A look back at our accomplishments and our goals for the future.
By Jeff Berry, Executive Director
2022 has been an eventful year for The Reunion Project (TRP), and I’d like to share some exciting updates with you. This also is my one request this year for support, and I hope you’ll consider donating.
For the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic we returned to our in-person town hall programming, launched our bi-monthly Long-Term Survivor Toolkit Webinar Series in April, and in September I was honored to step up as TRP’s first executive director.
Our first in-person event was a two-day preconference in September at the Positive Living Conference in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. One town hall attendee said, “The information lets me understand that I’m still needed. Everybody has a purpose.” Another said, “No matter what I’ve been through I’m still here. I’m a survivor…and [I want] to help.”
In November we visited Houston and were privileged to work with an incredible host committee, and to be joined by Positive Women’s Network-USA co-founder Venita Ray as she shared her very personal journey as a person living, aging and thriving with HIV. The Reunion Project workshop at the United States Conference on HIV/AIDS (USCHA) in Puerto Rico in October was a highlight of the conference and was met with a standing ovation, thanks to an amazing panel of speakers which was moderated by long-term survivor, journalist and HIV advocate Mark S. King.
As we look forward to 2023, we are excited to be expanding our programming with three in-person two-day town hall events in collaboration with the National Working Positive Coalition; a mini-grant opportunity/train-the-trainer program to establish smaller, regional events and create local networks of HIV long-term survivors around the U.S.; and other online and conference opportunities for long-term survivors to connect and support one another.
None of this would be possible without you, our supporters, and our funders Gilead Sciences, ViiV Healthcare, and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Thanks to you, thousands of long-term survivors of HIV are coming out of isolation, networking and supporting one another and learning about new ways to build resilience and thrive with HIV.
As always, if you have any suggestions or ideas on ways in which we can better serve you, please reach out to us at info@reunionproject.net. And once again, if you would like to make a contribution, we appreciate any support you may be able to offer.
Happy holidays, and best wishes for a safe, healthy and prosperous new year!
