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AHA MEDIA filmed at HIV testing event at Pigeon Park in Vancouver Downtown Eastside
From What’s Your Status
Together we can radically stop the spread of HIV and AIDS through identifying participants who are positive. The earlier you learn your status and start treatment you significantly lower the risk of transmitting this disease to someone else.
Finding out your HIV status is positive used to be thought of as a death sentence. This is no longer the case because of pioneers in medical research like Dr. Julio Montaner and the BC Center for Excellence in HIV/AIDS who have developed a highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for people living with the disease that can prolong healthy living for a lifetime and reduces the risk of HIV transmission. Along with this ground breaking research, a Point of Care test (similar to a test a diabetic would take) has the ability to screen for the virus in 60 seconds.
We are initiating a HIV testing, treatment and education campaign in the downtown eastside community (DTES). This program is a pilot project linking peers within our DTES to information and resources that they need and are available to them within the PHS programs that currently exist as well as special summer outdoor events.
Our objectives are to test and educate as many people from the DTES community as HIV screening is an important part of preventative health care for everyone. We also intend to link people living with a HIV positive status to all the resources and support that are available to them in their community.
Getting Tested
Getting tested to find out your HIV status is as simple as
- Showing up to one of our testing sites or events
- Do the test & get your results *
- Receive education without discrimination
* If you test positive we will assist you in proceeding to a second test from a Health Care professional, where post education; service, support and resources will be discussed.
To find out where and when you can be tested, click here.
Our Testers
Our testers are DTES community members who have been educated to perform the Point of Care tests by a certified practitioners and educators. They are leaders in the community who are trustworthy, honest and have all signed legal confidentiality agreements. They have been given all the tools necessary to deal with any situation in the most respectful, safe and non-judgmental way possible.
COMMUNITY ARTS DIALOGUE: Community, Politics and Resistance in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside – Part 1 and 2 on June 18, 2011
Dr. Maggie O’Neill, researcher from Durham University, will discuss her work in participatory action research and participatory arts, specifically, “Community, Politics and Resistance in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside: a participatory project”.
This project is a social research collaboration between Atira – Enterprising Women Making Art, Providing Alternatives Counseling & Education (PACE) Society, Megaphone, and United We Can and supported by the Community Arts Council of Vancouver and AHA MEDIA
The project explores ways of seeing the spaces and places of community through the eyes of DTES residents.
Part 2: 2:00-4:00pm
Viewing of the exhibit with presentations from the local DTES organizations on their experience working on the project.
Location: Interurban: Gallery and Community Art Space, I E Hastings St
Dr. Maggie O’Neill, researcher from Durham University, will discuss her work in participatory action research and participatory arts, specifically, “Community, Politics and Resistance in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside: a participatory project”.
Maggie O’Neill has extensive experience in inter-disciplinary contexts with expertise in critical and cultural criminology. Her focus is on innovative biographical, cultural and participatory research methodologies; and the production of praxis – knowledge which addresses and intervenes in public policy. Her work has been instrumental in moving forward debates, dialogue and scholarship in three areas: prostitution and the commercial sex industry; forced migration and the asylum-migration nexus; innovative participatory, performative and visual methodologies. She is a member of the steering group for the Centre for Social Justice and Community Action.
This event is being coordinated by the Community Arts Council of Vancouver in partnership with SFU Woodwards.
It is part of Langara College’s annual Summer School on Building Community.
FREE event.
Membership in CACV and donations appreciated.
Register here:http://communityartsdialogue.eventbrite.com/
June 18, 2011 10am-1pm
Location: World Art Centre, SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts
149 West Hastings (entrance on Cordova Street)
Under the Salish Sun – Community Day at Oppenheimer Park in Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES)
It’s a Picnic! It’s a Fair! All we want is…You to be there! * Salish Welcome and Sharing by Wesley Nahanee of Squamish Natin * Snowy Owl Drum Group with Dalannah Bowen * Power To Women * Pow Wow Drumming and Round Dance Singing with Jr. Waskewitch * Aboriginal Front Door drum group. * Nisga’a Dancersn * Rez Warrior- Larry Hanson! * Singing Group: Scow Community Organization Tables Hair Braiding Contest Community Craft Tables- Face Painting Balloons for the kids!
Saturday morning pancake at Woodwards Housing in Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES)
Delicious pancakes were cooked up by Dan, our generous chef to feed hungry residents.
W2TV: Raise the Rates MLA Welfare Challenge
Coast Salish Territory – 600 block Powell Street in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver BC. Near the local office of the BC Ministry of Housing and Social Development.
On May 26, 2011, a group named Raise the Rates launches the MLA Welfare Challenge. A Challenge to BC MLA’s to see if any will live on the province’s rate of $610 for a single person.
Raise the Rates states an MLA accepting the challenge would be engaging in real action reseach and gain some understanding of what life on welfare is like.
It has been 25 years since Vancouver MLA and later Speaker of the House Emery Barnes spent 7 weeks living on the welfare rate of the time. Among those issuing the challenge to MLA’s is Constance Barnes, daughter of the late Mr. Barnes and a CoV Parks Board Commissioner. She explained with pride her father’s act to support a raise in welfare rates.
Based on his experience, Emery Barnes stated that the welfare rate for a single person without disabilities should be $700. That is 25 years ago and equivalent to $1,290 today, more than double what is the present welfare rate.
Bob Hopwood of Raise the Rates states they will provide MLA’s support and advice and work with them to ensure the month is a valuable and insightful experience.
As the legislature is in session until June 2, Raise the Rates states after that would be a good time to start with July 1 being the latest. MLA’s have until June 16 to respond. Raise the Rates commits to provide $610 to one MLA from each party and link them to people on welfare to hear their stories and experiences.
As MLA’s determine the welfare rates, they should be able to survive on them as 90,000 BC families and individuals do. Along with the MLA Welfare Challenge, Raise the Rates also has demands as Jean Swanson explains.
By taking the challenge, MLA’s would find current welfare rates for most does not provide enough for nutritous food or adequate shelter let alone hygiene or transportation.
The average rent for a one bedroom apartment in Vancouver is $1,012 a month. Even in the lowest rent area of Vancouver the average rent is $805 a month. Raise the Rates is a coalition of over 20 organisation in BC concerned about poverty and nomelessness in the province.
For W2TV, Sid Tan reporting from the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver BC.
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