ACT e-Bulletin Vol. 1 No. 3

The ACT e-Bulletin
Volume 1, Number 3 | June/July 2006

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ACT AT AIDS 2006 CONFERENCE
This August, ACT will be participating at the XVI International AIDS Conference. In partnership with a number of Canadian and international AIDS organizations, ACT is coordinating "MSM and HIV: A Global Agenda for Gay Men and Other Men who have Sex with Men," a one-and-a half day affiliated conference event on August 10 and 11 that will be followed by a week of gay/bisexual/MSM-themed activities for conference delegates and the public.

The agency has a number of other activities planned for the week of August 13-18, including information booths, guided tours of ACT, and presentations at the conference. ACT staff will be presenting on the following topics:

Sex from A to Z: a gay and bisexual male youth-targeted HIV/STI prevention campaign framed in humour and sex-positivity — Ben Houghton (poster presentation)

Putting a Positive Spin on It: Media Training for PHAs — Sergio Martinez, Kristy Buck, and Tyler Stiem (poster presentation)

Program and services by and for positive youth: Successes and challenges in engaging HIV-positive youth — Gala Arh (poster presentation)

Challenges posed by bareback networks and belief systems — B. Adam, W. Husbands, J. Maxwell and J. Murray (poster presentation)

Ensuring knowledge-transfer and exchange through a multi-stakeholder community-based research project — J. Murray, B. Adam, J. Maxwell and W. Husbands (poster presentation)

African and Caribbean Perspectives on HIV/AIDS Etiology and Prevention: Theoretical Implications — Lawson E., Calzavara L., Gardezi F., Husbands W., Tharao E., Willms D., George, C., Myers T., Remis R., Taylor D., Adebajo S., McGee F., Wambayi E.J. (poster presentation)

Racism and HIV/AIDS: Impacts of Racialized Discourse on the Daily Lives of African and Caribbean Communities — Gardezi F., Calzavara L., Lawson E., Husbands W., Tharao E., Willms D., George, C., Myers T., Remis R., Taylor D., Adebajo S., McGee F., Wambayi E.J. " (oral presentation)

Look out for details about all of these activities and more in the coming weeks. For more information about ACT at AIDS 2006, contact Daniel McCartney, ACT's AIDS 2006 Conference Coordinator, at 416-340-8484 ext. 238 or dmccartney@actoronto.org.

To find out more about the AIDS 2006 Conference, visit www.aids2006.org.


HIV/AIDS AND INFORMATION ACCESS IN PORTUGUESE-SPEAKING COMMUNITIES
In 2000, Professor Ted Myers of the University of Toronto’s HIV Social Behavioural and Epidemiological Studies Unit of the Health Sciences Department completed a needs assessment entitled “An HIV Research Needs Assessment of MSM in Ethno-Cultural Communities, Perspectives of Volunteers and Service Providers.”

Among the five Toronto-based communities enumerated in the needs assessment were Portuguese-speaking communities, and within that group, Portuguese and Brazilian men who have sex with men (MSM) and service providers. These groups identified a lack of HIV/AIDS information in their communities, which was broken down into four sub-themes: “lack of HIV/AIDS information,” “barriers to community information-seeking,” “misconceptions about HIV/AIDS information,” and “religion as a barrier to HIV/AIDS information-seeking.”

In response to the needs assessment, Rui Pires, ACT's Portuguese-speaking Men’s Outreach Coordinator, has distributed Canada’s first Portuguese-language general AIDS pamphlet to every doctor, dentist, pharmacy, union, politician, holistic parishioners and community group listed in Toronto's Portuguese Blue Pages phone book. Developed by VIVER, the Portuguese-speaking HIV/AIDS Coalition, the pamphlet covers HIV transmission, risks, HIV testing and referral sources for individuals in the community.

For more information about Portuguese-language HIV resources at ACT, or to obtain a copy of the pamphlet, contact Rui at 416-340-8484 ext. 242 or rpires@actoronto.org.


AIDS 2006 CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR VOLUNTEERS AND CLIENTS
ACT is providing a limited number of scholarships for current ACT volunteers and clients to attend the AIDS 2006 Conference on August 13-18. If you or anyone you know is interested in attending, please complete a scholarship application form and submit it at the fourth floor reception desk. Applications can be picked up at reception and are due by Friday, June 9 at 5 p.m.


ACT AT PRIDE 2006
All clients, volunteers, and staff are invited to march alongside the ACT float and enjoy an afternoon of great music (spun by DJ Sumation), great company, and plenty of sunshine. Join us on Sunday, June 25!

If you're interested, please contact Sergio Martinez, ACT's Program Volunteer Coordinator, at 416-340-8484 ext. 224 or smartinez@actoronto.org. Provisions will be made for those with limited mobility.


INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON YOUTH AND HIV
With generous funding from Health Canada, CAP AIDS and Positive Youth Outreach brought youth leaders from Malawi to work with young people in Toronto and Vancouver this past May. The project was an opportunity to build bridges between Canada and the southern African country and to nurture youth leadership on HIV/AIDS issues.

Fryson Chodzi, the Executive Director of Counselling Adolescent and Youth Organization (CAYO), as well as a youth peer educator working with CAYO were in Toronto from May 10 to May 31.

Two youth from Positive Youth Outreach worked with our visitors from CAYO, and together they created a dynamic, engaging workshop on HIV and Youth. Employing a variety of creative educational techniques such as drama, storytelling, and audiovisual presentations, the workshop explored the ways in which HIV affects youth, as well as the support systems youth need to advocate, educate and develop leadership. The workshop was held six times between May 20 and 30.

For more information please contact Obert Madondo at CAP AIDS at 416-422-3074 or obert@capaids.org; or Gala Arh at ACT at 416-340-8484 ext. 281 or garh@actoronto.org.


HI, MY NAME IS TINA
On Wednesday, June 7 at 6 p.m., the Toronto Gay/Bi Men's Crystal Meth Task Force will launch Hi! My Name is Tina, an innovative multi-media crystal meth awareness campaign, at Woody’s (465 Church St.) in the heart of Toronto’s gay community. City Councillor Kyle Rae will officially launch the campaign with opening remarks at 6:30 p.m.

Initiated by ACT in response to an increase in the number of clients seeking counselling and treatment at the ACT and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the campaign targets gay and bisexual men who use or are curious about using crystal methamphetamine. Check out www.himynameistina.com and look for print and radio ads this summer.

For more information about the campaign, contact Nick Boyce, ACT's Gay Men's Harm Reduction Coordinator, at 416-340-8484 ext. 235 or nboyce@actoronto.org.


NEW IN THE ACT LIBRARY
The library has added a slew of new books to the collection on different complementary therapies. From herbal therapies to mind-body techniques, new titles include:

The book of massage : the complete step-by-step guide to Eastern and Western techniques / by Lucy Lidell with Sara Thomas, Carola Beresford-Cooke and Anthony Porter, 2001. CIR 615.822 LID BOO 2001

The complete illustrated guide to aromatherapy : a practical approach to the use of essential oils for health and well-being / Julia Lawless, 2002. CIR 615.5 LAW COM 2002

The green pharmacy herbal handbook : your comprehensive reference to the best herbs for healing / James A. Duke, 2000. CIR 615.321 DUK GRE 2000

The healing power of acupressure and acupuncture : a complete guide to timeless traditions and modern practice / by Matthew D. Bauer, 2005. CIR 615.89 BAU HEA 2005

Tai chi : mind and body / Tricia Yu, 2003. CIR 615.5 YUT TAI 2003

Drop in and have a look, or you can search the library catalogue at www.actoronto.org/library for more titles!


WOMEN'S RETREAT
Plans are underway for the annual Women's Retreat, a weekend getaway for 40 HIV-positive women, which will take place again at the Mansfield Outdoor Recreation Centre, October 13-15th. It's a great opportunity to get away from the city, connect with other HIV-positive women, and meet staff from ACT, Voices of Positive Women, and Casey House. The weekend includes transportation and meals as well as workshops, self-care activities and lots of time for relaxing! For more information about how to register, call Kristy Buck at 416-340-8484 ext. 234.


LATEST HIV PREVENTION CAMPAIGN, BE REAL, LAUNCHES THIS SUMMER
In collaboration with the Ontario Ministry of Health's AIDS Bureau and a number of AIDS service organizations across Ontario (including ACT), Be Real, a new provincial gay men's HIV prevention campaign, will launch this June.

Targeted at gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM), the Be Real campaign message — "Be real. Respect. Protect. Each other." — reminds us that we must take care of ourselves and other members of our community, whether they are our sexual partners or just friends.

Look out for this exciting new campaign as it rolls out on billboards, bus shelters, TV ads and other spaces throughout the province this summer and fall. For more information, visit www.rU4real.ca or contact David Parnell, ACT's Ontario Gay Men's Prevention Campaign Coordinator, at 416-340-8484 ext. 274 or dparnell@actoronto.org


WOMEN'S COMMUNITY KITCHEN
The Kitchen is a monthly social support network for HIV-positive women from Africa and the Caribbean with an emphasis on information sharing, self-care and nutrition. It includes guest speakers on health and lifestyle, information and skills-building workshops, outings to city attractions and restaurants, cooking classes and nutritional support.

The program is a partnership between ACT, Voices of Positive Women, Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black CAP), Africans in Partnership Against AIDS (APAA) and African Community Health Services (ACHES). The group usually meets on the third Thursday afternoon of the month.

The next Kitchen will be held on June 15th — a picnic on Centre Island! Call Kristy Buck at 416-340-8484 ext. 234 for more details.


WOMEN'S COFFEE NIGHT
Women's Coffee Night at ACT is another opportunity for HIV-positive women to meet each other, learn from each other's experiences and find out a bit about what ACT may have to offer. We usually meet on the third Wednesday evening of the month from 6-8 pm here at ACT. Call Kristy at 416-340-8484 ext. 234 to find out more!


CHANGES IN THE WOMEN'S COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAM
In May, Lisungu Chieza joined ACT as the agency's new Women's Community Education Coordinator. A qualified food microbiologist, Lisungu brings to the position ten years of experience as a clinical researcher and as an HIV/AIDS counsellor and training coordinator in Zimbabwe. Welcome, Lisungu!

For more information about ACT women's HIV prevention programming, contact Lisungu at 416-340-8484 ext. 260, or lchieza@actoronto.org.