so before we start I’d like to tell you all a brief story I’d like you to think
all a brief story I’d like you to think
all a brief story I’d like you to think about where you were in 1998 maybe you
about where you were in 1998 maybe you
about where you were in 1998 maybe you were getting married having your first
were getting married having your first
were getting married having your first child graduating from high school or
child graduating from high school or
child graduating from high school or college this is rich in 1998 rich was
college this is rich in 1998 rich was
college this is rich in 1998 rich was homeless prostituting on the streets
homeless prostituting on the streets
homeless prostituting on the streets smoking crack rich was a male sex worker
smoking crack rich was a male sex worker
smoking crack rich was a male sex worker which is a concept that’s foreign to
which is a concept that’s foreign to
which is a concept that’s foreign to many people but the thing is rich was
many people but the thing is rich was
many people but the thing is rich was not the only one so I’m the executive
not the only one so I’m the executive
not the only one so I’m the executive director of an organization called
director of an organization called
director of an organization called project Weber Inu we are a merger of two
project Weber Inu we are a merger of two
project Weber Inu we are a merger of two organizations project Weber and project
organizations project Weber and project
organizations project Weber and project renew serving sex workers and high-risk
renew serving sex workers and high-risk
renew serving sex workers and high-risk men and women in Rhode Island and so the
men and women in Rhode Island and so the
men and women in Rhode Island and so the heart of our work is utilizing a peer
heart of our work is utilizing a peer
heart of our work is utilizing a peer based model where the men and women who
based model where the men and women who
based model where the men and women who do this critical work once walked in the
do this critical work once walked in the
do this critical work once walked in the shoes that our clients now wear so
shoes that our clients now wear so
shoes that our clients now wear so people will often ask me the first
people will often ask me the first
people will often ask me the first question they often ask me is who are
question they often ask me is who are
question they often ask me is who are your clients what do they look like what
your clients what do they look like what
your clients what do they look like what are their needs are their challenges and
are their needs are their challenges and
are their needs are their challenges and so I always say that our clients do not
so I always say that our clients do not
so I always say that our clients do not look like this and in fact our clients
look like this and in fact our clients
look like this and in fact our clients are all ages all races and ethnicities
are all ages all races and ethnicities
are all ages all races and ethnicities all genders and sexualities 80% of our
all genders and sexualities 80% of our
all genders and sexualities 80% of our clients have been homeless within the
clients have been homeless within the
clients have been homeless within the last year 70% had incarceration
last year 70% had incarceration
last year 70% had incarceration histories 15% are HIV positive and the
histories 15% are HIV positive and the
histories 15% are HIV positive and the vast majority of the rest are at very
vast majority of the rest are at very
vast majority of the rest are at very high risk for HIV through intravenous
high risk for HIV through intravenous
high risk for HIV through intravenous drug use and condomless sex the majority
drug use and condomless sex the majority
drug use and condomless sex the majority of clients have helped mental health
of clients have helped mental health
of clients have helped mental health diagnosis and many clients fall into all
diagnosis and many clients fall into all
diagnosis and many clients fall into all of these categories at once so listen to
of these categories at once so listen to
of these categories at once so listen to the way that I have described our
the way that I have described our
the way that I have described our clients and talked about them by only
clients and talked about them by only
clients and talked about them by only what they lack so I’m here to talk to
what they lack so I’m here to talk to
what they lack so I’m here to talk to you about the idea today that this is
you about the idea today that this is
you about the idea today that this is not all of who they are this is not all
not all of who they are this is not all
not all of who they are this is not all that defines them their histories their
that defines them their histories their
that defines them their histories their past very much make the people that they
past very much make the people that they
past very much make the people that they are today but they are not permanently
are today but they are not permanently
are today but they are not permanently limited by those paths
limited by those paths
limited by those paths how can I know that how can I be so
how can I know that how can I be so
how can I know that how can I be so hopeful as to believe that because I
hopeful as to believe that because I
hopeful as to believe that because I direct an organization which is founded
direct an organization which is founded
direct an organization which is founded on the principle of every individual to
on the principle of every individual to
on the principle of every individual to succeed and the power of those pasts in
succeed and the power of those pasts in
succeed and the power of those pasts in those histories and pushing and shaping
those histories and pushing and shaping
those histories and pushing and shaping forward their success so today I want to
forward their success so today I want to
forward their success so today I want to talk to you about the idea that someone
talk to you about the idea that someone
talk to you about the idea that someone can use their past to create a new
can use their past to create a new
can use their past to create a new future for themselves and others and
future for themselves and others and
future for themselves and others and specifically I want to talk about the
specifically I want to talk about the
specifically I want to talk about the ways in which Pierce staff use the very
ways in which Pierce staff use the very
ways in which Pierce staff use the very same skills and behaviors that they once
same skills and behaviors that they once
same skills and behaviors that they once used in negative ways to create positive
used in negative ways to create positive
used in negative ways to create positive outcomes for our clients
outcomes for our clients
outcomes for our clients this is our staff so I’m gonna tell you
this is our staff so I’m gonna tell you
this is our staff so I’m gonna tell you the stories of two of our staff members
the stories of two of our staff members
the stories of two of our staff members Lisa and rich their stories illustrate
Lisa and rich their stories illustrate
Lisa and rich their stories illustrate the very real obstacles facing people as
the very real obstacles facing people as
the very real obstacles facing people as a result of a past of homelessness
a result of a past of homelessness
a result of a past of homelessness incarceration sex work but more
incarceration sex work but more
incarceration sex work but more importantly their stories illustrate the
importantly their stories illustrate the
importantly their stories illustrate the path the power of that past in creating
path the power of that past in creating
path the power of that past in creating new futures for clients so Lisa was
new futures for clients so Lisa was
new futures for clients so Lisa was hustling on the streets of Pawtucket in
hustling on the streets of Pawtucket in
hustling on the streets of Pawtucket in Central Falls for thirteen years she
Central Falls for thirteen years she
Central Falls for thirteen years she hustled drugs selling and using she
hustled drugs selling and using she
hustled drugs selling and using she hustled stacks prostituting on the
hustled stacks prostituting on the
hustled stacks prostituting on the streets
streets
streets she was the bane of the existence of the
she was the bane of the existence of the
she was the bane of the existence of the Pawtucket and Central Falls police they
Pawtucket and Central Falls police they
Pawtucket and Central Falls police they called her the Road Runner because they
called her the Road Runner because they
called her the Road Runner because they spent their careers chasing her around
spent their careers chasing her around
spent their careers chasing her around and sometimes even catching her and so
and sometimes even catching her and so
and sometimes even catching her and so between 2006 and 2014 13 she is met on
between 2006 and 2014 13 she is met on
between 2006 and 2014 13 she is met on the streets over and over by project
the streets over and over by project
the streets over and over by project renew tear staff they give her condoms
renew tear staff they give her condoms
renew tear staff they give her condoms clean water clean clothes basic needs
clean water clean clothes basic needs
clean water clean clothes basic needs and they asked her to come into the
and they asked her to come into the
and they asked her to come into the office and get an HIV test and she gets
office and get an HIV test and she gets
office and get an HIV test and she gets the HIV test and they say you know we
the HIV test and they say you know we
the HIV test and they say you know we have other services would you be
have other services would you be
have other services would you be interested in getting into substance
interested in getting into substance
interested in getting into substance abuse treatment and she’s not and so the
abuse treatment and she’s not and so the
abuse treatment and she’s not and so the staff let her know when she’s ready the
staff let her know when she’s ready the
staff let her know when she’s ready the door is always open
door is always open
door is always open so in 2014 Lisa stops using so she’s
so in 2014 Lisa stops using so she’s
so in 2014 Lisa stops using so she’s bored and she’s looking to keep her mind
bored and she’s looking to keep her mind
bored and she’s looking to keep her mind occupied with positive things so she
occupied with positive things so she
occupied with positive things so she doesn’t have time to think about using
doesn’t have time to think about using
doesn’t have time to think about using again
again
again so she comes into the office to
so she comes into the office to
so she comes into the office to volunteer for a year and as always
volunteer for a year and as always
volunteer for a year and as always happens when you do the next right thing
happens when you do the next right thing
happens when you do the next right thing a job opens up so Lisa’s hired Hearst
a job opens up so Lisa’s hired Hearst
a job opens up so Lisa’s hired Hearst for a few hours a week and then it grows
for a few hours a week and then it grows
for a few hours a week and then it grows to almost half time so she’s a peer case
to almost half time so she’s a peer case
to almost half time so she’s a peer case manager and she’s working now along
manager and she’s working now along
manager and she’s working now along stuck working to serve the women that
stuck working to serve the women that
stuck working to serve the women that she once hustled alongside so she goes
she once hustled alongside so she goes
she once hustled alongside so she goes to training after training she becomes
to training after training she becomes
to training after training she becomes an arc and train-the-trainer than an HIV
an arc and train-the-trainer than an HIV
an arc and train-the-trainer than an HIV and Hep C test her then she becomes a
and Hep C test her then she becomes a
and Hep C test her then she becomes a community health worker and she’s
community health worker and she’s
community health worker and she’s learning and growing and she’s a
learning and growing and she’s a
learning and growing and she’s a resource for so many men and women on
resource for so many men and women on
resource for so many men and women on the streets of Pawtucket and Central
the streets of Pawtucket and Central
the streets of Pawtucket and Central Falls she gets married she has a
Falls she gets married she has a
Falls she gets married she has a relationship again with our family and
relationship again with our family and
relationship again with our family and children she gets her license back after
children she gets her license back after
children she gets her license back after 16 years which she was very excited
16 years which she was very excited
16 years which she was very excited about me telling you all so one day and
about me telling you all so one day and
about me telling you all so one day and he said I go to a meeting with the Chief
he said I go to a meeting with the Chief
he said I go to a meeting with the Chief of Police of Pawtucket in Central Falls
of Police of Pawtucket in Central Falls
of Police of Pawtucket in Central Falls in the chief’s office they’re longtime
in the chief’s office they’re longtime
in the chief’s office they’re longtime partners of ours and we sit down across
partners of ours and we sit down across
partners of ours and we sit down across from this big table from them and they
from this big table from them and they
from this big table from them and they realize who she is and their eyes sort
realize who she is and their eyes sort
realize who she is and their eyes sort of widen and they tell the story of the
of widen and they tell the story of the
of widen and they tell the story of the Road Runner and everyone laughs
Road Runner and everyone laughs
Road Runner and everyone laughs including Lisa but it’s a true moment
including Lisa but it’s a true moment
including Lisa but it’s a true moment for her to save her after a decade of
for her to save her after a decade of
for her to save her after a decade of high of running from these men she’s
high of running from these men she’s
high of running from these men she’s sitting across the table from them in
sitting across the table from them in
sitting across the table from them in some ways as an equal she’s advising
some ways as an equal she’s advising
some ways as an equal she’s advising them on how to reduce arrests in their
them on how to reduce arrests in their
them on how to reduce arrests in their cities and how to refer clients to us
cities and how to refer clients to us
cities and how to refer clients to us rather than continuing the never-ending
rather than continuing the never-ending
rather than continuing the never-ending cycle of incarceration and degradation
cycle of incarceration and degradation
cycle of incarceration and degradation so she is an expert in many so in many
so she is an expert in many so in many
so she is an expert in many so in many ways more so than the police and this is
ways more so than the police and this is
ways more so than the police and this is a transformative shift in power for
a transformative shift in power for
a transformative shift in power for somebody who’s seen as less than for
somebody who’s seen as less than for
somebody who’s seen as less than for most of her life
most of her life
most of her life she is changing the lives of clients and
she is changing the lives of clients and
she is changing the lives of clients and changing the minds of law enforcement
changing the minds of law enforcement
changing the minds of law enforcement who might occasionally start to believe
who might occasionally start to believe
who might occasionally start to believe so and so will never change
so and so will never change
so and so will never change Lisa is using her past to create a new
Lisa is using her past to create a new
Lisa is using her past to create a new future for clients on the streets of
future for clients on the streets of
future for clients on the streets of Pawtucket and Central Falls so now I’m
Pawtucket and Central Falls so now I’m
Pawtucket and Central Falls so now I’m going to tell you another story
going to tell you another story
going to tell you another story this is a story rich we saw his picture
this is a story rich we saw his picture
this is a story rich we saw his picture earlier this is rich Holcomb who is the
earlier this is rich Holcomb who is the
earlier this is rich Holcomb who is the founder of project Weber so rich was 14
founder of project Weber so rich was 14
founder of project Weber so rich was 14 years old when he started hustling on
years old when he started hustling on
years old when he started hustling on the streets homeless smoking crack doing
the streets homeless smoking crack doing
the streets homeless smoking crack doing heroin
heroin
heroin jumping in and out of cars for many
jumping in and out of cars for many
jumping in and out of cars for many years in 2007 richest story took a
years in 2007 richest story took a
years in 2007 richest story took a different turn rich was diagnosed with
different turn rich was diagnosed with
different turn rich was diagnosed with HIV but rather than causing him to want
HIV but rather than causing him to want
HIV but rather than causing him to want to give up on his life Rich’s HIV
to give up on his life Rich’s HIV
to give up on his life Rich’s HIV diagnosis inspired him to want to change
diagnosis inspired him to want to change
diagnosis inspired him to want to change lives to save lives and to advocate for
lives to save lives and to advocate for
lives to save lives and to advocate for a population that he saw as being at
a population that he saw as being at
a population that he saw as being at risk forgotten and ignored so rich
risk forgotten and ignored so rich
risk forgotten and ignored so rich Ghana’s recovery and he began handing
Ghana’s recovery and he began handing
Ghana’s recovery and he began handing out condoms and his clean needles on the
out condoms and his clean needles on the
out condoms and his clean needles on the streets of Providence after years of
streets of Providence after years of
streets of Providence after years of doing this he began gathering data on
doing this he began gathering data on
doing this he began gathering data on the needs of male sex workers in
the needs of male sex workers in
the needs of male sex workers in Providence and he presented this data to
Providence and he presented this data to
Providence and he presented this data to the Rhode Island Department of Health
the Rhode Island Department of Health
the Rhode Island Department of Health and in 2013 after years of advocacy the
and in 2013 after years of advocacy the
and in 2013 after years of advocacy the Department of Health finally funded him
Department of Health finally funded him
Department of Health finally funded him to open the country’s first drop-in
to open the country’s first drop-in
to open the country’s first drop-in center from ill sex workers so the key
center from ill sex workers so the key
center from ill sex workers so the key is that it was Rich’s HIV diagnosis and
is that it was Rich’s HIV diagnosis and
is that it was Rich’s HIV diagnosis and his willingness to live openly as a
his willingness to live openly as a
his willingness to live openly as a person with HIV that caused so many
person with HIV that caused so many
person with HIV that caused so many doors to open for him rich used the
doors to open for him rich used the
doors to open for him rich used the narrative of his past to demonstrate to
narrative of his past to demonstrate to
narrative of his past to demonstrate to funders and health administrators about
funders and health administrators about
funders and health administrators about the importance of his work and more
the importance of his work and more
the importance of his work and more importantly enrich’d used the narratives
importantly enrich’d used the narratives
importantly enrich’d used the narratives pass to let other male sex workers know
pass to let other male sex workers know
pass to let other male sex workers know that they were no longer invisible so as
that they were no longer invisible so as
that they were no longer invisible so as of today this is rich now so as of today
of today this is rich now so as of today
of today this is rich now so as of today the Weber drop-in center has seen 236
the Weber drop-in center has seen 236
the Weber drop-in center has seen 236 male sex workers walked through the
male sex workers walked through the
male sex workers walked through the doors and it remains one of only a few
doors and it remains one of only a few
doors and it remains one of only a few drop-in centers in the world for this
drop-in centers in the world for this
drop-in centers in the world for this population the renew offices primarily
population the renew offices primarily
population the renew offices primarily serving women in Pawtucket and
serving women in Pawtucket and
serving women in Pawtucket and Providence have seen over 800 clients
Providence have seen over 800 clients
Providence have seen over 800 clients walk through the doors so Rhode Island
walk through the doors so Rhode Island
walk through the doors so Rhode Island is not unique in these problems men and
is not unique in these problems men and
is not unique in these problems men and women exists like this in every city
women exists like this in every city
women exists like this in every city across the country and in every city
across the country and in every city
across the country and in every city across the world but the way
across the world but the way
across the world but the way that we have chosen to address them and
that we have chosen to address them and
that we have chosen to address them and the fact that an organization like this
the fact that an organization like this
the fact that an organization like this that is peer-led exists to advocate for
that is peer-led exists to advocate for
that is peer-led exists to advocate for this underserved population makes us
this underserved population makes us
this underserved population makes us unique and it’s something that Rhode
unique and it’s something that Rhode
unique and it’s something that Rhode Island can be very proud of
Island can be very proud of
Island can be very proud of so through this work I’ve learned that
so through this work I’ve learned that
so through this work I’ve learned that the very things that make someone a
the very things that make someone a
the very things that make someone a skilled hustler can make them a skilled
skilled hustler can make them a skilled
skilled hustler can make them a skilled health outreach worker so in a peer
health outreach worker so in a peer
health outreach worker so in a peer model a person can use those skills to
model a person can use those skills to
model a person can use those skills to scam or to hustle or they can use those
scam or to hustle or they can use those
scam or to hustle or they can use those same skills as a leader and as a
same skills as a leader and as a
same skills as a leader and as a charismatic person to inspire as a
charismatic person to inspire as a
charismatic person to inspire as a recovery coach or to facilitate a
recovery coach or to facilitate a
recovery coach or to facilitate a support group so who better to connect
support group so who better to connect
support group so who better to connect someone to HIV care than someone who’s
someone to HIV care than someone who’s
someone to HIV care than someone who’s HIV positive and was once out of care
HIV positive and was once out of care
HIV positive and was once out of care themselves who better to train someone
themselves who better to train someone
themselves who better to train someone on the street to use narcan than someone
on the street to use narcan than someone
on the street to use narcan than someone whose own life was once saved by narcan
whose own life was once saved by narcan
whose own life was once saved by narcan who better to run support groups for
who better to run support groups for
who better to run support groups for male sex workers and a hormone male sex
male sex workers and a hormone male sex
male sex workers and a hormone male sex worker who got out of the life and
worker who got out of the life and
worker who got out of the life and became an advocate we have a transgender
became an advocate we have a transgender
became an advocate we have a transgender outreach project that we just started
outreach project that we just started
outreach project that we just started last year and this project once again
last year and this project once again
last year and this project once again has shown us that the power of people
has shown us that the power of people
has shown us that the power of people seeing themselves reflected in the staff
seeing themselves reflected in the staff
seeing themselves reflected in the staff cannot be understated for a client to
cannot be understated for a client to
cannot be understated for a client to walk through the doors and to see a
walk through the doors and to see a
walk through the doors and to see a trans woman of color or a gay man whose
trans woman of color or a gay man whose
trans woman of color or a gay man whose public about his HIV status or a latina
public about his HIV status or a latina
public about his HIV status or a latina survivor of sex trafficking and see
survivor of sex trafficking and see
survivor of sex trafficking and see themselves it’s life-changing so the
themselves it’s life-changing so the
themselves it’s life-changing so the question that I’ve often received for
question that I’ve often received for
question that I’ve often received for the past dozen or so years is how did
the past dozen or so years is how did
the past dozen or so years is how did you get involved in this work and the
you get involved in this work and the
you get involved in this work and the implicit question is are you appear and
implicit question is are you appear and
implicit question is are you appear and so people are so curious as to why
so people are so curious as to why
so people are so curious as to why somebody who does not look like the
somebody who does not look like the
somebody who does not look like the stereotype of a sex worker or a person
stereotype of a sex worker or a person
stereotype of a sex worker or a person who’s experienced homelessness or HIV
who’s experienced homelessness or HIV
who’s experienced homelessness or HIV would dedicate their professional career
would dedicate their professional career
would dedicate their professional career and in some ways their life to this
and in some ways their life to this
and in some ways their life to this population and so my story is that I was
population and so my story is that I was
population and so my story is that I was working in pawtucket in the Barton
working in pawtucket in the Barton
working in pawtucket in the Barton Street neighborhood on the border of
Street neighborhood on the border of
Street neighborhood on the border of Pawtucket and Central Falls and the
Pawtucket and Central Falls and the
Pawtucket and Central Falls and the neighborhood had identified prostitution
neighborhood had identified prostitution
neighborhood had identified prostitution as an issue
as an issue
as an issue they wanted to address and we perhaps
they wanted to address and we perhaps
they wanted to address and we perhaps naively thought that we could make an
naively thought that we could make an
naively thought that we could make an impact and so we started with a core
impact and so we started with a core
impact and so we started with a core group of community partners and we hired
group of community partners and we hired
group of community partners and we hired one part-time peer staff person we had
one part-time peer staff person we had
one part-time peer staff person we had $15,000 budget that first year and so
$15,000 budget that first year and so
$15,000 budget that first year and so little did we know that 12 years later
little did we know that 12 years later
little did we know that 12 years later we would grow to an organization that is
we would grow to an organization that is
we would grow to an organization that is 10 staff people and 20 times the budget
so although I am NOT a peer I have a
so although I am NOT a peer I have a role to play I’ve always believed in
role to play I’ve always believed in
role to play I’ve always believed in justice for marginalized populations and
justice for marginalized populations and
justice for marginalized populations and it’s been one of the driving forces in
it’s been one of the driving forces in
it’s been one of the driving forces in my life since I was very small and I
my life since I was very small and I
my life since I was very small and I think my parents for that guidance and
think my parents for that guidance and
think my parents for that guidance and so I believe my role is to support and
so I believe my role is to support and
so I believe my role is to support and guide the work of these incredible men
guide the work of these incredible men
guide the work of these incredible men and women as they save lives and change
and women as they save lives and change
and women as they save lives and change the world
the world
the world so to all of you here who might say okay
so to all of you here who might say okay
so to all of you here who might say okay how can I help
how can I help
how can I help I’m not a peer how can I help a peer
I’m not a peer how can I help a peer
I’m not a peer how can I help a peer organization I don’t I’m not in
organization I don’t I’m not in
organization I don’t I’m not in substance abuse recovery how can I help
substance abuse recovery how can I help
substance abuse recovery how can I help people who are in recovery I would say
people who are in recovery I would say
people who are in recovery I would say three things first what is your
three things first what is your
three things first what is your strengths what is your history and how
strengths what is your history and how
strengths what is your history and how can you use that to help an organization
can you use that to help an organization
can you use that to help an organization like ours or to help clients like ours
like ours or to help clients like ours
like ours or to help clients like ours if you are an accountant you can use
if you are an accountant you can use
if you are an accountant you can use your skills your counting skills and
your skills your counting skills and
your skills your counting skills and save and volunteer in an organization
save and volunteer in an organization
save and volunteer in an organization like ours and save us an enormous amount
like ours and save us an enormous amount
like ours and save us an enormous amount of money money that we can invest back
of money money that we can invest back
of money money that we can invest back in our clients if you are a young person
in our clients if you are a young person
in our clients if you are a young person with a huge social media following you
with a huge social media following you
with a huge social media following you can host a drive a fundraiser and
can host a drive a fundraiser and
can host a drive a fundraiser and underwear drive a toilets use drive and
underwear drive a toilets use drive and
underwear drive a toilets use drive and donate the proceeds to our clients if
donate the proceeds to our clients if
donate the proceeds to our clients if you are a teacher like my mother and you
you are a teacher like my mother and you
you are a teacher like my mother and you are you can help us with to provide
are you can help us with to provide
are you can help us with to provide tutoring for low literacy clients which
tutoring for low literacy clients which
tutoring for low literacy clients which my mother has done for the last two and
my mother has done for the last two and
my mother has done for the last two and a half years so secondly I would say how
a half years so secondly I would say how
a half years so secondly I would say how can I see others from a strengths-based
can I see others from a strengths-based
can I see others from a strengths-based perspective so if I spent all day
perspective so if I spent all day
perspective so if I spent all day lamenting the fact that my staff person
lamenting the fact that my staff person
lamenting the fact that my staff person Sally does
Sally does
Sally does not have computer skills I might miss
not have computer skills I might miss
not have computer skills I might miss the fact that Sally is universally
the fact that Sally is universally
the fact that Sally is universally beloved and knows everyone in Providence
beloved and knows everyone in Providence
beloved and knows everyone in Providence so if I simply pair Sally up with a
so if I simply pair Sally up with a
so if I simply pair Sally up with a young intern to capture our efforts on
young intern to capture our efforts on
young intern to capture our efforts on the computer I have the best of both
the computer I have the best of both
the computer I have the best of both worlds and likewise if I felt frustrated
worlds and likewise if I felt frustrated
worlds and likewise if I felt frustrated with frequently absent bill who has a
with frequently absent bill who has a
with frequently absent bill who has a lot of doctor’s appointments I might
lot of doctor’s appointments I might
lot of doctor’s appointments I might miss the fact that bills doctor’s
miss the fact that bills doctor’s
miss the fact that bills doctor’s appointments give him the day-to-day
appointments give him the day-to-day
appointments give him the day-to-day perspective that we need and when
perspective that we need and when
perspective that we need and when working with people with HIV and working
working with people with HIV and working
working with people with HIV and working to implement change and advocacy for
to implement change and advocacy for
to implement change and advocacy for people living with HIV so these are not
people living with HIV so these are not
people living with HIV so these are not merely odd examples these are everyday
merely odd examples these are everyday
merely odd examples these are everyday choices that we make when we work in
choices that we make when we work in
choices that we make when we work in service of marginalized populations and
service of marginalized populations and
service of marginalized populations and finally when asking why people do the
finally when asking why people do the
finally when asking why people do the things they do why they make seemingly
things they do why they make seemingly
things they do why they make seemingly unsafe and destructive choices we need
unsafe and destructive choices we need
unsafe and destructive choices we need to ask ourselves need to look deeply at
to ask ourselves need to look deeply at
to ask ourselves need to look deeply at issues systemic issues such as racism
issues systemic issues such as racism
issues systemic issues such as racism and poverty and homophobia and ask
and poverty and homophobia and ask
and poverty and homophobia and ask ourselves what can we do to remedy these
ourselves what can we do to remedy these
ourselves what can we do to remedy these issues and not simply the issues that
issues and not simply the issues that
issues and not simply the issues that can be fixed with a band-aid because
can be fixed with a band-aid because
can be fixed with a band-aid because when we work together to remedy those
when we work together to remedy those
when we work together to remedy those deeper issues we will create a better
deeper issues we will create a better
deeper issues we will create a better future for peers clients you me everyone
future for peers clients you me everyone
future for peers clients you me everyone so in the beginning I asked you to think
so in the beginning I asked you to think
so in the beginning I asked you to think about where you were in 1998 so now it
about where you were in 1998 so now it
about where you were in 1998 so now it is 2017 and I’m here on stage and you’re
is 2017 and I’m here on stage and you’re
is 2017 and I’m here on stage and you’re here in the audience watching this talk
here in the audience watching this talk
here in the audience watching this talk but I’m not here by myself I’m here as a
but I’m not here by myself I’m here as a
but I’m not here by myself I’m here as a member of a team a group of people
member of a team a group of people
member of a team a group of people incredible people doing incredible work
incredible people doing incredible work
incredible people doing incredible work every single day and so I’d like to
every single day and so I’d like to
every single day and so I’d like to bring them on stage with me and their
bring them on stage with me and their
bring them on stage with me and their past and their hard work have led them
past and their hard work have led them
past and their hard work have led them to this moment
to this moment
to this moment receiving applause in front of a
receiving applause in front of a
receiving applause in front of a thousand people
thousand people
thousand people [Applause]
”
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