20 Years and Standing

Jury Candelario, Division Director

Thank you and congratulations everyone! With your steadfast support and commitment, Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team commemorates twenty (that's right, 20!) years of community service in 2007!

Reflecting back, APAIT has weathered through many storms and uplifting successes while keeping its eye on the ball - serving our community. The AIDS field has evolved over the course of its quarter century existence. Keeping up has been challenging for many AIDS service organizations (ASO) but somehow, APAIT manages to continue standing firmly in large part because of the strong and united commitment from its staff, clients, volunteers, funding sources, allies and stakeholders.

We have plenty to reminisce and plenty to continue fighting for so I invite you to join us in a year long commemoration. 2007 got off the ground with strategic planning sessions held with the Board and with the staff, along with key informant interviews with several of our stakeholders. As an organization, we value the importance of advanced planning and coordination so we've committed to our internal one year action plan and are planning for the next five years that will hopefully usher us into our twenty-fifth year of service.

Programmatically, APAIT continues to expand in the areas of HIV-co-occurring disorders including viral hepatitis, substance use and sexual/reproductive health. We also aim to sustain our current cadre of programs utilizing both scientific-based and home-grown interventions as well as a culturally competent service delivery model.

Because 2007 is a huge marker for APAIT, programs will continue to deliver high quality services through its prevention, treatment, community development and research units while focusing our efforts on a handful of events that will mark our anniversary.

2007 will be kicked off by the Banyan Tree Project press conference on May 17th, commemorating the National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV Awareness Day. The event will highlight our media campaign in partnership with national API service providers to end HIV stigma and discrimination in the Asian and Pacific Islander community.

On June 10th, we invite you to celebrate APAIT as the Community Grand Marshall of the Christopher Street West Lesbian and Gay Pride Parade in West Hollywood. This is a truly special and meaningful honor bestowed by the LA Pride Committee.

On October 14th, join us for our twentieth year anniversary through the Compassion In Action Dinner Gala and Awards at Music Box, Henry Fonda Theater in Hollywood.

We hope to see you in at least one if not all of these events. Stay tuned. Thank you, our dear friends.