WISH-NY Project Highlights, 2005-2006
In 2005-2006, WISH-NY Coordinator Tracie Gardner, with other WISH members and advisors, initiated and participated in the following projects:
Policy Advocacy
• Lead spokesperson and resource on New York State AIDS Advisory Council (with Vice Chair Megan McLaughlin), Women in Peril- HIV and AIDS: The Rising Toll on Women of Color, a critically needed report on New York women and HIV/AIDS issues which has already become a leading document chronicling the epicenter of the women and HIV epidemic with models for national analysis and reproduction.
• Founded and launched a budget advocacy campaign, entitled “12 for 12” to secure $12 million for the 12 years of “inaction” in program and policy on women and HIV in New York. “12 for 12” played a role in urging the Executive and Legislature to ensure that a significant portion of 2006-2007 state AIDS resources will be targeted toward women and girls of color.
• Initiated New York City Council Budget strategy for new resources targeted to women and girls per Women in Peril recommendations.
• Participated in legislative strategy activities at the request of members of the New York State Assembly Women’s and Black and Latino Legislative and the New York City Council to advise on the potential impact of changes to New York State HIV confidentiality law on women and girls of color.
Grassroots Organizing
• Conducted seven advocate training sessions for women living with HIV and/or involved in the criminal justice system through the HIV Law Project, the Women’s Prison Association and the Re-Connect program of the Correctional Association of New York.
• Convened, moderated, coordinated and/or was a featured speaker at 12 New York City and State events to highlight the data and findings of the Women in Peril Report and ensure that issues affecting Black and Latina women and girls and HIV issues were prominently featured at meetings and events: Center for New York City Affairs--Milano New School of Management and Urban Policy, AIDS Forum of the Hispanic Federation, Community Health Center Association of New York, New York City Division of Youth and Community Development, in response to requests by the members of the, a City College sponsored dialogue on Black men, Black women, HIV and “The DL (Down Low), the John Jay College of Criminal Justice Forum examining the link between prison health and community health and analyzing the impact of potential changes to HIV confidentiality laws on women and girls and communities of color.
Communications Visibility
• Appeared twice on Bronx Cable Show “Bronx Net” (Lehman College)
• Provided commentary on AIDS and Black Leadership in May 2006 Newsweek series, “AIDS at 25”
• Cultivated media connections on women and HIV issues and WISH-NY activities with New York 1 Cable News, the New York Times, the New York Post, the Amsterdam News, New York Newsday, all 25 members of the Albany Legislative Press Corp and other media to develop stories and features that highlight the disproportionate impact of HIV on Black and Latina women and girls in New York.