Widgets in Action

By Miguel Gomez

The New York State AIDS Institute created a widget to link over 200 New York emergency room departments to HIV/AIDS information . Doctors can use this “one-stop shop” approach to better assess and treat patients exposed to HIV. Since widgets continually update with the most current medical recommendations, they can be both efficient and effective in clinical settings, such as emergency rooms.

We're excited to see innovative new media tools being used for HIV/AIDS treatment and care. Check out the New York Times article about this widget, complete with interviews with the the creators.

I Know, I Took the Test: My HIV Testing Story

By Miguel Gomez

Whitman-Walker Mobile HIV Testing Van

National HIV Testing Day was last Saturday. All month we've encouraged people to listen to real stories from real people about what taking an HIV test means to them. We used a widget to show short videos of both HIV+ and HIV- people sharing their stories about getting tested. And as we moved towards the end of this 4-week National HIV Testing Day blog series, we also listened to the President of the United States talking about his experience taking an HIV test.

I wanted to add to this conversation and share my experience as a gay man getting an HIV test last week.

I Know. I Took The Test: Stories from The Positive Project

Interview of Tony Miles by Jennie Anderson

Back in March, we shared videos from The Positive Project in honor of National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Watching those videos reinforced the power of sharing personal stories about HIV through new media -- and helped inspire our “I Know. I Took the Test” initiative for National HIV Testing Day. Today I'm pleased to share some insights from The Positive Project's Tony Miles as part of our month-long series about HIV testing story initiatives:

I Know. I Took The Test: Stories from POZ

Interview of Ian Anderson by Jennie Anderson

Earlier this week we shared an HIV testing story initiative focusing on women in the South, and in this post we're highlighting testing stories from POZ as we continue our “I Know. I Took The Test” blog series for National HIV Testing Day. I spoke with POZ's Ian Anderson, President & COO Smart + Strong , to learn more about their newly launched HIV Web Video Series . Here's what Ian had to say:

• What inspired you to start the POZ web series project?
  POZ is an advocacy, lifestyle, treatment and information resource in and for the HIV/AIDS community. A big part of our mission is to provide HIV information to the community in whatever way, place, and format it takes to help EVERYONE! With that in mind, we launched a new product called a Web Video Series. These topical series look at different aspects of living with HIV in words of the community and treating professionals. We've covered World AIDS Day and Newly Diagnosed with the first two series and HIV Testing has come up as the next topic of interest among our users.


• 
  How and why are you using new media to share those stories?
  POZ is committed to bringing critical HIV/AIDS information to the community wherever they live. Videos work on several different levels at the same time. It helps reach those with lower literacy levels and those who only digest information via new media. These are two important segments at high risk for HIV. Hopefully seeing someone that looks like them through the web series will create a new level of awareness that everyone who is sexually active should use a condom. The number one action is for people to take responsibility for their own lives.


• What have been a few of the most powerful results and/or lessons learned so far?
  The number one result has been the viral nature of the video series to date and their ability to reach populations not normally served through our various other products.


• I Know. I Took the Test.
  Blog Series

  • I Know. I Took The Test: Stories from the Southern AIDS Living Quilt
  • National HIV Testing Day: Call to Action
  Where would you like to see the project go next?
  There are hundreds of topics on deck for a web series. We would like to see additional funding support to make as many of them a reality as quickly as possible.

Thanks Ian and the POZ team! Check out our NHTD story widget to see more videos and add it to your site! Looking for your local HIV testing center? Send a text message with your ZIP code to “KNOWIT” (566948) or visit www.hivtest.org .

Have a comment about a POZ's web series story? Have you been tested for HIV and want to share what it meant to you? We welcome your comments in the comments section below.

Want to know what story initiative we're talking about next? Check back on Tuesday!

I Know. I Took The Test: Stories from the Southern AIDS Living Quilt

Interview of Patrick Packer by Jennie Anderson

In this week's post, I'm excited to share with you HIV testing stories from the Southern AIDS Living Quilt and my recent conversation with Patrick Packer, Executive Director of the Southern AIDS Coalition . As we mentioned last week, this month leading up to National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) on June 27, we're writing the “I Know. I Took The Test” blog series about personal HIV testing stories. We hope you'll also share your story (in the comments section) about what getting an HIV test meant to you.

• What inspired you to start the Southern AIDS Living Quilt?
  The Southern AIDS Living Quilt was launched in October of 2008 by the Southern AIDS Coalition to raise awareness about the spread of HIV and AIDS, particularly among women in the Southern U.S. The South has the highest number of adults and adolescents living with AIDS in the U.S.. In addition, HIV/AIDS is currently the leading cause of death for black women between the ages of 25 and 34. The Living Quilt uses personal stories to highlight the need for routine testing and prevention services, early diagnosis, and increased access to care for those living with HIV/AIDS in the South. A goal is to let those that are positive know that HIV today is a disease you can live with if you take steps to take care of yourself and your partner.


• 
  Why are you using new media to share those stories?
  We wanted to move beyond the numbers and data, putting a face to these figures. The video “patches” are a powerful means of reducing stigma surrounding the disease. The videos show the changing face of HIV and demonstrate the fact that anyone can contract the disease – the HIV positive faces on the Quilt could be your mother, sister, co-worker or Sunday school teacher. The goals of the Living Quilt are to empower, encourage and educate policymakers, healthcare providers, the media and the communities most directly impacted by HIV/AIDS. Using video testimonials, we share the stories of women living with HIV/AIDS, their families and healthcare providers.


• What have been a few of the most powerful results so far?
  The Project started (in 2008) with 30 “patches” (on a virtual quilt ). Within days, we started to get emails and calls from women that wanted to share their stories and experiences. Today, the Living Quilt has more than one hundred patches from HIV-positive women, medical professionals, community leaders, HIV/AIDS Advocates, a CNN Hero, and state and government health officials. We have presented at events across the country, and last World AIDS Day, HIV journalist and advocate Allison Steinberg called the launch of the Living Quilt one of the “10 most important AIDS stories of 2008.” A Los Angeles-based musician composed and donated an original hip-hop song for the Living Quilt that has been made into a video . In May we posted our 100th “patch”, featuring Frances Ashe-Goins , Deputy Director of HHS' Office on Women's Health.


• I Know. I Took the Test.
  Blog Series

  • National HIV Testing Day: Call to Action
  Where would you like to see the project go next?
  While 100 patches was a great milestone, we want to grow the number and diversity of voices represented on the Living Quilt. We want visitors to say “she looks just like me, or my mom, sister, co-worker, or friend,” etc. We'd like to capture the stories and messages of national leaders and be a part of the national movement. We want the Living Quilt to become an even more valuable resource through linkages to educational programs, assistance, and care. And we continue to think of new ways to attract young people to the site through Facebook , Twitter , and other social networking sites.

Thank you Patrick and the Southern AIDS Living Quilt team! The Living Quilt invites people to submit additional stories . Check out our NHTD story widget to see their videos and add it to your site! Looking for your local HIV testing center? Send a text message with your ZIP code to “KNOWIT” (566948) or visit www.hivtest.org .

Have a comment about a Southern AIDS Living Quilt story? Have you been tested for HIV and want to share what it meant to you? We welcome your comments in the comments section below.

Want to know what story initiative we're talking about next? Check back on Thursday!