On C2EA:
I’m talking to the big black churches about housing people when the
Seattle activist caravan comes through, or giving whatever they can
give, even if it’s a bottle of water. Churches are involved in AIDS
anyway—who doesn’t want good publicity? On speaking out:
I spoke at the Youth ACTION Institute [to train C2EA activists]. When I
do outreach, I try to make people cry, tell them how my skin changed,
my hair fell out. I was diagnosed in 1989. I’m a veteran. On staying strong:
I spend time with my granddaughter and go to church. And I still watch
The Color Purple. It’s what brought me to be a strong black woman—even
before HIV.
Robin Webb, 48, Jackson, Mississippi Diagnosed 1991; Mississippi state coordinator
On coordinating:
I have two C2EA caravans coming through—I just want people to have a
place to eat and sleep! But they’ll get great Southern hospitality. The
state has a big heart. On bouncing back: I got an AIDS diagnosis in 1993, but I’ve
been extremely healthy since. I make a point to go hiking in Zion
Canyon, Utah, every year for 40 days and nights. I hike and pray. On activism:
C2EA is the tip of the iceberg. I just founded an ASO called AIDS
Action in Mississippi. The PWA community needed to get assertive.
Paige Swanberg, 24, Billings, Montana Diagnosed 2001; Montana state coordinator
On C2EA: We’re
hoping the caravan from Seattle can march down the cliff around
Billings and through Main Street. I want it to be something you can’t
ignore. And we’re doing a Pet Walk. We don’t even have an AIDS Walk, so
this is something different. My pitbull, Mittens, is gonna love it. On Mittens: It’s a funny name for a pit—but she has two white socks! On chilling out:
I’m a little overwhelmed organizing, but I have a great team, and I
work in my yard when I can. Sometimes, I feel like the flower that grew
through the concrete.
Larry Bryant, 38, Houston, Texas Diagnosed 1986; Field organizer
On AIDS Inc.:
AIDS looks like a hamster wheel, with ASOs bowing to the status quo. I
like the idea of C2EA sticking a spoke in that wheel—I left my job to
work on it. On the future:
When I found out I was positive, I was playing college football.
I daydreamed about the house I’d live in, what job I would have. Now, I
look forward to my Waiting to Exhale moment, when everything is cool:
Things are getting better in AIDS and I’m married and have kids. On the gridiron: I grew up a Cowboys fan. I’m sticking with ’em!
On C2EA: I’m
hoping to get this hockey place to schedule a game to do a benefit—we
gotta get media coverage. But I also want to join the caravan and go to
DC. I’ve done some lobbying—it empowers you. On the closet:
I’m newly diagnosed, and activism helps me deal. I was in the closet
about being gay—I’ve been married and divorced four times and have a
kid. Then I went to an African-American AIDS conference that changed
everything. I came out screaming, “I’m HIV positive!”
Valerie Jimenez, 40, New York, New York Diagnosed 1989; Field organizer
On C2EA: I’m
coordinating the “walking” caravan from New York to Washington, DC. I’d
guesstimate we’re going to have a core group of 100 marchers who go all
the way. The main obstacle is two bridges, one in Jersey and one in
Maryland, with no pedestrian access—it’s been a pain in my rear! On Eliza:
I have a 2-year-old granddaughter named Eliza, who is the light of my
life. Someday, I’d like her daughter to complain because she has to get
another vaccine in school—and it’s for AIDS.
Darren Wells, 36, Providence, Rhode Island Diagnosed 1999; Volunteer
On anniversaries:
I’m coming up on the sixth anniversary of being positive—I got my
diagnosis in September—and it’s good to do something with it. When you
get the news, you need to wallow, but I’d hate it if that were the end
of the story. On caravans:
I’ll be joining the Nor’easter caravan in Providence. I’m not worried
about traveling with strangers—but I do have a weird diet and
allergies. On prevention: People are still having sex and not talking about HIV. It’s still the elephant in the room.
Johnny Guaylupo, 23, Bronx, New York Diagnosed 1998; Volunteer
On marching:
I’m planning to walk to DC with New York’s Paving the Way caravan. I’m
jogging and getting physically fit—I’m not that worried, though,
because other people will help me keep going. On disclosing:
Being in POZ is a big first step for me. Most of my family members know
I’m positive, but my best friend doesn’t. I have to start somewhere. On the stakes: I hope this activism doesn’t die out: If we only do it till October, that’s not enough.
Judith Dillard, 51, Fort Worth, Texas Diagnosed 1990; Texas state coordinator On commitment: I’ve
turned down jobs because it would interfere with C2EA. I’m hoping a job
will come out of this—I’m the greatest treatment educator in the U.S.! On raising her voice:
I’ve been clean for eight years, but I used to be a positive woman on
the streets of LA, addicted to crack—and I did what it took to get
money for drugs. I went to prison for 14 months. Those are the stories
I tell senators when I go to their offices and tell them we need money
for HIV prevention. That’s where my power comes from.
Walt Senterfitt, 61, Los Angeles, California Diagnosed 1988; Executive committee member
On activism:
I’ve been an activist for 45 years—I was on the staff of Martin Luther
King, briefly. His Poor People’s March [the model for C2EA] was a
failure, but connecting AIDS to a broader movement is important to me,
reaching out to the South, African Americans, churches, unions, women’s
groups, gay-rights organizations. On giving your all:
I’m an epidemiologist with the LA County Health Department. I take time
off and do C2EA work on nights and weekends—my health is generally
good, so I can do both. I think I’ll be an activist till I’m no longer
physically capable.
