AIDS Project Worcester marks 20 years of helping those with HIV/AIDS

Francine Coleman is 56 and has been living with HIV for 21 years. While she thanks God every day that her condition hasn't progressed to an AIDS diagnosis, she attributes both her health and happiness to AIDS Project Worcester (APW), an organization that has given her a network of incredible support throughout her struggle with HIV.

"APW turned my whole life around. When I came out here from Boston with a drug habit, I went into a halfway house, a substance abuse house for women, for six months and then I was introduced to a case manager [at APW] to deal with my HIV issues. They turned my whole life around, they made me feel like a person again, a whole person," said Coleman.

"I take medication, I go to my doctor. I don't drink, drug or anything like that," she continued. "I have sixteen years clean and sober and with the support and the friends and the foundation that I have [at APW] it makes me grateful for what I have. I've been working here for 11 years this month, but I've been with APW for about fourteen years altogether. It's really, really changed my life, truly changed my life."

Julialene Johnson met Coleman in 1999, when she came to the clinic after discovering she was HIV positive.

"Franny was so busy that day," Johnson recalled, laughing and interrupting herself to explain that she loves telling this story. "She was my peer person and she was so busy that day that she didn't have time for me but I understood because I was watching her. She was trying to talk to me, trying to help the other clients, so in the meantime I just sat back; they made me feel so comfortable."

It was more than just comfort though. The organization made Johnson feel like she mattered, like people cared about her as an individual.

"I actually fell down one day," recalls Johnson. "I got here to APW, and I don't remember her name, but one of the women that was working here, my knee was all scraped up and bleeding and the lady actually got down on her knees and cleaned my knee for me. That made me feel so good, that someone took that time and showed me that they care here at APW."

Ever since, the women have been working at APW, battling HIV together. In fact, it was a simple joke that led Johnson to a permanent job with Coleman at the clinic.

"I was joking around one day about becoming a staff member here and someone suggested that I put in a resume. So I put the resume in and I didn't think that they would hire me, someone who dropped out of school in the eleventh grade, didn't really have an education, no diploma. But I had the knowledge of living with HIV and being an addict. I put the resume in and to my surprise they hired me. So I've been working here now for five years and I'm still here. It's the staff people and the clients that are keeping me here."

AIDS Project Worcester will commemorate its 20th anniversary with a dinner on the evening of Sept. 18. State Sen. Ed Augustus will emcee the event and John Auerbach will be the keynote speaker.

"The dinner is honoring the twentieth anniversary and founding of AIDS Project Worcester," said Joe McKee, Executive Director of APW. "It is both a dinner and we're going to honor some long term supporters who have lent both their name and their efforts over the years to assist people living with HIV disease and [doing] prevention work out here in Massachusetts."

The hall is being donated Temple Emmanuel of Worcester and 86 Winter American Bistro is catering the three course dinner. Red Ribbons and awards will be given to a number of people who have dedicated their time and energy to bettering the lives of those living with HIV/AIDS. According to McKee, after cost, the organization hopes to raise at least $20,000 from the event.

APW has sent out about 4,000 invitations, and is expecting a crowd of about 400 people. Most importantly, the organization is asking those who are unable to attend to purchase tickets for clients of APW so that women like Coleman and Johnson may attend as well. Although 20 tickets have been set aside for clientele, APW serves over 350 people living with HIV/AIDS.

While both women plan to attend the dinner, Johnson lives on a limited income, which has thus far prevented her from purchasing a $75 ticket. Johnson is not the only APW client in such a situation, which is why the organization is hopeful that its supporters will help purchase tickets for women like Johnson.

Regardless of how she gets there, Johnson expressed strong sentiments that this event was more than just a dinner.

"This is not just a fundraiser. We still want to let the public know that HIV is still out there. ... HIV I still alive and growing and people need to be made aware of how to prevent themselves from becoming HIV positive. So that education piece is still greatly needed out there," said Johnson. As soon as she finished speaking, Coleman cut in.

"There's a lot of good things," she said, emphasizing that she didn't want to just be bragging. "I work here and I've been here a long time and I know in my heart that we do a lot of good things in this community for people because they've done it for me. ... We're just giving back."