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[music]
My name is Janet Weinberg. I'm the Chief Operating officer at
Gay Men’s Health Crisis, GMHC, and we're located in New York.
[music]
What are some of the events or circumstances that led you to our program?
Well I know for me, I was going through a lot of issues at the time.
And my brother told me about GMHC, and I've just kind of found a little home here.
[music]
The mission of GMHC is very simple. GMHC is here to fight the AIDS epidemic
and uplift the lives of all affected by ***.
[music]
And because the epidemic has changed, so has the work of the agency.
And happily, so has the funders and so has the world in understanding
that prevention and *** is not one population, but many populations.
[music]
*** is all about behavioral change and so with SAMHSA's support,
we're able to do outreach to the most disparate populations that truly need
support in behavioral change.
[music]
I think the strongest collaboration between GMHC and the SAMHSA/CSAP program
has been able to reach populations of young men of color
that we struggled with for years to reach.
Could you name a couple of positive impacts on your life
as a result of this program?
OBB [The Outstanding Beautiful Brothers program] has helped me
to be a better person; to have actually safer sex, and know
what to do when I'm in a situation that I don't want to be in.
Another impact is that I'm in a better place just all around in my life,
knowing how to come out to my family and my friends and getting them
to accept me for who I am.
[music]
This space is a unique space because it allows these young people to
feel validated, to feel heard, to feel connected in a way that they aren't
in any other part of their lives.
[music]
We had the holiday party for our Outstanding Beautiful Brothers Program,
which is part of the CSAP unit and the work that we do.
And as I sat there, I looked around, and I saw these young men and I thought,
"They have a sense of community here at GMHC." And I wondered,
"Where would they be if it wasn't for GMHC, and if it wasn't for
the SAMHSA CSAP program?"
[music]
Okay, last question. Name one word that keeps you inspired
to keep coming to this program.
Support.
Prevention.
Love.
Knowledge.
And my word would be Brotherhood.