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I have know waheeda for several years and i am very gladd to see her get some of the recognition that she truely desreves. The woman is a 24-7 non stop activist who has help countless people through her selfless actions. There are a few people in the Philadelphia AIDs comuntiy that border on Hero status and Wheeda is defenantly one of them.
Thank you for interest KeQuana. I have found connecting to the Islamic community in Philly around HIV to be challenging but promising. June 2008 we invited local Islamic Imams to Phila Fight's 7th Annual Prevention Summit. We held the work shop (Al-Islam, HIV, Responsibility & Compassion) in a discreet area during the summit and had good attendance. We partnered with Sis Rashidah Abdul Kabir (Dep. Dir. Circle of Care) who is renowned here in Philly for founding "BEBASHI"
I enjoyed this story!! I would however like to know if and/or how Shabazz-El have made contact with the muslim community in her state. I am a social worker who works with the positive community in NC and would like to begin the process of educating the muslim community and have been having a difficult time setting up meetings and discussions.
What a phenomenal woman. I first met Waheedah a year ago in the LEAP program as a newly HIV infected woman steming from a heterosexual, what I thought was, monogamas relationship. She & others inspired me to be angry enough to speak up about the injustices, stigmas and treatment of persons infected and affected with HIV/AIDS. I left my profession and comfort zone to become a HIV Tester and Counselor. I am now a "LOUD MOUTH" that seeks, educate and help those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.
I am featured in the Nov. 2008 issue #149 "Free at Last." Amazing article & fantastic pictures. However I am misquoted in paragraph three where it highlights the conditions under which I received my HIV test results. The Tester ( who is now a dear friend) did not "blurt out my results in an open room".The room was in an busy hall area and had no curtains. Today I am also a C&T, trained by the Dept of Health and employed by Phila Fight. No C&T would ever "blurt out" anyone's results as implied
Everett Lynn
This story was incredible! Superbly written and complete with some solid facts, information and quotes. Ms. Shabazz-El should be delighted to have been profiled in such an incredbily well written and outstanding article.
December 1, 2008 • Philadelphia, PA