After a Summer of Challenge and Change

There's rarely a lull at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, even during the summer. Throughout July and August, our Client Services entrance at Sixth and Market was busy providing housing assistance, financial benefits counseling and support to San Franciscans living with HIV and AIDS. Our newest partners, the Stonewall Project and Magnet, reported some of their busiest moments during the summer. And our back-to-back involvement with AIDS/LifeCycle, Gay Pride, and AIDS Walk had everyone from our community programs staff to the ALC Cycle Buddies working around the clock, operating on enthusiasm— but not much sleep—to ensure that these spectacular events delivered meaningful experiences to those whose generosity keeps the Foundation open for business.

Nevertheless, I chose summer to begin an ongoing series of conversations with the AIDS Foundation staff. I was eager to share my thoughts about the need for our strategy to evolve to respond more effectively to the current state of HIV, and to hear my co-workers describe what motivates them to come to the office each day and meet the demands created by the enduring challenges faced by our clients. Given their unusual level of commitment, I hoped these conversations would set us on a path toward a common understanding of our role in this second quarter-century of HIV. And after a 25-year history as a pioneer, it was time for the entire agency family to be able to have conversations within small groups to collectively reflect on our goals.

To state the obvious, this was an inspiring experience for me. Though I've encountered dedicated people throughout my career, I've never observed the depth of passion my current colleagues bring to their work. Although many are new to this agency, virtually every one of them has made a career improving the lives of others. But the similarities end there. I work with staff who know every angle of the City's contract approval process. They know when to approach a newly elected member of the State Assembly and where to get the best lightweight road bike to tackle the hills of Coastal California on AIDS/LifeCycle. I work with staff who know how to reach and engage the groups affected by HIV, those who face lives of patchwork housing, debilitating drug use, and unjust indignities caused by racism, poverty, and homophobia.

But every day, this talented group faces one major obstacle: as epidemic rates of new infections typical of the late 1980s have become endemic, HIV has become woven into the fabric of this city. Awareness among members of the general public— including some of the groups most vulnerable to HIV infection—is down. In its place we see misunderstandings about the nature of HIV infection, misleading information about who is at risk, and complacency about the disease burden, as if we must accept the status quo without an argument.

I'm proud to say that we've agreed to argue with the status quo. Regardless of their role at the Foundation, my co-workers will rise to meet these challenges. Together we reject complacency and move forward with an understanding that we have the capacity to reduce new infections by scrutinizing our current programs and looking for innovative ways to break the chain of endemnicity. This means we must look ahead at new ideas in HIV prevention, honoring our clients and our supporters by assuring them that business-as-usual is not acceptable.

All summer, the staff and I kept this conversation moving forward. In the sense that we have communicated a common vision about disease elimination, this project is concluded. But the truth is, our work has just begun. My colleagues and I look forward to reviewing our approach to the disease and the models we employ to reduce new infections and improve care for people living with HIV. It is the mission that drives us to continue our work. For each of us, successfully changing this trend will be the greatest imaginable reward.