POZ I AM Radio

Michelle Anderson is an African-American woman who has been living for HIV since 1999. She currently resides in Dallas, Texas and is very active in her community as Co-Chair of Campaign to End AIDS Texas , The Afiya Center Peer Educator , Public Speaker , as well as a board member for AIDS Services of Dallas, and ADAP Advocacy Association where she is the Treasurer. Michelle has dedicated much of her personal life to educating others on HIV/AIDS throughout the greater Dallas area and beyond. She plans to finish her degree in Social Work where she will be able to continue to spread the message, and educate people regarding HIV/AIDS. Michelle has stepped out of the box and was previously crowned  Ms. Duncanville Plus America 2010 and 2011. She plans to use her title to become the voice of positive women of color. Michelle has experience as a group facilitator and has attended many conferences where she received training in Advocacy, Project LEAP (Learning, Empowerment, Advocacy, Participation), and Common Threads.

Tonight Robert & Jeromy will be discussinga range of topic and news headlines. Call the show with your comments. 347-215-9442

Positive since 2005, Danny now is a staunch advocate/activist in the AIDS community. Working as as outreach supervisor and peer group facilitator he fights everyday to end stigma and AIDS related health disparities. He had recently been named chairperson for the Southern Maryland region for The HIV Planning Group, which has been newly created by the CDC.  Together with the amazing network of advocates/activists that are available to our community Danny can see the day when AIDS is no more.

The Needle Prick Project is an editorial and visual project with the mission of sparking a new conversation about HIV today.  The editorial project is a profile series featured in The Advocate online magazine that is intended to place a modern face on HIV. These profiles not only feature people who are positive but also those who have an experience with HIV - whether it be a partner, brother, mother or friend.  The visual project allows others to become involved in the project by taking a photo with a red band aid and the "get pricked" logo.  Each photo represents a commitment to having a conversation about HIV with friends and family.

The project began with the initial article, "The Needle Prick" Reluctant Commentary from a Newly HIV Positive 20-Something."  The Needle Prick is a metaphor for being afraid of something that ultimately makes us feel better.  Most people are afraid of discussing HIV, but education through conversation is the best way to erase stigma, increase awareness and prevent transmission.

At the age of 17, Jake was doing things that no 17 year old should be doing, and he was doing these things without any protection. On June 2nd 2012 Jake was told something no one wants to ever hear, He at the young age of 17 was HIV positive. Jake is open to his family and friends and has always been, this is one reason why he believes he’s come so far in so little time with coming to terms with his diagnosis. This was a Jake knew that this was going to be a life changing event and vowed from that day forward that he would do everything in his power to not let it happen to any other youth. Today, 9 months after his diagnosis, Jake is happy, healthy, and now fulfilling his vow he made to himself and doing everything in his power to prevent youth from contracting HIV.

View Jakes Letter to HIV

DISCLOSURE - STIGMA - DATING - STARTING MEDICATIONS ..Call us with your topics and comments at 347-215-9442

On Sunday February 3rd Kevin Maloney the founder of RiseUpToHIV is going to be talking about his new Anti-Stigma Campaign - No SHame in Being HIV Positive.

This is a Global public campaign inspired by Chelsea Clinton raising awareness by holding a simple sign for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Kevin's vision for this campaign is to mobilize people in places across the United States and the World willing to stand up to Stigma and Rise Up To HIV, all in an effort of realizing the UN Goals of getting to ZERO. The biggest barrier Kevin believes to realizing these goals is STIGMA.

Robert Breining & Jeromy Dunn will be dicussing a range of hot topics this evening. DISCLOSURE - STIGMA - DATING - STARTING MEDICATIONS ETC...Call in and weigh in with your comments at 347-215-9442

Alexander Smith is a teacher, licensed clinical social worker, coach, writer, speaker, actor, and artist. Living with HIV since 2003, he was diagnosed on St. Patrick’s Day, and views that “lucky” day as the moment he began to live. In June of 2011, he was featured on CNN, commemorating 30 years of HIV/AIDS. Coming Out with his status has shifted the isolation, stigma, discrimination, and judgement that has accompanied his journey with the virus. Through this courageous and necessary action, more love, support, friendship, health, and abundance has graced his life. He is the vision behind Bless Your Virus, a movement and conversation aimed to inform and inspire. Its mission is to: 1.Deconstruct shame, stigma and secrets.

2.Spread compassion, courage, connection, kindness and kinship. 3.Teach others a mindfulness as they learn to bless their fear, disease, and virus. 4.Speak the C Word (cure).

Alexander is a native of Salt Lake City, Utah, and is currently living in Southern California. He has studied film and theater, earned a bachelor’s degree in human development from Brigham Young University, and a master’s of social work from the University of Utah. Shortly after his diagnosis he started using crystal meth as a means to feel alive, invincible, and uninfected. Coming In to an awareness of divine self, primarily through meditation and yoga, Alexander has experienced years of sobriety. Alexander is passionate about people, theater, film, food, wine, travel, watercolors, cashmere, coffee, mornings and men. He is a gifted therapist and coach and his practice is primarily based online from the comfort and coziness of your couch (via SKYPE or FACETIME). For more information about Alexander and his work, to view the CNN interview, or read his monthly column, Cashmere Sex, visit www.blessyourvirus.com

Josh Kruger, a child of the nineties, grew up in a rural town in Pennsylvania.  In 2002, he moved to Philadelphia where he attended the University of Pennsylvania studying political science and anthropology.  For five years, he worked in community and LGBT non-profit development, fundraising, and marketing.  Diagnosed as HIV positive in his late twenties, he left the non-profit industry and started Emapwerks, his company focusing on writing, editing, and marketing, in 2012.

Josh writes often utilizing his personal perspective with sero-discordant relationships, online sex and dating, alcoholism, homelessness, Philadelphia's street economy, and depression.  In particular, he writes on LGBT political issues, small business, HIV/AIDS, gay culture, bathhouses, sex, alcohol and drug abuse, and personal ethics.  His work has been produced predominantly for Philadelphia-based print publications and national blogs and his Myers-Briggs personality type indicator is ENTJ.

Josh currently lives and writes in Philadelphia.