Wounds That Linger

I'm going to turn it over to producer Douglas Hopper. He's been blogging from Mexico City where he's attending the International AIDS Conference. But before I do ...

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and survivors of the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. Edith Bartley, whose father and brother were among the 12 Americans killed in Nairobi came in to tell us how she is doing. We were also in contact with Ellen Bomer, whose courageous fight to master her loss of sight was the subject of an ABC News "Nightline" program some years ago.

We had hoped to visit with Ellen also, but we didn't catch up with her until it was too late. But it's gratifying to know that she's still so much on the go ten years after suffering such devastating injuries.

We also want to acknowledge the thousands of Kenyan and Tanzanians who were hurt in those attacks, many of whom lost limbs and sight. If anybody wants to doubt the willingness of al-Qaida to kill and maim innocent people, look no further than the thousands of young people who were blown up for the crime of working in a bank or trying to cash a check, or going to secretarial school in a building next door to an American Embassy.

I was there. I got to Nairobi about a day after the bombings, and I remember.

Take it away Douglass. What have you got?

-- Michel Martin

4:09 PM ET | 08- 7-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

 

Dispatch from Mexico: The Numbers Crunch

Douglas Hopper, here. I'm blogging from the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. I'll be bringing you more about what's taking place here - with 25,000 people from around the world, there's no shortage of things to mention.

Numbers.

Three days into the conference, I'm swimming in data. My bag is bursting with reports from the latest studies, the newest surveys. And I'm not so sure that's a good thing. Last night I dreamed of PowerPoint data. The story of HIV/AIDS is feeling like one big number crunch.

It's not the first time.

Back in the day, before I started a career in journalism, I had my eyes set on public health. One of my first jobs in the field was with Vanguard Youth Services in Portland, Ore. I was an outreach worker in rural Oregon charged with bringing HIV prevention information to queer-identified youth.

It was great work. Actually, I loved my job. But one of the most grueling regular duties was the dreaded CDC report.

Each month I'd have to file a report for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the main source of funding for our project. And each time I faced the massive form -- with all its columns of categories and sub categories -- I'd feel instantly inadequate. Not because sometimes the boxes would blur together, not because sometimes I'd have to call up my boss to decipher a question. The truth is I thought my numbers were just too small.

Some nights we'd only have three or four young people show up to the group meeting. And weeks would go by, during which time I'd gotten permission to put up just one poster in a high school. Even worse, one month I had only contacted one youth online ... and I didn't even know where he was from.

How could I put these numbers down? I imagined some bureaucrat at the CDC laughing hysterically at my form, passing it down the line as an example why programs like ours shouldn't be funded. Or worse, I thought I'd be forced to pump up the numbers. I knew I couldn't do that ... honestly. I was working in conservative communities, places where tolerance of homosexuality was an exception to the rule.

I knew we were making a difference, even if what was inside the boxes didn't make it seem so. I braced for the worst.

The CDC bureaucrat never faxed my form to the president. And my boss never questioned my elementary-size numbers. And our funds stayed intact, at least for awhile.

But I still wonder about those numbers. I still ask myself whether that was the best measurement of our success. All the quirky details of our meetings, all the tense moments, the embarrassing questions ... those were never recorded.

Here at the International AIDS conference, I'm struggling with the same dilemma. Yesterday, I went to a presentation about the increased risk of HIV among migrants along the US-Mexico border. Each person on the panel gave a very earnest speech, accompanied by PowerPoint slides detailing a myriad statistics about the immigrant population. All of the facts were important. One study showed that men who migrated across the border were more likely to engage in sex with a sex worker. Another set of data showed a similar increase among men who have sex with men.

Continue reading "Dispatch from Mexico: The Numbers Crunch" »

-- Douglas Hopper

11:03 AM ET | 08- 7-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

 

A Personal Story of 'Brotherly Love'

Lee Hill, here ...

Hope you were able to draw meaning from today's program. There were only three segments, but for a show that's only an hour long, sometimes it helps to give conversations room to breathe. We don't always have that option, depending on the events of the day. Miraculously, we've been able to find a place for as many as seven conversations in an hour, and sometimes as few as two.

At any rate, the reflections of nine-time Olympic Gold medalist Carl Lewis were priceless, as was the roundtable of journalists discussing sometimes feeling conflicted when reporting on race and politics.

But there was also the story out of Philadelphia about tensions brewing between some of the more affluent residents and those with no place to call home in the City of Brotherly Love. TMM Director/Producer Rob Sachs is a Philly native, and pointed our team's attention to the situation in a morning meeting.

As it turns out, Rob has his own story to share ...

Thanks, Lee. Rob Sachs, here.

Today's topic struck home for me in more ways than one. I'm a Philly-area native and have lots of memories walking through Rittenhouse Square, which really is the main hub of the city. It's a beautiful place to hang out and people watch, read a book, or just relax with some friends. ... So I can definitely relate to our guest Christine's aggravation over seeing the place overrun by homeless people.

Growing up in the suburbs, I was somewhat isolated from homelessness. But when I switched to a high school in the Germantown section of the city, I began to see it all around me. I felt both annoyed and frustrated that there were people lying on the street and nothing was being done about it. I guess I could have just given them the spare change (and followed the credo of Arrested Development song), but handing out spare change just didn't seem right. They were all just going to use it to spend on alcohol or drugs, right?

I tried a different approach.

I talked to my school and administrators, and with their backing started a homeless committee. As a new school "club," I was asked to speak a few words about it during a school assembly which promoted all the student groups. It was my first time speaking in public. I remember looking out at my classmates, asking them if they too felt that mixture of shame and frustration when a homeless person asked for money. My pitch was simple: "here's an opportunity to do something, to make a real difference." The message got through pretty well and that first year we had about 15 dedicated members.

One of the first things we did with the help of the school was to help organize a "food run." One night, a bunch of students got together and made hundreds of tuna and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. We then drove down to Love Park, which at the time was as known homeless hangout, practically adjacent to City Hall. We had barely even opened the doors to the van and people started lining up. I remember there being literally hundreds of people waiting for a sandwich.

It was surreal, I had never done anything like that before and it felt so amazing to be helping out so many. The only hard part came when we ran out of food and had to send people away. It was strange and disturbing being a teenager and having to tell a grown man, "I'm sorry we're out."

Continue reading "A Personal Story of 'Brotherly Love'" »

-- Lee Hill

Tags: Rittenhouse Square | philadelphia homeless

5:50 PM ET | 08- 6-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

 

Dispatch from Mexico: MSM at Higher Risk

Douglas Hopper, here. I'm blogging from the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. I'll be bringing you more about what's taking place here - with 25,000 people from around the world, there's no shortage of things to mention.

"Men who have sex with men have an average 19 times greater chance of being infected with HIV than the general adult male population in low-and middle income countries."

... a fact just presented at a press conference organized by the International AIDS Society and the Global Forum on MSM and HIV.

Criminalization, prejudice, social hostility and human rights abuses are boosting the spread of HIV, according to the presenters.

Dr. Jorge Saavedra, director of Mexico City's National Center for Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS, said the stigma of HIV and homophobia keep many men from seeking tests or treatment. In fact, MSM in Mexico City are 109 times more likely to contract HIV.

Dr. Saavedra is openly gay and has launched an anti-homophobia campaign in the city.

He and several other openly gay public health officials from around the world spoke at the press conference.

In light of my rant about the obscurity of statistics, I'm hoping some of you may have stories to share about how this issue manifests.

... Have you seen this kind of social exclusion in your culture? Are men who have sex with men marginalized in your home country?

-- Douglas Hopper

5:07 PM ET | 08- 6-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

 

Taking on the 'Mochas'

Producer Douglas Hopper is still in Mexico at the International AIDS Conference, and I expect we'll hear from him soon.

Our show Director Rob Sachs comes from Philadelphia, and as you might guess, brought us today's story about the battle over homelessness in the Rittenhouse Square park. Rob has some more background for you, we'll hear from Rob and Douglas a bit later.

But first, I have got to share some of the comments that have been rolling in about the Mocha Moms. Yesterday, we shared some listener letters about the concept behind the segment. One letter writer (ok, these were all e-mails) called the weekly segment "elitist" and "separatist," "too racial" in focus.

I asked the Mochas to give their take on this, to talk about why they feel that it is justified and worthwhile to have a segment that addresses the concerns of parents in general, but then also focuses on issues of particular concern to parents of color.

I am amazed. First I want to say that I appreciate all the comments -- even the nasty ones -- because you've all taught me something. I appreciate those of you who told us you understand what we're trying to accomplish -- creating a space to talk about the issues that touch us to our core, but which we often do not get a chance to hear reflected in the media discourse. And those of you who offered thoughtful critique, I appreciate you and I hear you.

One woman wrote to say it is wrong to assume that white is proxy for privileged. Lots of white people are struggling, too, and with many of the same issues people of color are facing.

A fair point.

Another dad wrote in to say single dads may get more love and approval than single moms do, but it's still hard for them! Don't get it twisted.

We hear that, too.

Here's one of my favorites:

You women are nauseating. All this blah, blah, blah, about being a black mother. Thank god I can switch over to the BBC when you are on.

Can you hear me laughing my head off?

Can I Just tell you?

I have never once received a letter from a mom or dad complaining that we spend too much time on stories about the history of the Pakistani Army, the violence in Zimbabwe, or the ongoing Presidential campaign -- things we talk about almost everyday -- and asking why we aren't spending more time on parenting issues. Not once.

And I have to tell you, I have eclectic interests, but there are a couple of shows at NPR that just do not interest me at all, but never would I say that these shows do not have a right to exist.

But somehow, there are people out there who think that spending a grand total of 17 minutes a week to talk about parenting issues is somehow too much, and that just because a subject does not interest them, no one has the right to hear it, or talk about it?

What's going on here?

Is the idea that the work of the home or of child-rearing just does not deserve our considered attention? Or is this about a deeper entitlement -- that only certain people's issues and concerns deserve our respect?

Whatever the issue is, don't get confused. The Mochas will be back next week ...

-- Michel Martin

3:09 PM ET | 08- 6-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

 

Dispatch from Mexico: A Global Village

Douglas Hopper, here. I'm blogging from the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. I'll be bringing you more about what's taking place here - with 25,000 people from around the world, there's no shortage of things to mention.

Thanks, Michel.

Finally, I scored a computer with Internet access! I think the hundreds of journalists in this room are jamming up the connection. ... I suppose that's a good thing.

I just returned from the what's being branded as a Global Village. It's a huge space full of non-profits and advocacy groups attending the conference from around the world.

I'll admit I was first skeptical about whether there would actually be a diverse representation of organizations here. (And I sometimes cringe whenever the word "village" is used to describe an event, but I'd say it might be the right description in this case.)

Hundreds of cultures are represented at this gathering. The diversity in the crowd is overwhelming. There are organizations here that most of us know, like Act Up, formed in the early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. But I'm finding that most of the groups here are new to me.

An LGBT-rights organization in Kyrgyzstan?

Though they don't know it, but their group has become the symbol of everything I don't know about the world.

Nearly every group has its best posters and PR campaigns on display ... an explosion of public health messages. One of the most popular messages I've seen yet is on a bumper sticker made by a women's rights organization:

More Boobs in Public Spaces, Less Boobs in Public Office.

I'll have more later from the Global Village and from other sessions.

Next up: a session about HIV transmission along the U.S.-Mexico border.

-- Douglas Hopper

5:13 PM ET | 08- 5-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

 

A Shoutout!

How can I put this nicely?

We dig you, we really do ... and we want you to write to us, call us, tell us what's going on with you. And how we can make your life better (other than supplying winning Powerball numbers ... but, you know ... me first).

That's why today we put out many a 'shoutout'. We want to know what you're reading, how you're coping in the downturn and if you have any questions for the Mocha Moms. Yes, we will do this from time to time. You can send questions for ANY of our contributors ... Alvin ... the B-shop guys.

I am going to turn the space over to Douglas Hopper who is at the International Conference on HIV/AIDS in Mexico City. He's been blogging from there. What do you have for us Douglas?

-- Michel Martin

5:10 PM ET | 08- 5-2008 | permalink | comments (6) | e-mail post

 

Dispatch from Mexico: A New, But Familiar, Place

Douglas Hopper, here. I'm blogging from the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. I'll be bringing you more about what's taking place here - with 25,000 people from around the world, there's no shortage of things to mention.

Let me take a step back ...

Before the conference started, I went with a group of journalists to tour a Mexico City clinic that specializes in care for people living with HIV/AIDS. Unexpectedly, stepping into Clinica Condesa took me back to a place I'd nearly forgotten.

One of my mentors in life was a man named Chris Gonzales. He was an activist, a teacher, an agitator and also an exceptionally gifted fund raiser who used his passion to build one of the country's most successful LGBT youth groups, the Indianapolis Youth Group (IYG). I started attending meetings 1992. By that time, Chris had already raised enough money to buy a house for the group and at least five people were on the payroll -- a case worker, a nurse, a counselor and even a political organizer. It was an incredible space.

Every Thursday, roughly 50 of us young people would show up for the weekly meeting. The lucky ones were dropped off by our parents. But most of everyone else showed up with more than a little fear -- and exhaustion -- in their eyes. They'd come from every corner of Indiana, often having sneaked away from their homes, riding buses for hours to get there.

Looking back, I understand why. It wasn't the seemingly endless supply of free food, nor the huge selection of bubble gum and R&B music, which was typically blasting from the stereo hours before the meeting. We weren't coming to IYG to get something. We showed up to get away.

This is what Chris had in mind -- a space to escape the stigma, the harassment, the sharp judgment and hate most of us knew. It was also a place where AIDS wasn't a 'plague' that would -- at least in my mind -- lead me to my grave. (Though I never completely believed I would be spared, I at least was convinced that I should try). Chris created an oasis. It was a hideaway where we could breathe.

Visiting Clinica Condesa here in Mexico city, reminded me of what that was like.

After an impressive tour of the newly remodeled facility, we were led into a room where a group of patients joined us to share their stories. A gay man, who said we could refer to him as "Charlie," told us how homophobia keeps many men from getting tested for HIV. Then, an elderly man spoke about contracting HIV when we was a heavy drug user. He stood up to thank God -- more than a few times -- for the treatment he's receiving.

And then, a story I'll never forget.

A mother of four told us only her daughters and a neighbor know she's living with HIV. But she said the stigma of the disease has driven them apart. When she cooks for her daughters, they won't eat her food. When she does laundry, they ask her to wash their clothes separately. No one knows where she's going when she visits the clinic to get medication.

The stories went on ... for a long time. To those who frequent the clinic, we were a group of curious international journalists paying witness to their experience. They didn't let us go easily.

But aside from the all the gut-wrenching details, and the sometimes excessive platitudes they paid to the clinic, what I really heard was a collective sigh. Much like the one I heard when I walked into IYG more than fifteen years ago.

Chris died -- just a year after I met him.

None of us knew he was living with HIV. I heard he kept it a secret because he wanted to be perceived as living, not dying, which he thought would have stopped some of the support dollars from flowing in. If that's true, I appreciate the sacrifice. But I still wonder whether he feared losing the trust of the benefactors, or the youth.

... And if he were alive now, would he have spoken the truth?

IYG, Clinica Condesa are both testaments to the importance of creating safe spaces. But, groups form, spaces get built, shelters emerge ... So, the other question on my mind is what's changing outside?

Who would you tell if you were HIV-positive?

Who have you told?

-- Douglas Hopper

4:46 PM ET | 08- 4-2008 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

 

New HIV/AIDS Findings: What's Working?

By now, you've heard the news that the number of new HIV infections in the U.S. is higher than previously known.

Just to be clear, the news is not that the epidemic seems to be worsening, but, rather, that the detection methods are better, which means that we can now know approximately when people became infected and how many actually are.

All fine and good, but why, in the richest country in the world, do African Americans, as a group, have an HIV/AIDS infection rate that rivals that of the developing world?

I participated in a town hall forum with Phill Wilson of the Black AIDS Institute last fall, in conjunction with the Congressional Black Caucus annual legislative weekend. What impressed me about that conference was -- in contrast to the new data we're just learning about -- how much we do know about what works and what does not in fighting HIV/AIDS. There were so many great initiatives already up and running. I was amazed. (I recognize that that was a reflection of my own ignorance, but I was under the impression that this was all new news.)

Wilson says the big issue is coordination: one hand does not know what the other is doing, so the best practices and innovative ideas that are working well in some communities are not replicated. Of course, there are also the systemic problems with health care in this country, but still.

We'd like to hear from you. What innovative, effective programs to fight HIV/AIDS are working where you live? If we hear from enough of you, we will find a way to showcase these ideas in an upcoming program.

I'll figure something out. We cannot let this epidemic go on.

And, speaking of news, meet the new Washington bureau chief for NBC News, Mark Whitaker. A quiet trailblazer, he spent most of his career at NEWSWEEK magazine, winning four national magazine awards as editor. Now, he's heading the network's D.C. bureau. His new role has to be one of the most glamorous jobs in journalism, filled rather remarkably for the last decade by someone who was surely one of the city's best loved, as well as best respected, journalists, Tim Russert, who was not a glamour hound. Russert was a down-to-earth teddybear who brought the heat.

Big shoes, but Whitaker has his own big shoes, not least that he is the first African American to fill many of the key jobs in which he's served, including this one.

And because it's Monday, and I know some people are sad to be back at work, we decided to make it funky for you with Brian Culbertson.

Enjoy. You know you can't fake the funk.

-- Michel Martin

Tags: Brian Culbertson | HIV/AIDS | Mark Whitaker | Phill Wilson | Tim Russert

3:26 PM ET | 08- 4-2008 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post

 

Here We Go ...

John McCain says Barack Obama is playing the race card

Read the New York Times story to get caught up:

Here's how it started: Obama said "they" are trying to scare the public. The McCain folks are crying foul, saying Obama crossed the line.

A lot to chew on here.

What exactly pushed the McCain campaign's buttons? The fact that Obama seemed to tie the sleazier campaign tactics we've seen -- people making fun of his name, people spreading the lie that he's a Muslim -- to McCain and his campaign when they've taken pains to distance themselves from such? The fact that Obama himself pointed out that he is, ahem, a black guy?

What EXACTLY crosses the line? Who gets to define when a line is crossed?

I am reminded of a story I once reported for "Nightline" about the difference in sentencing between two defendants, one white, one black, one day apart in the same courtroom in Cambridge, Mass. The black defendant had NO prior record, the white guy had SIX prior drug-related convictions; they were both accused of selling a small amount of drugs.

... So why did the black guy get a much stiffer sentence? The judge wanted to know, so he demanded an explanation from the prosecutor. We wanted to know, too.

The prosecutor, after much prodding, did agree to do an interview, but she accused the judge (and us) of "calling her a racist." How so?

Is it racist to notice race? To mention race? ... And who gets to decide?

Let us know, but we bet this won't be the last time we talk about this.

Happy Friday, everyone.

-- Michel Martin

Tags: Barack Obama | John McCain

2:50 PM ET | 08- 1-2008 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post