Give Thanks, Eat Chocolate

Give Thanks: Governor Rescues HIV/AIDS Housing, Substance Abuse Funding

During this holiday season, please take a moment to stand up for those who are less fortunate and highlight the importance of public funding for the homeless and substance users who are living with HIV/AIDS.

Send a message today thanking Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich for restoring vetoed HIV housing and substance abuse services.  To balance the FY 2009 budget, the governor vetoed over $1 billion in program funding earlier this year, including $4 million for supportive housing services and $55 million for substance abuse treatment. Part of this financial support was for HIV/AIDS-related services in both areas.  Thankfully, the Illinois General Assembly passed a bill, signed by Gov. Blagojevich on November 20, to restore funding for these essential services.

Please thank Gov. Blagojevich for restoring funding for HIV/AIDS housing and substance abuse programs.
 

Post Your World AIDS Day Events on AIDSConnect.net

AFC launched the new online community website, AIDS Connect, to link those affected by HIV/AIDS to vital resources in the Chicago area. AIDS Connect’s community calendar is the perfect place to post your World AIDS Day-related events!

Aimed at local service providers, educators, advocates, and those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS, AIDS Connect serves as the new and improved community site for the Chicago HIV/AIDS community. Registration is easy and free! Register now.
 

HIV/AIDS Policy in 2009: What do YOU Want?

Thursday December 11, 2008
4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
AIDS Foundation of Chicago
411 S. Wells, 2nd Floor
Chicago, IL 60607

Let your voices be heard and help to shape the HIV/AIDS community’s top priorities at the local and national levels. All are welcome to join us at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago on December 11th for the 2009 Policy Priority-Setting Event. We need input from every sector of a diverse community, especially HIV advocates and service providers, HIV-positive individuals and other allies. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at psubkoviak@aidschicago.org.

View the flyer for this meeting here

Don't Miss the Sweetest Taste in Town: World of Chocolate, December 3, 2008

Wednesday, December 3, 2008 6:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago 60605

This AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) signature event, held in commemoration of World AIDS Day, features scrumptious chocolate creations from more than 30 of Chicagoland’s finest restaurants, caterers, and chocolatiers in an effort to raise awareness, while celebrating the world's achievements in the fight against HIV/AIDS. An evening spent at World of Chocolate includes a light buffet, open bar, chocolate martinis, live jazz, and a Holiday Bazaar featuring ornaments, purses, and gifts from notable Chicago retailers, as well as Cooking Doesn't Have to be a Drag - an entertaining cookbook that fuses the art of food with the flair of drag.

Click here to purchase your tickets for World of Chocolate
Click here to check out World of Chocolate's sweet entertainment

Adolescent Sexual Health Education Roundtables In Your Area
Please join us for a lively discussion surrounding adolescent sexual health education.  Come participate and provide meaningful feedback as the Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health (ICAH) seeks to gather information about how to best create sustainable efforts for the provision of sexual health education across the state of Illinois.

A list of scheduled roundtables is below.

Joliet Roundtable
Unitarian-Universalist Church of Joliet at 3401 W Jefferson, 60431
Wednesday, December 3rd from 6:30-8:30 pm
RSVP to: David Caplan at David@ICAH.org

ADAPT Roundtable in Glen Ellyn
YWCA Building, 739 Roosevelt Rd., Bldg 8, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
Friday, December 5th at 8:30 AM
RSVP to: Wendy Fegenhols at wendy.fegenhols@yahoo.com

Maywood Roundtable
Proviso East High School 807 S 1st Ave Maywood, IL 60153
Tuesday, December 9th from 3:30-5:30 pm
RSVP to Josh Prudowsky at jprudowsky@gmail.com