Grand Rapids Red Project http://redproject.org improving health, preventing HIV, reducing risk Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:54:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 en hourly 1 Positive Parenting http://redproject.org/2010/02/positive-parenting/ http://redproject.org/2010/02/positive-parenting/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:54:07 +0000 diane http://redproject.org/?p=262 This is both exciting and scary for me. I have never blogged before but I have something that needs to get noticed.  David and I from the grand rapids Red Project met with folks from Bethany Christian Services to talk about “Positive Parenting”, a group we hope to get started for those who are adopting HIV+ kids.  These kids come from all over the world, Haiti, Ethiopia, Rwanda and I’m sure many other places.  Parents are unsure if they want to adopt HIV+ kids because they don’t know enough about the virus and aren’t sure they can handle the responsibilities.  We will educate these parents that have already adopted and those who are thinking about adoption.  We can show them that an HIV diagnoses is not a death sentence.  I know this, because I have been living with HIV for 15 years and my son has been for 14 years (since he was born) and his doctor says there is no reason he can not live into adulthood.  That was not the case when he first arrived into our lives.  My husband and I were told he would have a life span of about 3 to 5 years.  Parents need to be aware of this and my goal is to educate them and help them realize that, yes, you can do this!  We will be bringing in doctors, pharmacists, social workers, nutritionists, and lots of expert advice, along with personal experiences of what to expect.  Do HIV+ kids need extra care?  Absolutely!  There are drugs, side effects, and social and emotional issues that they will have to deal with.  Disclosure issues, to tell or not to tell is a HUGE decision for these family’s to discuss.  I want to be there as a mentor and help them through some of these issues.  I will blog as we go along and if anyone has ideas or questions, please email me me at diane@redproject.org.  I am looking forward to hearing from you all!

]]> http://redproject.org/2010/02/positive-parenting/feed/ World AIDS Day - December 1st http://redproject.org/2009/11/world-aids-day-december-1st/ http://redproject.org/2009/11/world-aids-day-december-1st/#comments Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:34:54 +0000 ruth http://redproject.org/?p=260 Every year on December 1st, communities around the globe set aside this day as one of REMEMBRANCE for  those who we have lost to AIDS and one of AWARENESS that we can make a difference.

This year, please join us as we participate in a World AIDS Day event at 7 pm at East Congregational United Church of Christ in Grand Rapids.

More info can be found at: www.worldaidsgr.com or (616) 742-1116

]]> http://redproject.org/2009/11/world-aids-day-december-1st/feed/ AIDS is the leading cause of death for women? http://redproject.org/2009/11/aids-is-the-leading-cause-of-death-for-women/ http://redproject.org/2009/11/aids-is-the-leading-cause-of-death-for-women/#comments Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:22:51 +0000 ruth http://redproject.org/?p=256 Yesterday in the GR Press I was surprised to read “AIDS leading cause of death for women 15 to 44.” Actually, I was not surprised with this fact…I was surprised it made the GR paper. Yes, AIDS kills women in droves around the world. Here in the U.S. AIDS is the leading cause of death for African Americans ages 15-44. Geesh. This is not OK. That is why we do what we do.

http://money.mlive.com/dynamic/stories/U/UN_UN_WOMENS_HEALTH

]]> http://redproject.org/2009/11/aids-is-the-leading-cause-of-death-for-women/feed/ http://redproject.org/2009/11/aids-then-and-now/ http://redproject.org/2009/11/aids-then-and-now/#comments Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:44:11 +0000 ruth http://redproject.org/?p=242 What is going on with HIV these days? Is it really such a big deal? Isn’t there a cure?

Find answers to these any many other questions at our Red-ucation Seminar!

AIDS – Then & Now

Presented by Ray Gomez

Hepatitis C, Co-infection & Overdose Prevention

Presented by Betsy Meier

Monday December 7, 2009

Spectrum Health, Downtown

100 Michigan NE, Room 1710B

6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

]]> http://redproject.org/2009/11/aids-then-and-now/feed/ 10.03.09 www.aidswalkgr.com http://redproject.org/2009/09/100309-wwwaidswalkgrcom/ http://redproject.org/2009/09/100309-wwwaidswalkgrcom/#comments Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:01:59 +0000 ruth http://redproject.org/?p=233 give.walk.heal. What a great tag line, right?!

AIDS WALK Grand Rapids took place on Saturday, October 3rd  at Rosa Parks Circle. We were so excited to be part of the walk again this year. Even in a struggling economy, the event raised over $25,000, and this money will go toward efforts in the community to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Please consider how you might want to get involved with next year’s walk. Maybe your company would like to be a sponsor, or maybe you have a group of friends and family that could put a team together, or maybe you would like to be one of our outstanding volunteers. We would love to hear your ideas regarding how we can improve the event and make it even more successful next year!

Remember: there are many ways you can support our local efforts to prevent HIV. Please let AIDS WALK be one of them!

]]> http://redproject.org/2009/09/100309-wwwaidswalkgrcom/feed/ To our supporters: http://redproject.org/2009/08/to-our-supporters/ http://redproject.org/2009/08/to-our-supporters/#comments Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:57:06 +0000 jmarcum http://redproject.org/?p=219 On Friday, September 25, 2009 the grand rapids Red project will host an evening of celebration to honor the work of HIV/AIDS Services in the past and cast a vision for the Red project in the future.

We will have a special guest speaker, great food and lots of fun. Please mark your calendars and come back to the website soon for additional updates and details.

We’d love to have anyone who helped to make HIV/AIDS Services a reality over the last ten years to attend, share stories and be recognized. So please pass the word to everyone you may know who had a hand in the success of this organization over the last decade. It’s time to celebrate, look back and especially look forward!

Jennifer Marcum

]]> http://redproject.org/2009/08/to-our-supporters/feed/ Learn About Our Director http://redproject.org/2009/06/learn-about-our-executive-director/ http://redproject.org/2009/06/learn-about-our-executive-director/#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:08:43 +0000 mitch http://redproject.org/?p=179 Marcum, is the executive director of the Grand Rapids Red Project, formerly known as HIV/AIDS Services Inc.

Jennifer Marcum, Executive Director of Grand Rapids Red Project

“It’s perfect,” she says. “I really have always felt like there’s an angel on my shoulder.”

Learn why she said this in the recent mlive.com/GR Press profile.

]]> http://redproject.org/2009/06/learn-about-our-executive-director/feed/ Happy 10th Anniversary http://redproject.org/2009/06/happy-10th-anniversary/ http://redproject.org/2009/06/happy-10th-anniversary/#comments Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:30:20 +0000 jmarcum http://redproject.org/?p=148 Although I’ve only been with the organization since October, I can certainly feel the impact of 10 years of dedicated service to those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in the Grand Rapids community. The name HIV/AIDS Services, Inc. and the people involved will be remembered for their compassionate, solid, grassroots efforts to bridge the gaps for those affected by HIV/AIDS for the last decade. It is obvious that because of so much hard work, sweat and tears we are now able to dream, plan and develop into the next phase of service to people in our community.

Our name change to the grand rapids Red project and our new tag line: promoting health, preventing HIV, reducing harm are intended to signal to the community that we are ready to take the next step. We are continuing to develop progamming that addresses HIV prevention in the 21st century. At the same time, we are looking more broadly at correlating issues like hepatitis C testing, hepatitis A and B vaccination, overdose prevention, wound care and other important health concerns.

I feel very fortunate to be joining the team at such a pivotal time in the organization’s development. It’s exciting to be an agent of change- focusing on issues that are so important to our community. We welcome your support, your feedback and suggestions. We’re only a call or click away!

Jennifer Marcum, Executive Director, 616-456-9063, jennifer@redproject.org

]]> http://redproject.org/2009/06/happy-10th-anniversary/feed/ From The Beginning … http://redproject.org/2009/05/test/ http://redproject.org/2009/05/test/#comments Mon, 11 May 2009 20:11:45 +0000 paul http://redproject.org/?p=75 The Grand Rapids Red Project

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Over ten years ago eight people sat around a kitchen table and decided to make a difference in the face of HIV/AIDS in Grand Rapids. This group had personal experience with the epidemic and felt that there were gaps in care and services for those infected. HIV/AIDS Services, Inc. was born that day. Over this last decade many things about our agency and the path of the virus have changed, but not our commitment to fighting the spread of HIV in our community.

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