February 15, 2002 - Volume 2 Number 1

>> HELP US CELEBRATE OUR 15th ANNIVERSARY
SAVE THE DATE : May 2nd

Help Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center (A&PIWC) celebrate 15th years as a community resource for Asian & Pacific Islanders (A&PIs) living with, or at risk for, HIV/AIDS by joining us on May 2nd at our annual "a thursday in may…2002" gala at downtown San Francisco's Merchants Exchange Ballroom.

A&PIWC's origins go back to 1987 when Asian American Recovery Services, Inc., initiated the Asian AIDS Project (AAP). AAP was the first program in the United States to provide HIV health education and prevention services targeting the A&PI community. In 1989 Gay Asian Pacific Alliance formed the GAPA Community HIV Project (GCHP). Later renamed Living Well Project, GCHP was the first gay-identified A&PI HIV/AIDS program in the United States and the first A&PI program to provide volunteer support, case management and mental health services to A&PIs living with HIV/AIDS. In 1997, A&PIWC was formed by the merger of these two landmark organizations to become the largest HIV/AIDS services organization in North America targeting A&PI communities.

"a thursday in may" is A&PIWC's largest annual fundraising event with over 450 attendees and 61 sponsors in 2001. The event features an array of hors d'oeuvres, open bar, silent auction, live entertainment as well as an awards program honoring community contributions.

To find out more about sponsoring this year's event visit
http://www.apiwellness.org/v20/atim/atimsponsor.html

>> VISIT OUR NEW OFFICE AT LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER

The new Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Community Center will be officially opening its doors in March and A&PIWC is proud to be one of the many organizations renting offices at the new building at 1800 Market Street. This new satellite office will provide A&PIWC with a greater presence in the Castro as well as a convenient space for meetings with clients, volunteers, and newcomers to the U.S and San Francisco. Architect Jane Cee has created a beautiful, bright and inviting space that we are pleased to be sharing with many peer organizations.

>> NEW PROGRAM FOR QUEER ASIAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER MEN

MxM Project, A&PIWC's newest Men's Program is launching The Creative Soul Collective Workshop Series: A Photographic Exploration of Queer Asian & Pacific Islander (A&PI) Men. This four part series uses photography as a tool for the personal exploration, recording, understanding, and expression of queer, gay, bisexual Asian and Pacific Islander American men's lives.

Led by experienced photographers, the workshops meet on Fridays from 7:30 to 8:30 pm at A&PIWC (730 Polk Street, San Francisco). Snacks, Film, Art Supplies, Photo Development Provided! Just come with a camera!

March 8 : Orientation and Welcome
March 15 : Photo sharing and photo development.
March 22 : Create photo panels with pictures, artwork, storylines, poetry, etc.
March 29 : Artwork Showcase Social

To register contact Manny Grueso @ 415.292.3420 ext 350 or mannyg@apiwellness.org.

>> THE FIRST PERSON I LOVED

"The need for acceptance and approval comes with being human, but it is particularly important when you're young. For me, it was easy to gain approval from teachers because I knew what they expected. However, it wasn't so clear at home.…" AQU25A Staffer Jaedon Cariaso penned this column for A&PIWC's Paying Attention series in AsianWeek.
http://www.apiwellness.org/v20/newsandfeatures/firstperson.html

>> HIV TREATMENT EDUCATION FORUM

A&PIWC Care Services is now hosting a series of workshops on HIV treatment issues. The first forum was held on February 1st with Dr. Jason Tokumoto and other leading HIV medical providers. The discussion centered on HIV treatment basics, HIV and nutrition and exercies as well as how to manage drug side-effects.

The next forum is planned for Friday, April 5th from 2:00-5:00pm at A&PIWC's 730 Polk Street offices. For more information contact Ippei Yasuda at 415.292.3400 ext 305 or ippei@apiwellness.org.

>> A&PIWC BENIFICIARY OF ACADEMY OF FRIENDS GALA

On Sunday, March 24th, strut down the most fabulous red carpet outside of Hollywood at the 22nd Annual Academy of Friends Gala at Fort Mason Center's Festival Pavilion. This sell-out, black-tie event is the largest HIV/AIDS Oscar® party fundraiser in the Bay Area and the second largest Oscar® party in the country, surpassed in attendance only by the Academy Awards parties in Los Angeles!
The annual Academy of Friends Gala has raised more than $3.7 million in private donations for Bay Area HIV/AIDS service providers over the last 22 years. Attracting well over 3,500 patrons, 100% of all ticket sales go directly to selected Bay Area HIV/AIDS organizations.
A&PIWC is selling two different raffle tickets as part of the event. You can win a number of prizes including a 2002 BMW X5 advanced all-wheel drive sports activity vehicle. To purchase raffle tickets - or if you would like tickets to sell to your friends and family -- contact Herna Cruz at 415.292.3400 ext 370 or herna@apiwellness.org.

For more information on this incredible event and the wonderful organization which produces it each year visit: www.academyoffriends.org

A&PIWC NEWS is published by the
© Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center (A&PIWC).
All rights reserved.


The mission of Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center is to educate, support, empower and advocate for Asian & Pacific Islander (A&PI) communities -- particularly A&PIs living with or at-risk for HIV/AIDS. A&PIWC is the oldest and most comprehensive, non-profit HIV/AIDS services organization in North America targeting Asian and Pacific Islander (A&PI) communities. To meet the needs of our clients who are often immigrants or refugees, A&PIWC's staff speak 18 languages.

Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center
730 Polk Street, 4th floor
San Francisco, CA 94109-7813
415.292.3400 Voice
415.292.3410 TTY
415.292.3404 Fax
www.apiwellness.org

APIWC NEWS CONTACTS
Ronald A. Nieberding, Editor
John Manzon-Santos, Executive Director
John S. San Agustin, Chair, Board of Directors
For questions and further information about APIWC NEWS or to have your name added or removed from our distribution list, please contact us at APIWCNews@apiwellness.org