Speakout Reports: Jobs Breakout Session

Several organizations co-sponsored a DC HIV/AIDS Speakout on May 17th, 2007. I will be posting the reports from each of the breakout groups throughout the next week. The final outcome document from the Speakout will be published on the DC Fights Back Website. If you'd like to get involved, please be sure to join this yahoo group.

The Jobs Breakout group was facilitated by Karen Pomerantz. In addition to being a member of DC Fights Back, Karen serves on the governing council of the Metropolitan Washington Public Health Association.

This group talked about promoting independent living among HIV positive people to reduce the need for government help. This is definitely a timely issue. Because of better treatments for HIV/AIDS, we live in a time when people who have been on diability because of HIV/AIDS can return to work: that is IF there are jobs available and they are prepared for those jobs.

This breakout group talked about the need for vocational training and life skills training, as well as HIV specific job training opportunities. Participants in this group emphasized that people living with HIV/AIDS can play an important role in fighthing the epidemic in DC when they are employed peer educators and community educators.

Click here to see the flip chart notes from the Jobs Breakout Group