansas Community Planning Group model was a competitive force to which LA Corp surmised that each group was utilizing many of the same activist and advocates despite different missions. Currently we are reassessing the vitality of AHCA and its significance within the HIV/AIDS construct. As 2012 unfolds, The Living Affected Corporation plans to unfold our latest AIDS prevention methods in response to the increase of incidences and prevalence rates among Black men having sex with men. Using the Defend Yourself evidenced based structure and modified to meet our population this program will empower, educate meanwhile engaging Black gay men 18-30 concerning sexual behavior patterns and changes. The program will enlist LA Corp program trained peers to seek interactive sexual health conversations within their social circles and extended networks. Launching in April 2012, the program will run throughout the year and will be servicing the greater Pulaski county area.  Also coming in 2012 will be future editions of Holistic Health Arkansas, an impending LGBTQ health magazine, additional partnership with local community based organizations and numerous outreach engagements and testing opportunities. Please consider joining us in our efforts either through a volunteerism, joining our board of directors or offering a monetary gift. The Living Affected Corporation wishes to be an invaluable community partner as we forge ahead in the fight to improving access to care. supporting the development of grassroots advocacy capacities and services for people living with AIDS. 



Black Women in City Infected with HIV at Higher Rate than National Average

A recent article published in The Baltimore Sun discussed a study that found the rate of new HIV infections among black women in Baltimore, MD, is almost five times higher than the national average.

According to the article, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that roughly 25 percent of HIV infections occur among women and 67 percent of those infections occur in black women. However, the rate of new HIV infections among black women in cities considered to be “hot spots” (Atlanta, Baltimore, Newark, New York, Raleigh-Durham, and Washington) is significantly higher than the national average for black women (24 per 10,000 versus 5 per 10,000). These “hot spots” have been areas disproportionally impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic for decades, according to the article. However, the researchers were surprised by these rates as the field largely has focused on black and gay men. “This is why it’s important to remind people that this is going on right here in our hometown,” said Dr. Charles Flexner, principal investigator for the Baltimore section of the study and clinical pharmacologist and infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins. Although Baltimore declared HIV a public health emergency in 2002, the number of infected people in the city continues to rise.
The article highlights programs that have been targeting women at risk for HIV infection. For example, a city project in Baltimore sends out vans to test women in the city’s red light district, which has reported testing 4,660 women, including more than 3,000 black women (Cohn, 03/08).