Dear Friends:

As we enter the fall season, I wanted to share what we’ve been up to in the last 3 months.

MONUMENT CONSTRUCTION PROCESS UPDATE

Here’s a further update on the construction process for the Monument.

Next up will be the Request for Qualifications for the lighting/electrical contractor, and the RFP for the general contractor.

In summary, we are roughly on-schedule in terms of the estimated timeline described in our  FAM newsletter from 1st Quarter 2023.  If this approximate timeline holds up, we should have a general contractor hired in early 2024. Construction of the Monument is estimated to take 10–14 months after hiring the general contractor, which means the Monument would be completed by early-to-mid 2025.

STORYTELLING UPDATES

In addition to overseeing the hiring of contractors for the Monument, FAM continues to gather stories which are housed on our website and will be available to visitors of the Monument.

Social Media update:

We posted nine new videos on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook:

• The video from our STORIES Circle for Trans/Non-Binary storytellers, TransTales, in partnership with the Connie Norman Transgender Empowerment Center and FLUX;
• Two stories (including one from former volunteer Ed Wolf) about the nation’s first AIDS ward, Ward 5B at San Francisco General Hospital;

• A video from our STORIES Circle for younger people 18-35 years old, in partnership with REACH LA;
• Peter Staley’s story about placing a giant condom over the home of homophobic Senator Jesse Helms, on the 32nd anniversary of this protest action and media event;
• Ryan Painter’s remembrance of his father Robert Michael Painter who passed away 40 years ago and was the first reported AIDS death in Utah;

• Ellen Burstyn’s loving tribute to her late dear friend, surrealist artist/filmmaker Steven Arnold.

STORIES Circles update:

Next Event — Funded in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, our STORIES Circle series will continue next month with an event focused on Women’s HIV/AIDS Stories.

On Tuesday, November 7 at 6:00 p.m., we will gather at the Barnsdall Gallery Theater, 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles 90027. Supporting organizations thus far include: APLA, Being Alive, TransLatin@ Coalition, Black Women Wellness, LA LGBT Center, Life Group LA, and AMAAD Institute.  We will announce our featured speakers soon.

World AIDS Day — For our World AIDS Day event, we are partnering with APLA and the City of West Hollywood for what will be a very special evening.  The night of Friday, December 1 begins with a food-and-drinks reception at the “Respite Deck” at the top of the Grand Staircase at the Aquatic & Recreation Center overlooking West Hollywood Park.

The evening will end with a screening of the documentary Commitment to Life” about the founding and important work of APLA and Los Angeles-area AIDS activism, fundraising, caregiving and organizing. The free screening will be held at the City Council Chambers.  We will send out invitations and an RSVP link as we get closer to the date of the event.

Thank you for your continued support of and interest in STORIES: The AIDS Monument.