My name is Ian and I am a resident of the Praxis Lincoln Hotel where I am also a Peer Educator.

With the encouragement of Praxis staff, starting last week I began Arrive training with Exponents following in the footsteps of over 9,000 previous graduates.

The Arrive program -
“serves to offers life-skills building, training, and support services that assist with recovery and build stability for those combating illness, addiction, poverty, and homelessness. “

Through my participation in this 8 week course, I hope to become a better Peer Educator at the Lincoln and gain the tools, techniques and credentials I need to perform to the best of my ability. I hope to learn more about myself and others, the Virus, coping and dealing with difficult situations, improve my understanding of addiction and how to implement this knowledge effectively in my day to day life and work.

My ultimate goal, which my counselors at Praxis have helped me to realize, is to work in the field of HIV/AIDS helping to educate, care for and support others, drawing on my own experiences, successes and failures and paying it forward.
During my first few weeks at Arrive I have had the pleasure to meet a group of brave and inspirational individuals composed of both Exponents staff and my fellow classmates whose drive has served to reaffirm my desire to succeed in helping others.

In addition to various trainings Exponents also offer additional services such as case management Counseling and Support Groups and well being programs such as acupuncture. They also have a wide array of educational literature a selection of which I have brought back to the Lincoln to share with my fellow residents.

To anybody who wishes to make a change for the better in their lives and the lives of others I would strongly urge you to get in touch with Exponents and I am looking forward to completing and graduating the Arrive class.

- Posted by Ian, Praxis Resident

Last week, President Obama signed a new executive order which lifted an 8-year ban on stem cell research.  In 2001, President Bush limited federal funding for stem cell research only to human embryonic stem cell lines that already existed.

The ban restricted scientists from conducting research on stem cell lines created after August 2001.  What this meant was that researchers had to use the same cell lines, which would have to be cleaned up to continue research.  Not only did it cost millions of dollars to clean up the old stem cell lines but stymied a lot of research, forcing many researchers to leave the United States.  Also, the old stem cell lines could not be used in clinical trials.  Now, with the ban being lifted, clinical trials for gene therapy research can be conducted.

Upon signing the order to lift the ban, President Obama stated “medical miracles do not happen simply by accident.” 

Stem cell transplants have been used in recent years to reset immune systems and have been given to patients with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, and HIV.  Back in November it was reported that two years after receiving a stem cell transplant to treat his leukemia, a man in Germany has been seemingly HIV free as a result.  And this is without the use of any retroviral medication.

By lifting the ban, President Obama gives us all encouragement that research can continue in hopes of someday finding a cure for HIV/AIDS.

Yesterday was National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.  And some disturbing statistics came out regarding infection rates for girls.

According to New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the city remains at the “epicenter” of HIV/AIDS in the U.S.  Currently, one in three HIV-positive residents is female, an increase from one in 10 from the early days of the epidemic. In addition, almost 90% of HIV-positive women and 94% of teenage girls who recently contracted the disease are black or Hispanic.

HIV/AIDS currently is the leading cause of death among black women ages 25 to 34 in NYC.  This suggests that black women are contracting HIV between 15 and 24 but going undiagnosed for as long as a decade, missing opportunities for early treatment.  Most women contract HIV through heterosexual contact or intravenous drug use.

When I read that, I was really startled by those statistics.  After all the work organizations have done through the years to increase awareness plus the education provided to kids on how to prevent infection, it was upsetting to know that for some kids, the message is just not reaching them. 

Communities will continue to make testing easily available and hand out free condoms.  Unfortunately though, most teenagers seem to think they are invincible. You can’t force a teenager to listen or use condoms and we all suffer because of it.

- posted by Inga

This weekend, I listened to Mayor Bloomberg’s weekly address where he doled out the following good news.

” Today, 364,000 more New Yorkers have a regular doctor than did in 2002 – one of the simplest but most critical things we can do to be proactive about our health.  And what’s equally encouraging is that black New Yorkers are now nearly as likely as whites to have doctors that they see consistently.”

“In addition, fewer New Yorkers are dying from alcohol and drugs.  And fewer New Yorkers are dying from AIDS – although there has been a troubling increase in new HIV infections among certain high-risk groups.  But this fact only inspires us to work even harder to link people with HIV to consistent, high-quality care as early as possible.”

Now that sounds like great news.  However, with the jobless rate for the country at an astounding 8.1% and the rate of HIV infections increasing in NYC, should we be really take Bloomberg’s remarks at face value? 

In this economic climate, with funding being cut for health services, I’m just not sure his statements are an accurate reflection of what is going on in this city.  With unemployment at the highest level since 1983 and with healthcare so expensive, isn’t it going to be really hard for people to maintain their health and their homes?

The good news is that Praxis is still around while some agencies have unfortunately not been able to sustain themselves.  We’re still helping our clients get health care and services and safe housing.  We’re all working hard to keep those services while the city and state slashes budgets because we do want to keep NYC healthy.

- posted by Inga

We’re finally up and running with the new website. The blog, as you can see, is now functioning.  Blogging is very new to Praxis (maybe not to all of its employees, so we’re hoping to get them involved here too).

In these uncertain times, we hope the blog is going to be a way to share thoughts, feelings and information about all the issues that affect us here at Praxis- from budget cuts to the rise in HIV rates and homelessness in NYC.  Also make sure to check the other sections of the website for updates.  We have a new job posting section and media section for all the latest videos and Praxis in the news.

And in saying that, we’re hoping you join us for an important rally this Friday, 6 March from 3pm – 5pm sponsored by NYCAHN (New York City AIDS Housing Network).  This Town Hall meeting at Judson Memorial Church at 55 Washington Square South in Manhattan (take the B, D, F, A, C or E train to West 4th). 

Senator Tom Duane and Assembly Member Deborah Glick will be there to lend their voices to promote new legislation that would ensure HASA clients pay no more than 30% of their income towards rent. 

Many HASA clients in independent living and Scatter Site II on average pay half or more of their income towards rent.  Some pay an astounding 80% of their income towards rent.  This often leads to a high rate of eviction because many clients can’t afford their rent.

Hope to see there on Friday…and welcome to the blog!