Andres Magana
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Get to Zero LA
With the real possibility of eliminating HIV in the United States, community-based organizations like The Wall Las Memorias are hard at work making the national slogan of "Getting to Zero and Staying at Zero" a reality. Under the current administration's Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) campaign, the ambitious plan outlines its strategy to end HIV using both biomedical prevention tools as well as by tackling the pervasive social barriers that create challenges in the delivery of prevention services. Making widespread prevention tools like PrEP and HIV testing available to vulnerable populations will increase the reach of advocacy efforts and help sustain healthy habits of community members over the long term.
Locally, Get to Zero LA is The Wall Las Memorias' innovative approach to confronting these barriers and achieving zero new HIV infections in Los Angeles County. Our campaign begins with making it easy for people at high risk of infection-- gay/queer men, transgender persons, cis-gender women of color, and people who may use substances-- to access testing, diagnosis, and treatment. Get to Zero LA HIV testing services are conducted by peer community health specialists that reflects the diversity of this population. Services are provided in a manner that are culturally appropriate and free of cost for all members of the community.
AVAILABLE SERVICES
>> HIV Testing & Counseling - TWLM continues to provide HIV prevention services to the general public under our culturally competent HIV testing and counseling services. HIV testing is conducted by peer community health specialists and are free of cost for all members of the community at both of our DTLA and Boyle Heights locations.
>> HIV Testing "Afterhours" - TWLM is providing free rapid HIV testing and counseling services at your convince through our new HIV Testing "Afterhours" on Thursdays from 5-8 pm at our Boyle Heights HUB. HIV testing is conducted by peer community health specialists and are free of cost for all members of the community. Incentives are available too! Appointments available through the "Schedule An HIV Test" button above. Walk-ins also welcomed. Learn more.
FREE HIV TESTING
TWLM offers free HIV testing by appointment or by walk-ins Mondays - Fridays from 9am - 5pm. To make your appointment with one of our friendly HIV testing counselors click on "Schedule An HIV Test" above or email [email protected] for an at-home HIV testing kit (delivered free of charge).
DOWNTOWN LA HUB
800 W. 6th Street, Suite 750, Los Angeles, CA 90017
BOYLE HEIGHTS HUB
2020 E. 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033
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Prevention Experts, Community, Sound Alarm on LA’s Meth Crisis
"More than 130 health and addiction experts, policy makers, and members of the LGBTQ community in Southern California joined the Zoom meeting to discuss the extent of the meth problem in Los Angeles..."
Read the full story in The Body (click here).
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Meth Epidemic Getting Worse; Researchers, Community Respond
"Some public health officials are looking through the intersectional lens of HIV/AIDS, STDs, mental health and substance abuse treatment and prevention, however. And on July 21, Richard Zaldivar, founder and executive director of The Wall Las Memorias, a non-profit LGBTQ Latino-focused community health and wellness organization, brought a number of those top professionals together for the Act Now Against Meth virtual roundtable."
Read the full story in the LA Blade (click here).
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Act Now Against Meth
In 2020, The Wall Las Memorias (TWLM) launched the Act Now Against Meth campaign to meet the dire need to confront the methamphetamine epidemic in Los Angeles County. TWLM, along with the Center for HIV Identification, Prevention and Treatment Services (CHIPTS), organized community partners, service providers, researchers and policy advocates to raise awareness and develop recommendations for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) officials to better address meth use in the county. The Act Now Against Meth mission is to build a countywide community coalition to work in partnership with Los Angeles County to end meth use and its negative impact on our communities.
UPCOMING EVENTS
>> Coming Soon!
OFFICIAL PLATFORM
>> The Los Angeles County Platform Addressing the Meth Epidemic 2022 - Click Here to Download
>> March 2022 ANAM Press Conference - Click Here to View Video
>> ANAM Press Conference Official Press Release - Click Here to Download
>> ANAM Press Conference (Photos) - Click Here to View Photos
RESEARCH INFO
>> Methamphetamine Use and HIV in MSM in LA: Biology and Behavior by Steve Shoptaw, PhD
>> Methamphetamine in Los Angeles County by Gary Tsai, MD
>> Methamphetamine: Updates (March 23, 2021) by Steve Shoptaw, PhD
>> Intersection of Meth and Key HIV & Syphilis Indicators by Mario J. Perez, MPH
For more information, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] or calling (323) 257-1056.
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Name Submission Form
The Wall Las Memorias (TWLM) is dedicated to promoting wellness and preventing illness among communities of color affected by HIV/AIDS by using the inspiration of The Wall Las Memorias AIDS Monument as a catalyst for social change. We invite community members at large to submit the names of loved one's lost to AIDS or HIV complications. New names will be engraved onto the name panels on the monument and revealed during a special re-dedication ceremony to mark the unveiling of the renovated site. The names submission process is currently free of cost and open to community members from throughout the country. We also invite you to submit photos and videos of your loved one's along with your names submission form to [email protected].
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AIDS Monument Updates
Friends, it is our hope that you are well during these difficult times. As we continue our important work to serve the community through virtual platforms, we are eager to share with you some exciting updates.
The renovation of The Wall Las Memorias AIDS Monument had been delayed for the past several months due to a lack of supplies for the construction. However we are happy to report to you that construction has resumed at Lincoln Park and we anticipate a completion of the project sometime in mid summer!
Due to COVID-19, our dedication plans for the monument will have to be altered as well. We are creating a planning committee that will be able to work with us on the production of a safe and exciting event in the fall. We will inform you of the planned event as soon as we have more information.
We would also like to remind you that our name submission process for the AIDS Monument is open and free of charge during this time. To submit a name of someone who passed away from AIDS or HIV complications and for updates on the monument construction (including access to renderings of the final design), please visit our web site at thewalllasmemorias.org/monument.
Thank you for your continuing support. Please be safe and wear a mask when you are in public.
Sincerely,
Richard L. Zaldivar
Executive Director/Founder
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How George Floyd’s Death & COVID-19 Reshaped My Identity as a Gay Latinx Man
"After meeting two staff members from The Wall Las Memorias Project, I was encouraged to attend the organization’s support group for Latino gay, bi and queer questioning men. I nervously took them up on the invitation, and for the next few months, I began to attend the organization’s bimonthly meetings in its downtown L.A. office."
Read the full story in The LA Times (click here).
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Andres Magana published Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals in Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals 2020-06-29 20:49:29 -0700
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Memo
TWLM friend, this was truly the week that was.
Today the United States Supreme Court ruled the Trump Administration cannot rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals known as DACA which ultimately provides protection from deportation for at least 650,000 children of immigrants.
This ruling provides protection to our under-served communities who have been singled out by this administration in an attempt to create a second class of people. But we must make DACA permanent. Congress must act now to make this a law so that our future Dreamers have a process in place to apply for this status.
Earlier this week this same court ruled that federal civil rights law does in fact protect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. Both these cases are huge for our historically marginalized communities.
What is evident this week is that fighting for social justice does work but it is far from over. Now is the time to making sure that our friends and family members are registered to vote as voting is our weapon for a call to action for justice, equality and freedom.
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Black Lives Matter Memo
This past week our country has heard the voices of its' people. People from every part of our nation and world have spoken out against racism and the murder of George Floyd.
In 1965, Los Angeles experienced the Watts riots and then again we experienced the Rodney King riots in 1992. We said that things would change, yet things have not.
We mourn the death of George Floyd and so many other Black community members including countless other people of color who have been killed or beaten because of the color of their skin.
We must learn from the past calls for justice and say that we will not forget this injustice and demand change from our elected officials and hold them accountable for not enacting changes and holding law enforcement accountable.
Demanding change of government is not enough as we must examine the anti-blackness that exists in our communities and in our own families. Change cannot be accomplished until we hold ourselves accountable in understanding the plight of the struggle of people who may not look like ourselves.
Our history will be determined not by what we say to create change but what we have done to create that change.
Together we have the opportunity to help write history. It is the time to act! It is time to raise our voice, engage and to VOTE. Our ballot and our voice are our weapon against injustice.
The Wall Las Memorias joins our community in saying that, Black Lives Matter.
God bless you and your loved ones.
Sincerely,
Richard L. Zaldivar
Executive Director/Founder
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Building Healthy Communities - Boyle Heights
The Health Happens with Prevention campaign under the Building Health Communities, Boyle Heights is a group of passionate individuals who have been grounded in community to combat issues such as health care inequality, access to mental health, and addressing barriers among communities of color and under served individuals. Boyle Heights is home to 86,118 residents alone and is often forgotten and left with few resources. As a collective we work together to advocate for policy and systems change. In this process we welcome all residents and youth to take part in leading this effort. Our push for policy change is our driving force to leave sustainable lasting impacts in our communities. More information available: Click Here
Partnering Community Organizations Include:
Community Resources:
COVID-19 Resources Guide - This resource guide is complied of several guides created by community and community organizations to help folks find resources during the COVID-19 pandemic in Los Angeles with an emphasis on the Boyle Heights Community. Click Here
Upcoming Events:
Coming Soon.
BHC - Boyle Heights Socials:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bhcboyleheights/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BHCBoyleHeights/
Twitter - @BHCBoyleHeights
Andres Magana 2230sc