The Foundation for The AIDS Monument (FAM) hosted a STORIES Circle event with Access to Prevention Advocacy Intervention & Training (APAIT) on May 18, 2024.

The event, which was held at the beautiful Tropico de Nopal Art Gallery in Historic Filipinotown, was supported in part by grants from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and Gilead Sciences. CLICK HERE to watch a short video of the event.

We gathered at the gallery’s outdoor space in small circles under the tree canopy to share personal stories about how HIV & AIDS have impacted our lives.  Author and storyteller Eric C. Wat (Love Your Asian Body: AIDS Activism in Los Angeles) kicked off the storytelling process. Wat’s memoir Love Your Asian Body (University of Washington Press, 2022) tells the story of how Asian American activists in Los Angeles sparked a sex-affirming movement during the AIDS crisis.  Winner of the Association for Asian American Studies’ 2023 Outstanding Achievement in History Award, Love Your Asian Body shows how the Asian American community mobilized to advocate on behalf of people living with HIV.  You can learn more about Wat’s work at www.ericwatbooks.com.

The program was presented in English with translation to Spanish. All attendees had the option of sharing their story in English or Spanish.

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This event was hosted by STORIES: The AIDS Monument and APAIT.  STORIES: The AIDS Monument is building a historical monument in West Hollywood Park dedicated to those lost to HIV/AIDS and everyone who cared for people with AIDS, fought for better healthcare, and worked to advance HIV research and treatment.  The mission of the STORIES Circle event series is to build community and foster storytelling among those affected by HIV & AIDS and expand awareness of the AIDS Monument. To be notified of FAM’s future STORIES Circle events, please sign up to receive our quarterly newsletter and to receive event notifications.

APAIT’s mission is to positively impact the quality of life for vulnerable communities experiencing behavioral health challenges, housing insecurity, and at-risk for HIV/AIDS. Located in both Koreatown and Orange County, APAIT has held a distinctive record of providing high quality programming through its vision – to advocate, educate, and achieve optimal health and well-being for vulnerable communities. APAIT is a division of Special Service for Groups, Inc., a private nonprofit agency.

When we can share our stories, listen to each other, feel heard, empathize and unify around common experiences and emotions, we can heal. Capturing the stories shared in these STORIES Circles is one of the primary ways we are making sure our individual and collective experiences during the AIDS pandemic are never forgotten.