New York, N.Y. (August 13, 2010)— Sisterhood Mobilized for AIDS/HIV Research & Treatment (SMART) is proud to announce that its president and founding director, Susan Rodriguez, has received the 2010 Community Health Leaders Award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

This prestigious national . . . → Read More: Susan Rodriguez, SMART University’s President and Founding Director, Receives the 2010 Community Health Leader Award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation]]>

The 10 Recipients of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 2010 Community Health Leaders Award.

New York, N.Y. (August 13, 2010)— Sisterhood Mobilized for AIDS/HIV Research & Treatment (SMART) is proud to announce that its president and founding director, Susan Rodriguez, has received the 2010 Community Health Leaders Award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

This prestigious national award honors 10 individuals who have worked—often at great personal or professional risk—to improve the health and quality of life for vulnerable men, women and children in underserved communities across the United States. Each honoree receives $125,000 to support their ongoing work, as well as the chance to network and collaborate with other leaders from around the country.

The 2010 Community Health Leaders have created their own solutions to address the shortcomings in our health care system and to build healthier communities,”said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., president and chief executive officer of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “Each of them is revolutionizing health care and the meaning of health in this country — one person and one community at a time.”

This year’s honorees speak to the immense difference one person can make in a community. When Susan co-founded SMART in 1998 in East Harlem, she was trying to create a safe, peer-to-peer environment where HIV+ women could go for support and information. Now, SMART is New York City’s premiere HIV treatment education program run by and for women living with HIV/AIDS. Susan has also played a critical role in educating health care providers about the gender-specific needs of HIV+ women, and is a fierce advocate for women-centered public health policies and programs.

The award also takes the unusual step of recognizing the sacrifices and personal risks that honorees took on in order to serve those in need. Susan found out that she had HIV after her husband tested positive for the virus in 1995; she then learned that her 3-year-old daughter had acquired HIV perinatally. At a time when information for women and mothers with HIV/AIDS was scarce and treatment protocols often overlooked their needs, Susan took action. Though it was often risky and unpopular to be an advocate for HIV heath programs in her community at that time, she was fearless, creating a grass-roots program that helped hundreds of HIV+ women build confidence, find a support network, and gain control over their health.

Please join us in congratulating Susan on this tremendous honor and important recognition of her 12-plus years of service to the women’s health community.

SMART welcomes volunteers at all levels. To learn more about it programs or to make a contribution in Susan’s honor, please visit www.smartuniversity.org. For more information about the Community Health Leaders Award, visit www.communityhealthleaders.org.

SMART (Sisterhood Mobililzed for AIDS/HIV Research & Treatment), Inc.
306-308 West 38th Street, Suite 601, New York, NY 10018
Contact: Samantha Clare, Project Manager (212) 564-3282

SMART Founding Director Susan Rodriguez recently attended the International AIDS Conference (IAC) in Vienna, Austria. Christina Rodriguez, Co-Founder of SMART Youth, also attended the conference, her first time as a Delegate (www.smartyouthnyc.com).

The IAC is the premier gathering for those working in the field of HIV, as well as policy makers, persons living with HIV and other individuals . . . → Read More: A Report from the International AIDS Conference]]>

SMART Founding Director Susan Rodriguez recently attended the International AIDS Conference (IAC) in Vienna, Austria. Christina Rodriguez, Co-Founder of SMART Youth, also attended the conference, her first time as a Delegate (www.smartyouthnyc.com).

The IAC is the premier gathering for those working in the field of HIV, as well as policy makers, persons living with HIV and other individuals committed to ending the pandemic. It is a chance to assess where we are, evaluate recent scientific developments and lessons learnt, and collectively chart a course forward.

One important result of the conference is the Vienna Declaration–a statement seeking to improve community health and safety by calling for the incorporation of scientific evidence into illicit drug policies. The declaration is the official declaration of the conference and was drafted by a team of international experts and initiated by several of the world’s leading HIV and drug policy scientific bodies. It was prepared through an extensive consultative process involving global leaders in medicine, public policy and public health. Click here to read more about, or to join us in signing, the Vienna Declaration.

Also, CHAMP Community Organizer and HIV PJA leader Waheedah Shabazz-El gave the final word at the conference’s closing session. The talk, “Human Rights as a Conscious Achievement,” was very moving and can be watched online (go to minute 1:28:50), and we have posted the text below as well.

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Human Rights as a Conscious Achievement
Waheedah Shabazz-El

I want to start by honoring the Creator for what has been created here. I am truly
humbled by this incredible opportunity. I want to thank the city of Vienna, acknowledge
all of the Dignitaries, my Colleagues and my Friends.

This 18th International AIDS Conference has been a true testament to what we can
accomplish when we share a mission. Even as we’ve explored evidence on prevention,
funding for universal access and the value of early treatment for HIV/AIDS, our mutual
strategy is to press forward in our fight for human rights and against the devastating
effects of HIV and AIDS.

Commonly, we aspire to live in a world free from stigma and discrimination irrespective
of who we are, where we come from and what we believe in. This is a great
challenge, but I strongly believe we can get there through our collective power.
We gathered here in order to take on the shared responsibility of delivering on our
commitment to Universal Access to prevention, treatment, care and support to all those
who need it.

We have examined both our successes and our failures. By doing this we have
strengthened each other.

Collectively we have reaffirmed that Human Rights and HIV Prevention Justice are the
cornerstones of our universal response to HIV and AIDS.

Around the world we face systemic human rights violations. Globally, women and girls
face daily struggles against violence, inequality, violations of sexual and reproductive
rights, such as forced sterilizations, criminalization of sex work and of HIV transmission.
Around the world we can’t deny that HIV travels the well-worn path of gender inequality.
I envision a world where this inequality no longer exists and where the human rights of
women are consciously upheld.

As your positive Sister in this world I have witnessed inequality, discrimination and
injustice. With you by my side I am no longer alone and marginalized. As you stand
here with me today I can feel changes and say yes to “Rights Here, Right Now” Moving
forward-can our lessons bring real victories towards achieving real Human Rights for all
Women?

We must meaningfully involve women and girls living with HIV in all aspects of policymaking, program
development, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation – and we need properly resourced
programs that address the reality of our lives.

We must accurately capture data on the social and economic factors that lead to increased vulnerability
and worse health outcomes for women and girls, in all of our diversity, including transgender women.

We must end the criminalization and violation of the rights of women living with HIV and AIDS, especially
for women behind bars, women who use drugs, and sex workers.

We must support responses that address inequality and Violence Against Women in all
regions, irrespective of the type of epidemic.

For all people we have to ensure that:

- Communities are able to access HIV education, prevention, testing and
counseling services that meet their needs. We must eliminate all funding for
abstinence-only programs that fail young people by violating their right to life
saving information.

- All people with HIV have the right to work, have a full and satisfying sexual
life, bear children, and access high quality HIV care that meets their needs.
Let us now look to the future.

In two years , we welcome you to our nation’s capitol in Washington DC – please
understand that you will be coming to a country that is still very much a work in progress
when it comes to addressing the HIV epidemic within our own borders. We require your
support to end the AIDS crisis both inside and beyond our borders. No one person or
country has all the answers and we all have much to learn.

But I am proud that for the first time the USA has developed its’ own National AIDS
Strategy – something our previous government felt was not a priority. ALSO under the
leadership of President Barrack Obama, my country has finally lifted its outrageous
travel ban on HIV-positive people entering the country! This makes it possible for
the 19th International AIDS Conference to return to the US after a 23-year absence!

However, it disturbs me that two of the most vulnerable populations, sex
workers and drug users, will not be allowed to legally enter the US and participate in
IAC 2012 in Washington, DC.

Another win is that Congress has finally voted that federal dollars can be used to
support needle exchange programs. This is a vote for Human Rights, a vote for
evidence-based prevention, and a powerful reminder that clean needles save lives.
But we face many difficulties in the USA.

We witness more and more people being placed on waiting lists for life saving
ARVs. We have enormous wealth but many people, including those with HIV, are
homeless. 1 in 4 persons living with HIV in the USA is estimated to spend time
behind bars each year. More than half of all African American Men Who Have Sex
with Men are HIV positive. And every 9 and half minutes a person is infected with
HIV, disproportionately people of color and women. In fact, over 60% of all new HIV
infections diagnosed in women are among women of color, primarily African American
women.

In my country, infections through all modes of transmission have increased, and overall
HIV prevalence in Washington DC is higher than some countries with severe epidemics.
Stigma is very much alive. The rights of people living with HIV are routinely violated,
and religious leaders are just beginning to understand their role in this epidemic.
So please understand, you will be coming to a country that needs your assistance.
Bearing in mind these challenges, let us affirm our commitment to the work we must
achieve during the next two years, where ever we live.

When we reconvene in two years we must be able to declare that:

We stood by our commitment to reach Universal Access and kept HIV on the global agenda as a
human rights imperative.

We ensured that HIV remained among the highest funding priorities for our leaders.

We continued to support people with HIV to advocatefor themselves and their communities

We created space in programs and at decision-making tables for women living with HIV .. and My
sisters, we must prepare ourselves to assume those roles.

We mentored young people and supported their leadership.

We have provided information about HIV and AIDS regardless of language or access to technology.

We made sure that men, women and trans women behind bars have access to prevention, treatment,
care and support services.

We defended the rights of all people who use drugs and ensured that they have access to the full range of
services including harm reduction.

We have our work cut out for us!

Right now, as we end this conference, let us resolve to greet Washington DC with
unforeseen strength borne of the vows echoed Right here. This fight is not over-it is just
beginning, from Vienna’s shores to Washington DC. We will hold each other and our
elected leaders to their obligations and their promises to fight HIV and AIDS around the world.

Human Rights here-Right Now!

Say it with me- Human Rights here, right now!

Please allow me to thank Philadelphia FIGHT, CHAMP, ICW Global, US Positive Women’s Network, ACT-UP Phila, Penn CFAR,
the Conference Coordinating Committee for inviting me to speak today, my family back at home and all of you who travelled from far and wide to attend this conference and … I pray your travels home are safe and May Peace be Unto You.

SMART University’s Open House is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about our: • 24-week treatment, health, and prevention education programs • network with other providers, and • . . . → Read More: SMART Open House – 9/14/10]]> SMART University would like to invite you to our Open House! Come visit the office, meet our staff, and learn about SMART and our wonderful program that we have for women and youth.

SMART University’s Open House is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about our:
• 24-week treatment, health, and prevention education programs
• network with other providers, and
• meet some of the participants we serve.

The Open House will be held on Tuesday, September 14, 2010, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm.

Download the flyer pdf: SMART Open House

SMART Art explores various art mediums and projects that incorporate relaxation and stress-reducing skills that are key to keeping up a healthy immune system. Field trips are designed to complement and inspire the women as they tap into their creativity for their in-class studio project. SMART Art starts on Thursday, . . . → Read More: SMART A-B-C Programs Fall 2010]]> Students enrolled in SMART University are eligible for our A-B-C Programs:

SMART Art explores various art mediums and projects that incorporate relaxation and stress-reducing skills that are key to keeping up a healthy immune system. Field trips are designed to complement and inspire the women as they tap into their creativity for their in-class studio project.
SMART Art starts on Thursday, September 23, and meets every Thursday from 1:00pm to 3:00pm thru November 11, 2010.

SMART Body (The Gerald J. and Dorothy Friedman SMART Body Nutrition Program) is a hands-on cooking class where women learn safe, healthy and delicious food preparation skills that are taught by a registered dietician.  Each class covers an important nutritional topic that is relevant for HIV+ women.
SMART Body starts on Thursday, September 23,  and meets every Thursday from 10:00am – 12:00pm thru November 11, 2010–with an advanced class that will be held on Thursday November 18.

SMART Computer teaches women basic computer skills that are necessary in this technology age.  Beginners learn how to create an email address, develop internet search skills while advanced students hone their computer skills as they work on Power Point presentations and learn to use other advanced software.
SMART Computer starts on Friday, September 24, and meets every Friday from 2:00pm to 4:00pm through November 12, 2010.

You must come in for an intake prior to attending class for the first time. Please call Ms. Yolanda Diaz at (212)-564-3282; E-mail: smartuniv@aol.com.

The forum will be held on Thursday July 15, 2010 from 11:00 am to 1:00pm. Please feel . . . → Read More: Mandatory Managed Care: How You Can Prepare – 7/15/10]]> SMART University is having a summer forum open only for women in the communities. This forum will provide women with information about Mandatory Managed Care: How You Can Prepare. Presenters will be from NYPS, Amida Care, MetroPlus Managed Care Programs.

The forum will be held on Thursday July 15, 2010 from 11:00 am to 1:00pm. Please feel free to contact Ms. Yolanda Diaz at 212-564-3282. A light breakfast and MetroCard will be provided for consumer only.

View the PDF: SMART Summer Forum July 15, 2010

SMART held its annual graduation ceremony on Thursday, June 17 at the SMART offices on 38th Street in Manhattan. More than 100 guests, including participants, donors and friends, attended and showed their support for the more than . . . → Read More: SMART Graduation Celebrates Students’ Success]]>

SMART Diva Award winner Theodora (left) receives her award from SMART staff members at the June 17 graduation ceremony.

SMART held its annual graduation ceremony on Thursday, June 17 at the SMART offices on 38th Street in Manhattan. More than 100 guests, including participants, donors and friends, attended and showed their support for the more than 30 SMART students who received certificates of completion of SMART’s 24-week program that provides treatment, health and prevention education for women living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Gloria Searson, CSW, Administrative Director at North General Hospital, was invited to be the guest speaker.

The SMART Diva Award is given in honor of former student Miss Albertina, who was a nurse in her native Africa, a leader in her community and a tireless advocate for women over 50 with HIV/AIDS. This year the Diva Award, which honors a current SMART participant who demonstrates the leadership qualities embodied by Miss Albertina, was given to SMART student Theodora.

Congratulations to the winners of SMART’s raffle at the Graduation.
1st Prize: John Rondon
2nd Prize: Anthony Cuadrado
3rd Prize: Faye Dolloway
4th Prize: Nakia Wilson