Love & Service in the South

Love & Service in the South

Insights from two of our closest affiliates in the Southern Bureau

GUEST BIO:

Nicole Roebuck is Executive Director of AID Atlanta, an affiliate of AHF since June 2015. 

Kelly Allen Gray is the executive director of AIDS Outreach Center in Fort Worth, Texas, an affiliate of AHF since 2017.

CORE TOPICS + DETAILS:

[2:26] - 40 Years in Service

AID Atlanta’s path from grassroots to massive impact

AID Atlanta celebrated its 40th anniversary this year. Nicole shares the organization’s path from a small group of people trying to give people living with HIV and AIDS a better life to operating a healthcare center, enormous case management program, housing programs, prevention and testing services, and more. The key to their longevity? Never losing that early sense of one-to-one service and grassroots energy.

[4:47] - The Evolving Story of AIDS Patient Care

From dark early days to a time of hope

When the AIDS Outreach Center was founded, its purpose was simply to help people with AIDS have an opportunity to die with grace and dignity. As our understanding of HIV and AIDS have evolved, that mission has expanded exponentially. They now offer a full-scale healthcare clinic, dental clinic, nutrition center, and much more. That evolution speaks to the positive evolution of how we’re able to help people live with and move beyond an HIV or AIDS diagnosis.

[10:09] - The Power of Affiliate Partnerships

From closing doors to opening new opportunities

Despite its vital mission, AID Atlanta was once on the brink of closing its doors due to financial constraints. But through the AHF affiliate program, they were able to ensure that the agency continued its legacy footprint in the Atlanta area. Stability, security, and availability for clients have all been the results of that affiliation and AID Atlanta’s continued service.

[25:49] - From Volunteers to Full-Time Staff

Getting involved with these key affiliates

Want to be a part of AID Atlanta or the AIDS Outreach Center? Go online at the links in the Resources section of these show notes to find out how you can serve. Volunteers at these organizations often go on to find more formal positions and make serving in the AIDS and HIV community a lifetime pursuit.

RESOURCES:

• [1:23] AID Atlanta
• [1:51] AIDS Outreach Center, Fort Worth
• [3:39] AIDS Walk Atlanta

FOLLOW:

• Follow Lauren Hogan: LinkedIn
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ABOUT AFTER HOURS:

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation is the world’s largest HIV/AIDS service organization, operating in 45 countries globally. The mission? Providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy for everyone, regardless of ability to pay.

The After Hours podcast is an official podcast of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, in which host Lauren Hogan is joined by experts in a range of fields to educate, inform, and inspire listeners on topics that go far beyond medical information to cover leadership, creativity, and success. 

Learn more at: https://www.aidshealth.org

ABOUT THE HOST:

Lauren Hogan is the Associate Director of Communications for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and has been working in a series of roles with the Foundation since 2016. She’s passionate about increasing the public visibility of AIDS, the Foundation's critical work, and how everyday people can help join the fight to make cut