Kari Farmer - Coffman - Motherhood & HIV

On Sunday November 25th at 9pm, Kari Farmer-Coffman will be sharing her story. Kari lives near Fort Smith, AR. She is the mother of a beautiful daughter. Kari was diagnosed with HIV on NOv 4, 2010 and two days later was diagnosed with AIDS. She was told to make plans for her daughter and her funeral. Kari was not ready to quit. Two years later, she is still fighting and making a difference in the community. She is now undetectable. She is a full time student, an advocate and activist, and most importantly a better mother! She knows that she has a voice for this cause and she uses it to the best of her abilities.

Today she enjoys being a Girl Scout Leader, and is currently working on 2 grassroots organizations, AR HOPE is a prevention based program in the state of Arkansas. She is the leader of the River Valley branch (for her area in Arkansas) She has also helped start the C2EA(campaign to end AIDS) Arkansas branch. She is excited to see the growth in Arkansas. She has joined the PJP HIV Criminalization state task force to help change the HIV Criminalization laws in her state. She has also been invited to join the Arkansas HIV Minority Task Force that meets at the capital and works to change policeis and make life easier for those living with HIV. She is excited about her future as an activist and advocate. Working hard is one of the main things that keeps her motivated.

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Chaz Howard - Youth & HIV

On Sunday November 18th at 9pm EST Chaz Howard will be speaking with the POZ I AM Radio Show. Chaz Howard is 19 years old and resides in Des Moines, Iowa. Howard was diagnosed fewer than nine months ago, yet he has made the choice to be completely transparent with regards to his HIV-positive status -- even with friends, family, fellow students and some acquaintances.

Chaz has found care and support that was unexpected and he speaks from the perspective of a newly-diagnosed youth of a mixed ethnicity in a state where a harsh HIV criminalization law exists. Howard is a member/volunteer of Positive Iowans Taking Charge (PITCH), an emotional and social support group run by HIV+ people for HIV+ people.

Chaz also volunteers with an Iowa-based non-profit organization titled Community HIV/Hepatitis Advocates of Iowa Network (CHAIN); CHAIN is spearheading the effort in Iowa to repeal or "modernize" Iowa's Draconian HIV-specific criminalization statute.

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Jeff Allen - Positive CHampions

On Sunday November 11th at 9pm EST we will be speaking with Activist Jeff Allen on the POZ I AM Radio Show. Jeff Allen tested positive in 1985. He was a drug addict using heroin and cocaine and reckless in his behavior. Jeff was homeless and living in my car for more than two months. Jeff lived in Key west with his partner of 12 years where the HIV community was small and compact. When it came to the end of his life he wanted to leave and go where he was not so well known. After his passing Jeff moved to Deland Florida right outside the Daytona Beach area. He was very frail and weak, but needed a purpose in his life. This is when Jeff first started volunteering with HIV/AIDS in 1995.

Living with no T-cells for 3 years and a viral load 1,650,000 Jeff contracted MAC (Mycobacterium avium complex) from potting plants in my yard. “MAC,” is the name of a group of germs. These germs can infect people who are living with HIV. Jeff had to go on an IV drip for 5 days.

Then Jeff got involved with his local Ryan White consortium (Partnership for Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Planning PCHAP) he ended up chairing the consortium for 7 years. He then decided he wanted to make a difference on the national level. Jeff knew he wanted to get involved with the homeless in some capacity since he was previous homeless. Jeff also knew that he wanted to help improve the quality of care that HIV/AIDS patients receive. So he applied and was accepted in several different positions

Then in 2011 working with his consortium, they needed to address the out of care numbers of clients that they have in the local area. After conducting focus groups and soliciting surveys, it was decided that the real issue was the fear and stigma that is associated with HIV/AIDS. People did not want to get tested in areas know to treat or counsel HIV positive people for fear of being associate with having the disease or being gay. So Jeff created the Positive Champions Speakers Bureau to deal with fear and stigma. www.positivechampions.org

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Kathleen Gerus-Darbison - Stitches Doll Project

Last week Kathleen Gerus-Darbison shared her story and all about the Stitches Doll Project on the POZ I AM Radio show.

Kathleen is currently an Adjunct Professor in Sociology at Oakland Community College in Auburn Hills, Michigan and Macomb Community College in Clinton Twp, Michigan. She teaches Intro classes as well as the Sociology of Sex Roles, Modern Social Problems, Race & Ethnicity and Marriage and Family.

Kathleen is probably best known as the Founder & Director of Stitches Women’s Initiatives, an organization that offers doll making workshops for women living with HIV infection and other health/life challenges. Stitches also provides a traveling exhibit of completed dolls to educate the larger community around issues of risk, stigma, and discrimination.  For more info visit : www.stitchesdollproject.org

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Sophie and Sarah Denison-Johnston - AIDS Free Generation

On Sunday October 21st Robert & Jeromy will be speaking with Sarah and Sophie Denison -Johnston, the daughters of Rebecca Denison. Sophie and Sarah Denison-Johnston were born HIV negative at San Francisco General Hospital in March of 1996.

Their mother, Rebecca Denison, founder of WORLD (Women Organized to Respond to Life-threatening Diseases) who was recently on POZ I AM Radio, participated in the phase 1 trial of nevirapine that led to their negative status. Their mother wrote an article about her decision here:You can read about it here.

Sophie and Sarah feel so honored to have been a part of this monumental step in approaching an AIDS free generation in that they know it's possible to stop mother-daughter transmission of HIV. Their only question is why should we be called fortunate. It's their hope that in the future having access to these types of drugs isn't a privilege. It should be accessible to everyone, no matter who and where they are from.

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