Final Thoughts.

Empirically speaking, operating non-profit organizations in this day and age presents many formidable challenges. Changes and challenges in federal funding and fundraising continues to present insurmountable impediments to even the most well-known and respected organizations. Nevertheless, Taskforce Prevention and Community Services still reigns as a strongtower in terms of providing comprehensive HIV/STI, and medical/mental health care in Chicago, but particularly in the Austin community. Prophetically speaking, 2013 will emerge and manifest with a sense and spirit of renewal, analogous like a fresh new fragrance that stretches across our broadest horizons. Thus, this renewed fragrance will indeed abolish and certainly eradicate the old and usher in the :new. The old includes the old ways of conducting business, the old ways of thinking, and the old work habits which have held many captive and mentally enslaved for too long. Hence, I decree and declare prosperity and growth for Taskforce and for your organization and all your endeavors in 2013. Shalom.

JAN

VOL 2

2013

Looking Back 2012 Spotlight on Service Tips for a Healthy Winter New Year, New Tasks Ask the Experts

Prevention & Community Services

If You Love Me... Know Your Status Determining Your Risk Level From Poverty to Sustainability New LGBT Clinic at Stroger

TaskForce
2012 At-a-glance
February 6th, 2012- Talent Search . collaboration with Brothers Health Collective held at The Center offered refreshments and $300 in cash prizes for winners in song, dance, poetry, and comedy categories. June 27th, 2012- National HIV Testing Day Take the Test, Take Control providing free HIV/STI testing, hamburgers, hotdogs, and safer sex packages for adults. Children under 18 were offered free physicals.

January 19th, 2013- Volunteer Day January 21st, 2013- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Office Closed)

2012 brought TaskForce Prevention & Community Services many challenges and changes throughout the year but it has been resilient in continuing its commitment to community. To the right is a list of events and accomplishments recognized throughout the year.

Our lives begin to

Please consider TaskForce when giving this New Year. You can donate to our organization and help stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in our communities by logging onto to http://www.crowdrise.com/taskforcepreventiona

November 14th, 2012Thanksgiving Celebration collaboration with Austin Health Center of Cook County offering free HIV/STI screenings, live entertainment, Spoken Word, dancers, Power 92.3 radio, raffle prizes and giveaways.

end the day we become silent about things that matter. Martin Luther King Jr., I Have a Dream: Writings and Speeches That Changed the World

December 8th, 2012- World AIDS Day Red Balloons send off and prayer event followed by outreach staff distributing safer sex packages and offering lunch, physicals, and HIV/STI testing to members of the Austin community.

TaskForce Prevention & Community Services Mr. Darryl A. Washington Executive Director

9 N. Cicero Chicago, IL 60644 773 473 4100 (ph) 773473 4200 (fax)
4

December 11th, 2012- Forum to Address Violence Against the LGBTQ Community in Austin made numerous representatives from city, county, state and federal offices available to discuss prevention strategies to stop biased related violence.

December 19th, 2012- Christmas on Cicero offered free HIV/STI testing as an Ask Our Doc forum alongside dinner served by Priscillas Soul Food, spoken word artists, and special gifts presented to families in need.

The objectives this year are bold and brave, and TaskForce is up for the challenge. Community collaborations with John H. Stroger Hospital and the Chicago

spotlight on service >>>

Arvell E. Neal, Jr is the
Senior staff person at TaskForce Prevention & Community Services since June of 2003. He has been working with the organization since it was located in the Chicago downtown offices on Roosevelt and Wabash.

Dior Escada
Im classy and sassy but most of all Im a human being who just happens to like the same sex, says Dior Escada who has been a part of the TaskForce outreach program for the last three years. He loves fashion, especially from the 90s era when it was so expressive of individuality. He accredits the organization for heightening the safer sex dialogue between young MSMs (Men who Sleep with Men.)

Current Events
In between working and being a full-time student, Dior still finds time to mentor other young men who are in similar situations. His hope is to help them stay on the right track. On a more personal note, Dior recently began an exclusive relationship with someone that is centered on respect. He boasts that his new partner not only stimulates him intellectually but also caters to his emotional needs. Most of all Dior appreciates their mutual respect. I got to school full-time and work full-time at Dollar Tree, says 22 year old Dior Escada. Hes a young man who has been regularly attending TaskForce Outreach programs since 2008. TaskForce Prevention is endeavoring to expand its services to meet the growing need for resources within the community. The focus this year will be on intensifying fundraising efforts, collaborating with other similarly tasked organizations, and providing more youth and adult educational components to our programs. This year the organization will be hosting a black tie gala in the fall. There will be entertainment and dinner served. Invitations will be sent inside and outside of the HIV/AIDS advocate community to partner with us to make a difference. Every effort to increase First, it is important to cover up and dress warm during these cold winter months. Many people have mistakenly taken for granted Chicagos mild fall and forgotten to properly bundle up for the recent severe drop in temperatures. The FDA cites that more than 200,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized from flu-related sustainability raises its opportunity to offer more to clients. Soon, they hope to add a full time mental health professional as well as two new outreach workers.

HIV Risk Reduction Partnership for Youth (CHRRPY) enable Taskforce to reach at-risk and hardto reach populations such as gang members, runaways, pregnant teens and school dropouts. TaskForce provides comprehensive prevention services for adolescents at various sites throughout the Chicagoland area but its desire is to branch out and service more schools in 2013. Another goal is to create a program within the next 6-8 months which would aid young men and women in obtaining their GED. Last, a network and communication skills training program. It would include resume writing and interviewing tips that both youth and adult clientele could benefit from. Fundamentally, a large part of the community challenge is to break down the stereotypes and stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS. Education about this disease helps embolden people to know their status, disclose it, and get the care that they need. Please consider supporting TaskForce youth and young adults through gifts, donations, or volunteering. www.crowdrise.com/taskforcepreventiona

Do you even believe in safe sex? Dior says is the question that young MSMs are beginning to ask of their partners to begin a better dialogue about safe sex practices.

Arvell was certified by the Chicago Department of Public Health in 2004 and then by the Illinois Department of Public Health in 2005 as a prevention specialist to educate and to test for HIV. In addition to counseling and testing, he also served as the director of Connect to Care in the COIP (---) clinic. His work experience at TaskForce has also helped him to shape what would become the HIV Care and Prevention Ministry at his church, Praise Temple of Restoration The congregation is pastored by Bishop Victor D. Agee, State of Illinois Bishop for the FGBC Fellowship. Arvell has been a steadfast reminder of the humility and commitment needed to support our youth through programs and resources. His desire is to continue making quality contributions to the community through his work at TaskForce in order that our young people can better attain their goals and become their ideal self.

Previous Experiences
Initially, it was difficult for Dior to accept the fact that he was gay. He attempted to hide and be someone else. Journaling helped him to explore himself and his feelings. Paper caught all of my emotions, shares Dior, it helped a lot.

Future Aspirations
Pursuing his dream of teaching math or possibly dance to young people is of the utmost importance for Dior. He wants to add to the healthy examples of African-American teachers in front of our students.

Arvell E. Neal, Jr.

TaskForce Christmas on Cicero Event 12/19/2012

o o o

Get vaccinated Wash your hands often Limit exposure to infected people

complications. The biggest prevention method there is to catching this potentially deadly illness is to get vaccinated. The flu vaccine is available as a shot or a nasal spray. The Adolescent and Young Adult Place located at 9 N. Cicero within the TaskForce Prevention complex offers free flu vaccinations. Call (773) 473-4100 to make an appointment today. Option congue nihil imperdiet doming id

Practice healthy habits

For more information go to

1 in 1000 devices have had glitches detected which would require a second test.

www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/preventing.htm