Why Patricia is combining art therapy and activism

Patricia first came to Harlem United a year into her recovery, hoping to not just survive but thrive, and one of the first programs that she connected with was art therapy. “Some things that I did were self-destructive and I’m not going to be able to cure that right away. Working on yourself doesn’t happen overnight.” Addiction led to risky sex and other behaviors with results that Patricia is not happy about, including an HIV diagnosis. Which is why some of her art takes an activist stance. One of her earlier pieces is a pop art - activist mashup, ...

How art therapy is changing Ellen’s life

Ellen will be quick to tell you that she’s not an artist, but her dozens of paintings over the past thirteen years tell a different tale. When she first started in the art therapy program in 2004, she says that she didn’t really know what she was doing. “I was just throwing paint on. But I kept coming back every time that I could.” Today, Ellen paints with skill and focus, selecting the subjects of her paintings with care and consideration and always trying to learn something new — from Donna, our art therapist, and also from her fellow artists. Picasso’s ...

Time-Sensitive HIV/AIDS Call to Action!

Friday’s World AIDS Day event in NYC was an exciting moment in New York State’s effort to end our HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2020. New HIV diagnoses in New York State have decreased to historic lows and we have demonstrated major progress toward achieving our ETE goals. All of you are part of this progress! In honor of World AIDS Day, I’m asking YOU to make calls to State and federal representatives this week so that we can get to the finish line and end New York’s AIDS epidemic. 1. Call Governor Cuomo and Commissioner Roberts to ask them to increase access to rental ...

What you need to know about overdoses & the opioid epidemic

The rate of opioid overdose in the United States has tripled since 2000. To make matters more complicated, it's not always clear who is at risk for an overdose. The image you have in your mind of who a "drug user" is could be based on an inaccurate stereotype. International Overdose Awareness Day is this Thursday and we want to make sure that you have all the information you need to keep yourself and your friends and family safe — and to help you understand who may be affected and what you can do to help. What can cause an overdose? When you think of an overdo...

President Trump’s action on transgender military service weakens America

The United States of America is made stronger when all its residents are able to live fully as themselves. President Trump's announcement today that the United States military will not “accept or allow” transgender service members weakens our national security and insults the dignity of transgender Americans—including the thousands currently serving in our armed forces. For nearly 30 years, Harlem United has been providing hope, health, and healing to our communities in Harlem and beyond—communities that include transgender New Yorkers, veterans, and ...

A “Gender Revolution” at Harlem United

As a trans woman, I face a variety of issues daily. The most common is getting people to recognize that I am a lady and not a man. Some people feel that because I was born a man, I am a man. In fact, they will argue with me to the point that I feel nothing I say will change their mind. This is a dangerous way of thinking because it often leads to disrespect and discrimination, like being told what bathroom I am allowed to use. When I was asked to facilitate a group of clients in Harlem United's advocacy program to watch the documentary, Gender Revolution: A Journey with ...

Fighting HIV Stigma: Meet Harlem United’s 2017 Peer Empowerment Leaders

Funded by Gilead Sciences through AIDS United, the Positive Organizing Project empowers people living with HIV to challenge HIV-related discrimination.

Why New York State Must Invest In Supportive Housing

On February 17, I testified at a public hearing in Albany on the importance of supportive housing. We won’t be able to end the homeless crisis facing New York State, particularly for people living with chronic conditions like HIV and AIDS and mental health and addiction issues, without it. Harlem United is a nationally recognized leader in proving that supportive housing is the permanent solution for homelessness and other housing instability. Throughout New York State, there are over 75,000 men, women and children staying in shelters at any given time, and an ...