Pride Flags UP and OUT

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Give a year of service as an AmeriCorps VISTA at Our House!

Our House provides the working homeless – individuals and families – with shelter, housing, job training, education, free childcare and summer youth programs in order to equip them with the skills to be successful in the workforce, the community and their own families.

Our House, Inc. has immediate openings for four AmeriCorps VISTA positions that will start in August 2012. Our House VISTA Members serve in capacity building roles in which they assist with program development and implementation (as opposed to direct client service). Most Our House VISTA Members have Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees. Candidates must be good communicators and be highly computer literate. Experience in program development and project coordination is preferred.

Candidates should apply online at www.americorps.gov/vista and email a résumé and brief cover letter to Sarah at VISTAleader@ourhouseshelter.org. Significant priority will be given to applications submitted by July 1, 2012

Current Opportunities Include:

Development VISTA

Plan and implement fundraising events; assist the Executive Director with donor outreach efforts, board relations, grant management and development; track and recognize donors.

Volunteer Relations VISTA

Develop the policies and procedures for recruiting, coordinating, documenting, and acknowledging the contributions of volunteers.

Campus Improvement VISTA

Assist with facilitating green project on campus; identify and implement projects to make the campus more energy efficient. Identify, design, and implement volunteer projects that address the ongoing needs of grounds and building maintenance and rehabilitation at Our House.

Community Engagement

Manage marketing and public relations that promote the mission and accomplishments of Our House, cultivating relationships with partners, and facilitating positive communication between community members and Our House staff.

Housing and Alumni Relations
Obtain information about available housing in the area for residents who are transferring out of Our House and maintain relationships and facilitate meetings with the Our House alumni group.

These are full-time service positions that include a living stipend of $858 per month

plus an education award of $5,350 or stipend of $1,500 upon completion of the service year.

Check out www.ourhouseshelter.org for more information about Our House.
Visit www.americorps.gov/VISTA for more information about VISTA and to apply.

Avatars – Reaching Gay Men

By Miguel Gomez, Director, AIDS.gov, and Senior Communications Advisor, Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

In the past we have highlighted the work of our colleagues who are using virtual tools to reach their target audience. This month, LGBTQ pride month, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF) launched a new campaign that incorporates the use of avatars and texting to promote HIV testing. We asked them to share more about the campaign, and will follow up with them in six months to share their lessons learned.
And we are pleased to be working with SFAF as they help us plan our satellite session on the state of new media and HIV at AIDS 2012.

Screen shot of Many Shades of Gay website

THE MANY SHADES OF GAY
By Neil Giuliano, Chief Executive Officer, San Francisco AIDS Foundation

We have made tremendous progress in recent years to reduce new HIV infections, here in San Francisco and nationwide. But with infection rates still on the rise among gay and bisexual men—the only risk group for which this is the case—we know we can do better. That’s why we are proud to introduce an innovative new public health campaign to encourage gay and bisexual men to test regularly for HIV and make frequent HIV testing the social norm.
The campaign is called “Many Shades of Gay.” It celebrates the diversity of the gay community while focusing on one simple message: No matter what you’re into, get an HIV test every six months.
At the heart of the effort is an interactive and educational website that invites users to create a personalized avatar—a tiny, digital version of themselves. Described as “the most robust avatar generator ever built,” it contains literally billions of customization options, including wardrobe, accessories, tattoos, and piercings—allowing gay and bisexual men to create an avatar as conservative or campy as they desire.
Once an avatar is created, it informs the user about the importance of regular HIV testing and helps them to find the nearest testing location. The website allows users to opt in to receive reminders via email or text from their avatar when it’s time to get another HIV test. Guys who create an avatar are invited to keep the campaign going by sharing it through social media channels and inviting friends to join the effort.
The site also includes a channel for HIV-positive guys, which provides health information and resources to connect them to HIV treatment and care. Studies show that early detection and treatment of HIV can dramatically reduce a person’s chances of spreading the virus to someone else.
“Many Shades of Gay” is a collaboration between San Francisco AIDS Foundation, San Francisco Department of Public Health, ISIS, Alliance Health Project, Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center, Mission Neighborhood Health Center, and funders from the public and private sector. Global advertising agency ATTIK provided pro bono creative development for the campaign.
We encourage guys to create their own avatar today by visiting www.ManyShadesOfGay.org .