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Specific Hints on Completing Conference Scholarships. By Waheedah Shabazz-El, Founding/Advisory Member, US Positive Women’s Network Penn CFAR CAB, Chair. #1 Know the Theme of the Conference. Go onto their web site If you are applying for a scholarship, it’s smart to know the Theme:
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Specific Hints on Completing Conference Scholarships By Waheedah Shabazz-El, Founding/Advisory Member, US Positive Women’s Network Penn CFAR CAB, Chair
#1 Know the Theme of the Conference • Go onto their web site • If you are applying for a scholarship, it’s smart to know the Theme: • NAPWA: “Taking Action Together: A New Era in HIV Care” March 4-5, 2010 in Columbus Ohio • The XVIII International AIDS Conference, to be held in Vienna, Austria, from 18 to 23 July 2010. “Rights Here, Right Now”
Some Hints for Scholarships • When you talk about an organization that you volunteer for or work for: • Give an overview of your responsibilities. • Then give a brief overview of the organization (include Web site, mission statement, and details on size/scope of program) • You man want to include who you report to: This gives you a chance to “name drop”
For instance • * I am employed as a part-time Counselor/Tester for Philadelphia FIGHT where I assist clients in identifying risk factors, and safer behavior goals. In addition to testing I present updates on prevention for positives. Philadelphia FIGHT is a comprehensive AIDS Service Organization providing state of the art, culturally competent HIV primary care, consumer education, advocacy, social services, and outreach to people living with HIV and to those who are at high risk www.fight.org
For instance • I am currently serving as the elected Chair of the Community Advisory Board for the University of Penn Center for AIDS Research, CFAR, directed by James A. Hoxie, MD. It is a volunteer position : The mission of the Penn CFAR CAB : established in 2003, to foster and maintain partnerships and open communication between Penn CFAR researchers and community members. http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/aids/cores/bssc/cab/cabmain.htm
For Instance • I am a member of the Philadelphia area Ryan White Positive Committee at the Office of HIV Planning, where I ________________ • The mission of the Positive Committee is____________ and their website is______
What would you hope to learn ? • Essentially, I would hope to explore ways in which I can help fulfill the ultimate goal of ----------------- conference from a community perspective. Then I intend to share my experience with my communityI realize that the conference will be providing massive amounts of information and that it may be overwhelming for me, but I am committed to attend all of the plenary sessions as many workshops as I am able to. • By paying close attention and listening; I am confident that I will come away from ----------------- with an improved understanding of ______________
Describe how you would share and use the information learned. • As a: • HIV Tester……………….. • YouthPeer Educator………….. • CAB Member…………….. • Group facilitator ……….. • Block Captain ……………. • Member of the planning council…………………… • As a newly diagnosed person……… • As a long time survivor…… • I have access a number populations in my community who would benefit from my sharing the information. • Through oral presentations, handouts, power point, photographs, brochures, etc
Tell them who you will share it with? • HIV support groups, Women’s groups, various committees, Prison advocacy groups , list serves , Trans Justice groups religious ministries, youth groups, town hall meetings, train others in your organization or your networks.
Why should you receive financial support to attend the conference? • An outspoken person living with AIDS makes a huge impact when speaking to any audience. Your investment in my attendance at .------- would manifest in a definite return. • I have the willingness, ability and the audience with which to disseminate the huge amounts of information that ---------- will certainly provide I am more than willing to do the work , however my income presents a hardship and a huge barrier to my attending without your assistance
Also tell them something about Yourself • “I am passionate about my work in educating people with AIDS and those who are at risk. . Most times I work as a volunteer trusting that my reward will come through the healing of my community. Many women in my organization have identified affordable stable housing as a huge issue. Especially the women who find themselves infected with HIV and still have small children to nurture. I would hope to learn about national campaigns that are focused on getting HIV+ women out of the shelter system. I once lived in a shelter myself, so I know first hand how hard that situation can be with or without HIV.” • ZarahTeachey, Project TEACH Grad
Get a Letter of Support • Have an organization write on their letter head how they admire the work you do in the community, how you as well as the community will benefit from your attending------------- conference . And how attending will help you to continue working in the community and strengthen the good work you have been doing.
Applying as Media • Create a Newsletter • Write articles for a newsletter…anyone’s • Write letters to the editor • Most conferences want people there who will come back and write about what happened. • In order to apply for a Media Scholarship, You will need to have 3 articles already written.
An Abstract : A paragraph about a work shop you promise to do: • Our workshop will provide a documented chronological examination of ACT-UP Philadelphia’s year long Condoms in Jails Campaign. We will highlight what worked and what didn’t work. This will transition into an interactive discussion on media messaging and framing of similar harm reduction strategies. Participants will leave the session with a clear understanding of framing a media message around a harm reduction issue aimed at decision makers and the media.
You May Also Submit an Abstract Poster. • Where you sit or stand in the Exhibition area of a conference and give a oral presentation to participants what the poster represents and the work the organization is doing. • Again keep the theme of the conference in mind when you submit and create your Poster Abstract
Thank you, See you at the Conference Waheedah Shabazz-El iamshabazz@yahoo.com