As a Health Educator at the Ali Forney Center for Gay, Lesbian and Transgender I wear many hats. I conduct health education workshops in which we discuss many health topics, such as, HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Herpes. I provide pamphlets and other reading material to promote HIV awareness.

Clients come in to speak to me about life and personal experiences. I always inform each client “what is said in this room stays in this room”, unless they speak of harming themselves or another person.

Another area of the Health Educator’s job is performing outreach to the clients, encouraging them to know their HIV status by getting tested. Throughout the day I provide the 20-minute Rapid HIV test with full confidentiality.

Summer of 2009 is “The Summer of Love” for The Ali Forney Center (June 1st- Aug 30th). As the Health Educator at Ali Forney I had the privilege of kick off this spectacular event by inviting two HIV positive speakers to bring new light into living with HIV/AIDS followed by a buffet lunch catered by Dallas BBQ’s compliments of Care for the Homeless. As a human being first and a health educator, it’s all in a day’s work of providing care and sharing the love.