POZ I AM Radio

KengiKat will share his amazing story. Kengi’s life took a turn that he never thought could or would ever happen in February 2007. He had just recently buried his Pops after caring for him for over 3 years. was also in my 5th battle with cancer. Homeless for 22 months , April 2008 Kengi was told he was HIV+. Not only was he homeless and battling a life long fight with Sickle Cell, Cancer and now HIV. Kengi thought he was already sinking, but with being told was now HIV positive he felt as if someone had just tied two anchors to my ankles and I was now being pulled under.

While Kengi was homeless he created an outreach program to draw attention and raise awareness as well as provide support for people who suffer through homelessness. Do Something Saturday .On the year anniversary of him being HIV positive Kengi launched two outreaches Unplugging HIV~empowering a positive life and Kengi's get tested party. Unplugging HIV is a monthly outreach to low income and homeless people living with HIV and AIDS

His Blog network- Project KengiKAT was started as a way for him to raise awareness for issues that face people who are homeless, however today it also seeks to raise awareness for people battling HIV and AIDS.

Sunday June 14th at 9pm EST Youth HIV/AIDS educator Bob Bowers also known as " Da Pirate" returns to POZ I AM Radio. Bob is a 25-year thriving survivor of HIV/AIDS. To broaden his message of prevention through education, survival, hope and compassion, he founded HIVictorious, Inc., which is based in Madison, Wisconsin. He is a powerful and motivating speaker that reaches out to a large array of diverse audiences. He is a tireless and passionate advocate helping to shape HIV/AIDS policy. He is also active in fund-raising events, camps for youth affected or infected by HIV, guest-speaking engagements at colleges, jails, community organizations, and high schools and middle schools. Bob is truly dedicated to making a lasting difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS, as well as addressing AIDS stigma and other social issues. www.hivictorious.org www.onetoughpirate.com www.whatifitwereyou.org

Wednesday June 10th at 2pm EST Jim Frederick a HIV+ Artist will be sharing his story with POZIAM Radio. Jim is a Midwest boy, who grew up in Washington, Missouri. He has a double bachelors degree in Advertising and Marketing. After one brief year with a small advertising agency, He started his own t-shirt business. He designed under the label Jymwear Dallas for a little over 10 years. Selling to a national market was challenging but it left him wanting more creatively. What started out at a hobby creating greeting cards Jim created Jim Frederick Studios which is growing strong with over 150 designs in both greeting cards and gift totes. The biggest surprise and Jim’s newest passion is his fine Art. You can view his gallery at www.jimfederickstudios.com

Nina's premature birth in San Jose, California facilitated the need for a blood transfusion that infected her with the HIV virus in 1983. However, it was 1991 before her infection came to light during an accidental preoperative test; she was eight years old. This discovery began an investigation into the U.S.Department of Defense, which had known of her donor's HIV-positive status two years before her diagnosis. Prompted by her case, the Department of Defense's "Blood Look Back" program now requires a practice of case non-closure if a blood recipient cannot be immediately located. Nearly twenty-six years after her infection, Nina holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics and government from Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and she is a candidate for the Master of Science in Public Health in the summer of 2009 from Emory University in Atlanta.

Mark Olmsted is a long-term survivor who dates his seroconversion from New York in the early 80s, where he also graduated from NYU with a degree in film. In 1989 he moved to the West Coast, where he took care of his brother, who died of AIDS in 1991. Mark was diagnosed with full-blown AIDS in 1993, and lived for the next several years with the assumption they were his last, as he pursued a screenwriting career . He developed a crystal meth habit, which in turn led to drug-dealing to support his addiction. In 2004, he was arrested, and spent 9 months in various California prisons. While incarcerated, his sister offered to start a blog documenting his life as an out HIV+ inmate, a blog which he continued upon his release. He recently celebrated 4 years of sobriety.

Robert Breining and Jeromy Dunn will be speaking with Steve Albert. Steve was diagnosed HIV+ in 1988 ,his partner at the time died from complications of AIDS in November of 1989 His Mom was his biggest support outside of the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT)She passed away in 1992 and after meeting his current partner he relocated to a small town north of Toronto where he came up against a lot of ignorance and and fear and was subsequently fired from a job.

With the help of the local ASO Peterborough AIDS Resource Network (PARN) Steve was able to speak at a town meeting and help in educating the locals. Steve continued to volunteer for this organization until he moved back to Toronto with my partner in 2005.

At that point Steve decided to go to school and obtain my diploma in social work.After graduating Steve was diagnosed with Hep C at which point he elected to take the Interferon treatment.The treatment was very difficult and for a year he was unable to function up to my normal potential however after it was completed, Steve was cleared of the virus so it made it all worth it.

Robert Breining and Dab Garner from -Dab the AIDS Bear Project _will be speaking with Alina Oswald. Alina is a freelance writer/photographer and author living in NYC area. Her works have appeared in publications like "A&U," "NY Blade" and "Out IN Jersey" and in NYC art galleries like Visual AIDS ("Postcards from the Edge") and Leslie-Lohman ("Strike A Pose"). Her own photography show is "Backbone," hosted by 32 Jones Gallery in Jersey City. Her new books include "Journeys Through Darkness," a biography of an award-winning photographer left legally-blind by CMV retinitis and "Backbone" a collection of images celebrating queer courage, from the show with the same name.

Claes Lilja shares why he started the Brotherhood Retreats. This 5-day retreat is an international gathering of HIV-positive gay and bi-sexual men who seek to enrich their lives through deeper insights, awareness and connections to both the community and oneself. We will be learning about medical, psychological and spiritual tools to help create healthier and more fulfilling lives while forging bonds and friendships with other HIV-positive gay men from different parts of the world. The program will include informational and instructional sessions as well as exercises and participation by all the attendees with attention given to the full body-mind-spirit connection. We will also have plenty of time for social activities with movie screenings, nature hikes, and some parties.

Learn more- www.pozretreats.com

Mikey was born in Lancaster Pa. and has lived in Harrisburg, Baltimore and now resides in Santa Cruz Ca. He was a gymnast for 18 years and placed in the top 10 on the floor exercise in the north Atlantic championships in college. He is a certified diamondtologist and gemologist with Diamond Council of America. He worked as a male stripper in Baltimore Md. for five years and has been a personal assistant to hair stylist who does non-surgical hair replacement for cancer patients, people with trichotillomania, and the transgender community. Since he was diagnosed with AIDS he is now speaking at HIV/AIDS trainings, colleges and schools in his area, Mikey just completed filming a documentary for the Youth Empowering Youth Project about how he found out he had AIDS.

Living with an illness can be very emotionally and physically draining. The psychological toll in itself is huge. Healing Waters exists to help you step outside from all of that for a day or weekend -- we offer incredibly fun weekend and weekday trips open to people with HIV and AIDS.

Our participant trips have been designed specifically with the special needs of individuals living with HIV/AIDS in mind. For low fees, we are able to provide transportation, insurance, accommodation (tents, sleeping bags and pads), equipment, instruction, and any warm clothing you may need including rain jackets, wool socks, and much more. The meals we provide are specially designed to be high in protein and nutritionally balanced as well. We also welcome caregivers and partners on our trips regardless of their HIV status, for the same low price.

A bit apprehensive? Most people who join us on our trips are new to outdoor sports and many have never been camping. Our programs have been designed to accommodate all skill levels and we strongly encourage beginners to join us!

www.hwaters.org