Creating Community Connections
April 23rd, 2010
What creates “community"? This is a question that was on my mind the other night at AccolAIDS, as I sat surrounded by warmth of spirit, laughter and fantastic people at BC Persons with AIDS Society’s fundraising event. I was so happy for the people who were nominated for their work, and tickled that some true friends got to take the stage and speak about what they do with amazing dedication. What I saw in that room was a mix of PWAs, health care providers, pharmaceutical reps, donors, and other community folks who are both paid staff and volunteers. This mix of people and passions creates supportive, kind, educational nets that the weary can fall into when necessary. Nets that provide firm enough footing to take another step. Nets that provide a wall to back up against when you need a vantage point for perspective.
The evening was a celebration of the work that’s been done and it was also a celebration of what is possible when we work together. In talking with a friend afterwards, she commented on how it must be difficult for non-profits that have to “duke it out” for funding pots, and particularly in these economic times. There’s opportunity for groups to get testy, sure, but I don’t see it if it’s happening. That’s one of the amazing things about working in this HIV community.
There really has been an effort amongst organizations that services aren’t unnecessarily duplicated, and I think that’s part of it. Organizations have evolved and there’s been consistent effort to create opportunities for groups to get together and share information about what they’re doing so that work is cooperative and comprehensive. There are local gatherings like the Community HIV/AIDS Committee, Women and Children Committee and the provincial efforts of the Pacific AIDS Network, which not only helps organizations to connect and share resources, but also helps to encourage PWA leadership skills development and provide professional development support.
The people in this community care about what happens. I love that.
Before I sign off, I’d like to send a special shout out to Monique Desroches, the recipient of the Kevin Brown PWA Hero Award. Monique has been an advocate at local, provincial and national tables on behalf of women. She’s currently Co-Chair of our Board, and her passions include housing access and microbicide development. Congratulations Monique!! For a complete list of AccolAIDS winners, visit BCPWA.
- Janet
This blog represents the ideas of individual writers, and does not necessarily reflect any formal stance taken by Positive Women's Network.
This was posted on Friday, April 23rd, 2010 at 9:15 am and is filed under Daily Moments, Networking, Special Events, Support . Feel free to respond, or trackback.
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