THIS
year’s AIDS Walk will showcase a timeline of milestones from the beginning of the AIDS epidemic to now. Walkers will be invited to place their personal milestones alongside national and international ones. Keeping with this theme, Jim Sheehan, Senior Director of Behavioral Health, categorized his AIDS Walk experience as milestones. The first thing Jim said to me when I sat down with him in his office was this: “It is so great that [the AIDS Walk and Connections staffs] are doing this. We need to remember and to recapture the epidemic. Historicizing is good, but the experiential piece cannot be lost; it’s too important”. The First Call to Action — Jim began his work for people with HIV and AIDS in what Kate Gallivan calls the war years.
It was a time, Jim recalls, of isolation, anxiety, and fear of disclosure. Working as a Catholic priest in Kansas, Jim had heard of AIDS, but he didn’t really understand what it was or meant, and he had no personal connections to it. Until the day that he received a phone call from a stranger. A woman called Jim to ask for a favor: she wanted him to say prayers at the gravesite of her son. The woman—almost apologetic—disclosed that her son had come home from New York City, and that he had died in her home, in her arms, two days before. No funeral home in the small town would take his body, and her pastor refused to say a funeral. This was Jim’s first experience with the judgment and stigma associated with AIDS. “He died of AIDS, and I don’t know how you feel about
that. He was gay, and I don’t know how you feel about that. But, I don’t want to put my son in the ground without someone praying for him,” Jim recalls the phone call from the grieving mother. Jim decided to host a funeral in his parish. The church was packed with people—a surprise to everyone. After this, Jim made several contacts in Kansas, Texas, and Oklahoma, who were in similar situations. “This was a number of years before antiretrovirals were available. HIV was always a death sentence,” Jim recalls. Providing counseling and funeral services became like a second job for Jim. When Jim received news that two of his seminary classmates—his good friends—had been diagnosed with AIDS, and died, his commitment to working to help people and families affected by this illness was strengthened. Continued Work — In 1993, Jim left the Church, and began working in a non-profit for LGBTQ people with substance use problems. This was prior to the availability of newer medications; a large part of Jim’s work was helping people with HIV make end-of-life arrangements. It was a “real challenge to live with that every day”, Jim says. As science progressed, and new treatment options became available, Jim recalls a paradigm shift: “After antiretrovirals, we had to help people learn to live with HIV, not counsel them to die”. First AIDS Walk — Jim has participated in AIDS Walks since 1993. In his words, “I’ve walked them all!” AIDS Walks have changed over 20 years. “It’s unfortunate that there’s less urgency,” Jim says. The first Walk that Jim participated in, at the height of the epidemic, had over 50,000 walkers, and raised over $4 million. In 2001, Jim participated in the same walk again; it raised only $300,000. Now, Jim says, people think of HIV as just one more thing
people take pills for; they don’t see it as something that’s killing their friends and neighbors anymore. But, HIV and AIDS aren’t over. There are still new infections; there are still people living with the challenging side-effects of their medications; there is still stigma and misinformation. Today — So, how should AIDS Walks function today? Jim says they should educate our community about HIV and AIDS, and help people remember where we started. Jim reflects on what he calls the terror of the epidemic, and looks forward with hope: “So much of what we’re able to celebrate—like marriage equality—is the direct result of the galvanizing of people in the 80s. People came together to fight for a common cause; whatever differences there were were overcome by a common grief and anger. AIDS brought everything out of the closet. That’s when we [LQBTQ people] became a community.” Jim urges us to remember the early days, and realize the privilege of working for an agency like Evergreen. “Things are so different now; it’s easy to forget the nightmare. It’s nice to work somewhere that’s been immersed since the beginning—to be able to trade stories with others who saw it all, like Kate [Gallivan] and Ron [Silverio] and Andrew [Mattle]. It’s important to remember the people who died, but also the people who worked, and overcame their fear and anxiety, to help. Don’t take for granted the courage it took to do that.” Jim says that we should remember, and be proud. “When no one was doing anything, we were. Evergreen will always hold a special place in the history of the virus. All of the big stuff that came later stands on the shoulder of the original, small agencies, like AIDS Community Services. We identified the need, cared enough to take action, and took risks; we made this happen.” C
Join Team Evergreen! This year, Team Evergreen has set a goal of 50 registered walkers. You could be one of them! 1 2 3 4 5 6
..... Go to aidswalkbuffalo.org ..... Click Register Here ..... Click I Agree on the waiver ..... Click Join a Team ..... Select Team Evergreen ..... Create a username/password
Anyone Can Fundraise! If you're fundraising for AIDS Walk, here are a few ps from our Development team to help you meet and surpass your goals! 1. Announce that you're fundraising. Don't assume that your family and friends know that you are raising money for AIDS Walk. Tell them! 2. Ask for dona ons. People are more likely to make a dona on if you ask them. Make a phone call, write a le er, send an email. Just ask! 3. Use your tools. Facebook, Twi er, and other social media outlets are great ways for you to accomplish 1 and 2. Post on your pages, or send your friends private messages. Spread the word! 4. Say thank you. Once you receive a dona on, make sure you say thanks. People are more likely to give again if they're thanked. It's that easy! For more fundraising ps, contact Chris Reybrouck (creybrouck)
Frank
Goldberg is one of my favorite people in this mad, mad world. She taught me a thousand things, the most important of which was “learn to love truly being yourself ”. Each of you is an amazing person, though your story and life path may be starkly different from those of even your closest friends or co-workers. That, to me, is the most beautiful thing in this world. I like to think Frank felt the same. If you don’t know Frank or her story, know that she was a beautiful soul with boundless love for all things. She struggled with much through her life, including mental health and addiction. After many years living in Buffalo, Frank went to Portland to seek treatment and try to get her life moving in the direction she wanted. A holiday visit to Buffalo in late 2013 proved difficult for her. Frank wrote a short note, and left her family home on December 16. She has not been seen since. In the days immediately following her disappearance, the community rallied. A massive search turned up no leads. Frank’s family and friends hold out hope that she simply needed to exit her current life and start another, for her own reasons (you can read the story of Frank’s disappearance at facebook.com/FindFrankGoldberg). I met Frank here at Evergreen. I had just started working in IT, and she was the admin for the Transportation program. She had previously worked for the Pride Center, where her passion and experience helped secure the Trans Health grant that is still running today. I got to know Frank through Brendan Orrange, who often bragged that he was the cis version of Frank. They became fast friends and I quickly found out why. Frank and I found common ground as we talked about self-expression through gender and the acceptance of self. She let me work out my ideas and unfold myself in her presence, and helped me figure out where the pieces of me fit, and for that I’m forever grateful. She also volunteered both of us for a drag performance with a small theatre company that a few of your fellow staff members are secretly a part of. It’s a memory I hold dear in my heart, and which I got to share with those at her memorial in February. At the memorial, I had the privilege to celebrate and remember Frank’s life with her family and friends. It was a sad day, yet filled with hope, laughter, and
introspection. I learned a lot about Frank’s life; things she never spoke of to me but which make her an even better human in my eyes after learning them. She attended school in New York City, where she made change with her political and societal opinions on gender, sexuality, and self-expression. She fought for access to clean needles for everyone, and did needle exchange outreach to those in need. She also spent time with Act-Up, the famous AIDS advocacy organization. I met people from all aspects of Frank’s life, who stood in the pulpit and preached her love and understanding. There were many tears, but through them you could feel the camaraderie. We were there to share our love of her with each other. Shoulders were leaned on, and soothing words exchanged. Frank’s sister spoke about how even though we tried to offer our help to Frank, she ultimately did not accept it, and we must respect her decision. That helped more than she knows. Frank was a friend, a co-worker, a performer, and a mentor about acceptance. She taught me you can be a big, jumbled mess of feelings and self expression, and that you can wake up and be a new combination of those things every day, and that’s ok. She gave me the courage to try new things, and to take risks for personal growth, and I’m convinced my testimonial is no different from that of any of the many people who have had Frank touch their lives. I realized after spending a day with those who loved her, that we all carry pieces of Frank with us in our daily interactions with people, in the caring we do for others and the love we give ourselves. She was a special human, and she is missed every day. This started out as a summary of her memorial this past month, but turned into a story about a wonderful human who used to work here at Evergreen. I’ve met clients who have told me how much Frank impacted their life when she was here. How good she was to them and how she accepted them and all people for exactly who they were and nothing less, and I just wanted to share that with you. Note: The Frank Fund has been set up in the name of Frank Goldberg to help LGBTQ people access programs and treatment for substance abuse. You can learn more about the Frank Fund at www.gofundme.com/TheFrankFund).
Birthdays John Owens ......................................... April 1 Laurie Matson ..................................... April 7 Dale Kingston ...................................... April 7 Roy Golia ............................................. April 10 Kelly Craig ............................................ April 11 Renee Hartson .................................... April 13 Bailey Fanning ..................................... April 14 Dennis McClain ................................... April 15 Fallah Kassar ........................................ April 16 Maria Lotempio .................................. April 17 Sarah Gardner ..................................... April 17 Melissa Talbe .................................... April 19 Elise Robinson ..................................... April 19 Kristen Rickey ...................................... April 19 Giovanna Gasbarre ............................. April 19 Cameron Schraufste er...................... April 21 Kimberly Harding ................................ April 23 Marielena Camacho ............................ April 25 Jacelyn Lyles ........................................ April 27 Jamie Keuck......................................... April 29 Cathy Alvarez....................................... April 30
Anniversaries Kimberly Johnson Brown .....................1 year Julie Falk ................................................1 year Ian Schunk ............................................1 year Ashley Duque e ...................................1 year Ashley Betz ...........................................2 years James Sheehan .....................................2 years Michael Lee ..........................................2 years Katherine Kawa.....................................2 years Benne Evere .....................................3 years Jacquelyn Dixon ....................................3 years Michael Hamann ..................................8 years Ma hew John Pasquarella...................12 years Toni Hernandez.....................................19 years Your ConƟnued DedicaƟon and Hard Work Are NoƟced and Appreciated - Management Team
thank you!
APRIL
is an important month for environmental recognition. Earth Day falls on April 22nd, while Arbor Day in New York State falls on April 24th. Both days serve as an opportunity to reflect on how we impact our ecology and environment. In Western New York there are a multitude of green activities to get involved with at www.growwny.org/calendar/. If you’re unable to take time out of your schedule for any of these community events, it’s still possible to be environmentally minded in the workplace. By employing the Three R’s (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) while at work, we can limit the amount of waste we produce, materials we use, and money we spend. The Three R’s are most effective when used in order: Reduce the amount of resources you use, Reuse the resources you have used, and Recycle the material you cannot reuse. Here are a few tips for fostering a greener workplace:
REDUCE: In an office setting, it’s often necessary to use copious amounts of paper. One way you can limit your environmental impact is to be more mindful of how much paper you use during the day. Ask yourself: “Do I really need to print a copy of that email?” or “Can I print on both sides to use less paper?”. By reducing your paper consumption, you can keep material out of the waste stream while saving money for Evergreen! REUSE: An office can produce a lot of paper waste. Sometimes you can’t help it if the document you print is no longer needed. A nice alternative to recycling an old document is reusing it. Typically the best method of reuse for documents that have single-sided printing on them is as scrap paper. Cut the paper into quarter sections, and keep a stack in the corner of your desk for making notes and taking messages. Reusing paper as opposed to recycling it cuts down on the amount of energy needed for
its reprocessing and repackaging later. Also consider your eating and drinking habits. Do you use disposable plates, cutlery, and glassware every time you have lunch or coffee? Most offices have ceramic plates, cups, and reusable cutlery, not to mention travel mugs for coffee. It’s far less wasteful (not to mention inexpensive) to wash and reuse a spoon or cup than it is to throw one in the trash every day. RECYCLE: If you’re unable to reuse your paper, or if it’s reached the end of its useful life, always be sure to recycle it. Evergreen supplies our offices with plenty of opportunities to recycle, so make good use of them. Remember, paper waste goes into blue recycling bins while plastic, metal, and glass go into green recycling bins. By making a few minor changes to your daily routine, you can drastically reduce your environmental impact and help Evergreen become a more eco-friendly workplace. C
I was being chased by a scary clown - LOL (Isack Guerrero) I recently had a dream that the new build behind 206 was an optional employee dormitory, and I was shopping at Target for the perfect shower shoes, extra long sheets, and a dry erase board for my door (Matthew Crehan Higgins) I have a recurring dream based on a fear of weiner dogs. I am being chased by a weiner dog and cannot run fast enough to escape it!!! (Alex Ando) Thanks to repeated viewings of the Wizard of Oz as a child, I have nightmares about tornados chasing me all the time (John Carocci)
What to Do When Experiencing Phone Difficulties There are few things as annoying (or bad for business) as a broken phone. If you think your phone isn’t working properly, do not panic! Contact Gary or James as soon as possible, and you’ll be on your way to a repaired phone.
Reporting a Phone Problem is Easy 1 ........Submit a cket to facili es. 2 ........Fill out the phone request form (check your email), ...........and send it to Gary or James. Ta da! That’s it! Once your cket is received, help will be on the way! Remember: Never change the se ngs on your phone without Gary or James’s help. You might unwi ngly be changing the se ngs for the en re phone system! (Don’t be that guy.)
Some of the outtakes from the Patient Appreciation Month Photo Shoot at EMG
$500 IS A LOT OF EXTRA MONEY. WITH $500, YOU COULD BUY $.........58 taco salads at Salsaritas $.........76 $6 combos at Subway $.........35 cheeseburgers at SoHo ...........It’s easier than ever to earn ...........$500 from Evergreen’s ...........Employee Referral Program!
Here’s How: 1 ..........Refer a qualified friend 2 .........Rack up your rewards! ...........$100 after referee is ...........employed for 30 days ...........$150 after referee is ...........employed for six months ...........$250 after referee is ...........employed for one year
Don’t Forget! $.........Tell your friend to write ...........your name on their application $.........Fill out the Employee Referral ...........Form, and return it to HR $.........Enjoy 103 venti lattes ...........on Evergreen!
Evan went to visit James DeGarmo. He did not receive a warm welcome.
Are You Driving in Your Own Lane? Bandwidth is that lovely thing that lets us browse the internet, download forms, and stream music. It’s the flow of data to and from your computer that lets you mul task on the web. By defini on, bandwidth describes the maximum data transfer rate of a network or Internet connec on. It measures how much data can be sent over a specific connec on in a given amount of me. It lets everyone from the agency mul task on the web, which includes doing our daily du es on our various web-based case management systems. If staff use our bandwidth to stream music, videos, or keep up on their latest blog, then it eats up a large part of our bandwidth, and hinders our ability to complete work-related daily tasks and to properly serve our clients and consumers. Let’s think of bandwidth like a highway, and our agency has 100 lanes in this highway. In the normal work day, we’re all commu ng happily and sharing lanes doing our daily du es within our jobs—traffic is moving pre y quickly. We’re all driving our ny smart cars and our coupes without issues. However, the more cars on the road (people on the network) the slower traffic gets, and the longer you have to wait to see
the sights along the way. Now, let’s consider streaming services. One person streaming music at our agency is the equivalent of driving a Panzer tank down our highway. It’s big, lumbering, and clogs up our ability to get our du es done. It makes our smart cars and coups wait in line in our lanes, while it drives right down the middle of our bandwidth highway. Now, imagine several people streaming music at the agency—that’s like there are SEVERAL Panzer tanks being driven down the bandwidth highway, causing a horrible traffic jam! These traffic jams cause slow load mes and dropped connec ons to external websites. Having the most possible bandwidth available makes everyone’s job easier, and makes our programs run more efficiently, which makes our consumers happier and be er served. So, to take a line out of the I.T. Orienta on Handout as a reminder to all staff: you MAY NOT use your computer for internet radio sites, internet music, video viewing sites, or other sites that are not directly related to your job du es. Internet usage is monitored at this agency. Thanks for your me, and for being considerate in your bandwidth usage at the agency! — Lindsay Zasada
Copper Pipes Have Jimi Saying...
FOR THE LOVE OF ALLEN!
Allentown is ge ng a nip/tuck. As Buffalo con nues to progress, neighborhoods like Allentown are upgrading. Cra restaurants are springing up, and changing the face of the food scene in our bohemian district—places like Black Swan, which will serve unique dishes inspired by the world travels of its proprietors, Allentown Pou ne Company, offering a wide variety of Buffalo’s favorite Canadian export (besides Crown), and ABV, which stands for Allen Burger Venture, a play on alcohol by volume. Buffalo is embracing establishments that don’t want to offer everything and the kitchen sink on the menu, or the tradi onal pub food we all know too well. The sophis cated diner rejects the self-en tled “we’re always right” American a tude, and lets the restaurant to take them on their journey. The restaurants have had their so openings, and by the me you read this, they will be ready for
the general public to experience their dishes, décor, cra beers, and dis nc ve cocktails. I got a chance to visit ABV on my Sunday ventures, and the place feels like it should have been there years ago. I walk in, and I’m struck by the aesthe c, which has a “new to us” vibe. Found materials and throwback tech, like the Pepsi machine next to the front door, do what great nostalgia is suppose to do: give you the feeling of familiarity without leaving you stuck in the past. Steampunk is prevalent around ABV with copper pipes running around the bar. The love of detail expresses what Allentown is all about: quirky, weird, and slightly off balanced. My recent string of Sunday (mis)adventures con nues. I didn’t know that the kitchen wasn’t up and running yet. I need to start planning be er… I probably won’t, but it will be on the top of my list of resolu ons
to ignore in 2016. The menu looked so en cing, which prompted my hunger to transi on to hangry. I wanted to order something, so I can write about… something. I’m sure it’s not enough for people to be encouraged to patronize ABV because they have beau ful copper piping. The bar was open, with many cra brews available. Community Beer Works even cra ed an IPA just for ABV, it’s 6% ABV (ha!), so it’s more comfortable to drink than other high alcohol content IPAs. I’m not an IPA fan, and even I thought it was delicious. If you are familiar with Blue Monk and Coles, you will run to ABV, it’s the same owner! As for food, I went to good ol’ reliable Gabriel’s Gate. They s ll have the best French onion soup in town, which helped my hanger. Summer is upon us, and Allentown is begging for your presence. It has variety for your aesthe c, taste buds, and wallet. Remember, local loves you.
10 Minutes With Ezekiel Goodwin Connections: What do you do at Evergreen? Ezekiel: I am a Patient Navigator with Community Access Services. How long have you been with Evergreen? I worked with AIDS Community Services from 2007 to December 2010. I returned in January of 2014 after working as a Behavioral Health Trainer for University of Rochester. What’s something that’s not in your job description that has become part of your role? I currently work as a facilitator/trainer for Evergreen's Diversity Team. We work together to challenge privilege, and discuss how we might work together for equality within a corporate structure. What’s something that your coworkers might not know about your job? Navigators serve as a bridge to link HIV positive people who are either newly diagnosed or lost to care with medical and other supportive services. We are also able to connect those in need with a referral network that is increasing, with the addition of two new navigation assistants. What’s your favorite Evergreen event/ activity? A Time to Remember. I have always felt such a powerful feeling of connection when the names are read. I personally loved some of the people on the list, and I am grateful that each life serves as a reminder that we have so much work left to do, and so much life left to live. When I’m not at work I’m… With my 5 year old nephew watching “Ninja Totals (turtles)”, and fighting with foam rubber swords. If I am not at home then I am at the gym, hanging out with friends, or working on “Dear Tayrin/Love Ezekiel”, a nonprofit for survivors of sexual abuse. Coffee or tea? I am addicted to Spot’s scarlet tea. Cats or dogs? I love dogs. My dream dogs are Malamute and Shiba Inu. Cats are cute from a distance, but I am allergic to them. Netflix or Amazon Prime? Netflix. All day. Facebook or Twitter? Facebook. My boyfriend set up my twitter account for activism purposes, but I rarely use it. It moves too fast for me! Haha!
Connections ARPRIL 2015
PUBLISHER/LAYOUT John Carocci COPY EDITOR Martha Sawicki CONTRIBUTORS Tasheri Artis Ellen Kaminsky Jimi Konidis Martha Sawicki Lindsay Zasada Sal Sciandra Gary Williams Connections is a monthly newsletter for the employees of the Evergreen Association (that’s you). Send suggestions, photos, story ideas, or a friendly hello to John Carocci. Let us help you stay connected to the Evergreen family!
March Madness is all about scoring points, assists, slam dunks, cheering crowds, and an emphasis on teamwork. What? Basketball? No, I’m talking about Evergreen’s version of March Madness, Pa ent Apprecia on Month at EMG. Evergreen staff worked extra hard throughout the month to make our pa ents feel welcomed and appreciated. Kudos to Pa ent Services Coordinator, Ellen Outt akes om re theEvergreen Patient Appreciation Month photo EMGas we know they are. Great job, everyone! Kaminsky, along with thefren team for helping our pa entsshoot feel asat special
Wild Heart by Stevie Nicks (Matthew Crehan Higgins) The Rain Song by Led Zeppelin (Isack Guerrero) Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper (Mindi Mietlicki) Superthug by Noreaga (Sal Sciandra) Scar Tissue by Red Hot Chili Peppers (Alex Ando) Changes by David Bowie (Ellen Kaminsky) What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong (Anna Ihle) I Wish by Skee-lo (Magali Maldonado) Aren’t You Glad You’re You? by Miss June Christy (John Carocci)
Art therapy allows participants to express feelings that they can’t find words for, in this particular group the focus was on representing feelings we express readily and those we are more guarded with. Using the medium of collage, this participant represented the intense feelings he has experienced as a result of the death of his lover. In art therapy, creating visual images and discussing them enables the participant to gain insight into their experiences. The creation of the artwork itself is a healing process that becomes a springboard for exploring many issues. - Laura Pasquarella