Category Archives: Wellness
Chicago House Residents Say IT GET’S BETTER
Do you ever stop and count your blessings?
Take a moment and think about how lucky you are?
Have a moment of gratitude?
I think many of us, rush through day to day life and forget there are a lot of people out there worse off. Just this past weekend, hundreds of men and women came out for a festive gala brunch, thousands of dollars was raised, and we all get so caught up in the moment and the fun of it all, some of us, sometimes forget what it’s all about, if we don’t see it. We know it’s a good cause, but we sometimes may forget the face, the real people, attached.
At the annual Chicago House brunch this past week, I was personally humbled by Stan Sloan’s speech. And I felt compelled to share it with everyone, in case you missed the event…..
Hi, my name is Stan Sloan, and I’m in my 11th year as the CEO of Chicago House. And I just wanted to start out my talk today by saying, “It gets better.”
It gets better. Hopefully everyone in here is aware of the importance of that phrase from Dan Savage and from the Trevor Project that has done so much great work with for the subject of LGBT youth and LGBT suicide. But last Sunday, Easter Sunday, I promised myself that I was going to work on this talk for today. And without a clue of what I was going to say, I decided to go and spend the day with the residents of our Supportive Living Program.
As many of you know, our Supportive Living Program is one of our five residential facilities for people who have HIV and AIDS and that have no where else to go. The Supportive Living Facility is the first step for our housing. The 16 residents who live there have come to us directly from the streets, from the shelters, from prison or detox centers, or directly from experiences of having been kicked out of the homes of their parents, friends or lovers…most often as a result of revealing that they have HIV.
Spending Easter with the residents of the Supportive Living Program may sound depressing, but nothing could be farther from the truth. If Easter is about springtime and moving from death of winter into the life of summer, then there is no better place to spend Easter than with these 16 men and women who, for perhaps the first time since they were diagnosed with HIV, have hope for moving from the death of their past lives to the life of what’s possible. Hope for moving beyond the perception that their life with HIV meant that there was no new life to follow.
As many of you know, our Supportive Living Program is one of our five residential facilities for people who have HIV and AIDS and that have no where else to go. The Supportive Living Facility is the first step for our housing. The 16 residents who live there have come to us directly from the streets, from the shelters, from prison or detox centers, or directly from experiences of having been kicked out of the homes of their parents, friends or lovers…most often as a result of revealing that they have HIV. Spending Easter with the residents of the Supportive Living Program may sound depressing, but nothing could be farther from the truth. If Easter is about springtime and moving from death of winter into the life of summer, then there is no better place to spend Easter than with these 16 men and women who, for perhaps the first time since they were diagnosed with HIV, have hope for moving from the death of their past lives to the life of what’s possible. Hope for moving beyond the perception that their life with HIV meant that there was no new life to follow.
As many of you know, our Supportive Living Program is one of our five residential facilities for people who have HIV and AIDS and that have no where else to go. The Supportive Living Facility is the first step for our housing. The 16 residents who live there have come to us directly from the streets, from the shelters, from prison or detox centers, or directly from experiences of having been kicked out of the homes of their parents, friends or lovers…most often as a result of revealing that they have HIV. Spending Easter with the residents of the Supportive Living Program may sound depressing, but nothing could be farther from the truth. If Easter is about springtime and moving from death of winter into the life of summer, then there is no better place to spend Easter than with these 16 men and women who, for perhaps the first time since they were diagnosed with HIV, have hope for moving from the death of their past lives to the life of what’s possible. Hope for moving beyond the perception that their life with HIV meant that there was no new life to follow.
So I went to SLP to be with those 16 residents on Easter, only to find out that none of them were there. One of our donors, who shall remain anonymous, had beat me there that day, and had left our staff member with money to take them all out for Easter pizza at Leona’s just down the street on Augusta. So I got back in my car and went to Leona’s to find four tables pushed together with 17 of the most diverse people that you can imagine packed next to each other. The oldest was 72. The youngest was 20. They were black and white and brown. They were men and women. They were gay and straight and transgendered, they were drop outs from Jr. High School and downtown executives who had lost everything to crystal meth and HIV. And they were laughing and eating together like brothers and sisters.
At least until I walked up. Nothing can ruin a party quite like the CEO walking in unannounced. “Listen,” I said as they pulled up a chair for me, “next Sunday I am giving a talk to 400 donors of Chicago House. What do you think I should tell them?” Most of them shrugged their shoulders until one of the women spoke up. “Tell them,” she said, “tell them that it gets better.”
At least until I walked up. Nothing can ruin a party quite like the CEO walking in unannounced. “Listen,” I said as they pulled up a chair for me, “next Sunday I am giving a talk to 400 donors of Chicago House. What do you think I should tell them?” Most of them shrugged their shoulders until one of the women spoke up. “Tell them,” she said, “tell them that it gets better.”
What gets better?
“Living with HIV…” she said. “Tell them that at Chicago House, living with HIV gets better.” “Is that what I should tell them,” I asked the rest of the group, and different people spoke up. A young intern from Sweet Miss Giving’s bakery who is only 21 and who was born with HIV from a crack addicted mother said how she had stopped taking her medication because she thought it was hopeless before arriving at our door. In her short time with us she has gone from a viral load of over 2,000 to being undetectable.
A man spoke up about the death of his partner and of the depression and drug abuse that left him homeless that followed. One of the older men spoke about how he had lived at Chicago House ten years ago and left because he didn’t want to follow the rules. “It took me 10 years,” he said, “but I finally realized that the rules weren’t near as bad as the rest of my life, so I came back and…” “It gets better” the original woman chimed in, and the whole table went up for laughs.
Today Chicago House provides housing and support services to over 1,100 people a year. Over the last 11 years we have worked hard to change the dynamic of that housing and services from a system that helps people get on benefits and supports that will let them live the rest of their lives with HIV in comfort to one that helps them move from those benefits and supports to lives that are fully engaged in the world and independent.
Over 500 people city-wide have been through our Employment Program which is the only program specifically targeting those with HIV and AIDS who are unstably housed in the nation. Our placement rate for the employment program is over 60% even in this economy. Sweet Miss Giving’s Bakery, Unquestionably Kind, Unreasonably Good! has a 100% placement rate for those trained in baking, packaging, customer service, and delivery through its internship.
Our prevention and medication adherence programs are stopping the spread of HIV in the LGBT and other at-risk communities, and they are helping those who are already impacted live long healthy lives. And, of course, our housing programs which serve over 200 adults and 50 kids annually are helping people develop the skills they need to gain stability and eventually independence, so that they can move on to open a space for someone newly infected and in need of hope.
It gets better. For Dan Savage and the Trever project the simple message of “it gets better” only makes sense in the context of encouragement and support. A struggling LGBT kid may not be able to imagine a better life on his or her own, but now he or she doesn’t have to. Now they can simply go to Youtube and find people…from Lady Gaga and Ellen to President Obama…imagining it for the. The clients of Chicago House most often come to us…black and white, men and women, homeless and white collar executives, gay, straight and transgendered…but with one thing in common…they have lost their ability to imagine a hopeful life with HIV, but At Chicago House it gets better. It gets better because Chicago House believe in them, and that is possible because you are here and believe in us.
It gets better. With your help and support it gets better.
Chicago House. We were there at the beginning.
We will be here till the cure.
Chicago House can always use volunteers.
Maybe this is your year to lend a hand?
CHECK OUT ALL OF THE GREAT EVENT PHOTOS AND
FASHION MODELS ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE and LIKE US!
BestGayChicago.com
World Gym Uptown – Ranked Best Gym in North Chicago
New Year’s Resolution….
lose weight and/or
get body in better shape!
Ok, it’s February.
What have you done about it?
There is no excuse. If you don’t belong to gym or are considering changing gyms, NOW IS THE TIME.
This is the BEST promotion for fitness you will find in Chicago!
Wednesday February 9th.
Fitness Party Promotion @ World Gym in Uptown
909 W. Montrose 773-348-1212
5am – 11pm (so don’t say you have to work, and can’t make it!)
World Gym is not a health club, but a gym dedicated to the improvement and maintenance of our members’ health and fitness.
“Our philosophy is not to enroll hundreds of new members, induced to sign up by an endless string of “special offers”…but to build a strong base of loyal members and work hard to earn that loyalty in continuum,” says Al, who opened this gym in 1992, but has been in the business a LIFETIME!
“We have found that this philosophy has created an environment where men and women of all ages, from the “just getting started” to the “top athlete,” all exercise in a comfortable, non-frantic atmosphere. We are a result producing, not stress producing, gym.”
World Gym has been voted one of the BEST GYMS IN CHICAGO! and THE BEST GYM IN NORTH CHICAGO. I have been a member at World Gym for about 8 years now. I can honestly say, it is super clean and constantly updated with the newest equipment and free classes that are always changing and evolving.
On Wednesday February 9th, ALL DAY, World Gym is offering unbeatable promotions!
* 50% OFF on new enrollments, if you mention this article
* 50% OFF memberships, if you mention this article
* Complimentary food, cocktails, and nutritional supplements
So if you have been thinking about a new gym or maybe you just moved here, WORLD GYM has the best facilities, the best prices, and the best perks in Chicago!
Make sure you tell them we sent you!
And watch for FITNESS TIPS coming soon from the trainers of World Gym !
Best Gay Chicago.com
Older Adults – Gay and LGBT Seniors and Aging Research Being Done in Chicago
Face it!
Have you thought about it?
While many older adults suffer from health issues stemming from stigma, isolation and unequal treatment, aging dilemmas for gay men are even compounded by other than just medical issues.
Citing a 2009 study, a report noted that lesbian couples’ Social Security benefits are typically 31.5 percent smaller and gay couples’ benefits are 17.8 percent smaller than are those of heterosexual couples.
Family members provide about 80 percent of long-term care in the United States, but that’s not the case with LGBT elders, since they are more likely to be single, childless and estranged from their biological families, said the report.
That’s just the beginning of the cycle of discrimination. The stunning report cited “official policies, laws and institutional regulations” that offer same-sex partners few of the resources afforded to spouses and biological family members.
ARE YOU 50 or OLDER?
Center on Halsted and AIDS Community Research Initiative of America (ACRIA ) are doing a survey to collect data on the health and psychosocial needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender older adults who live in Chicago. This is only the 2nd survey of its kind to ever be done and the first in the Midwest.
Participants must be age 50 and over and identify as LGBT. The survey takes 45 minutes to complete and the participant will receive a $25.00 debit card as a “Thank you”. All information is anonymous and confidential.
THEY NEED PEOPLE NOW! The survey deadline is January 28th. PLEASE, if you are over 50, call for an appointment. It would be a HUGE HELP for the COH.
Researchers suggests LGBT older adults are more likely to rely on friends and family of choice than on more traditional caregivers such as family members and children. As the family of choice network ages, there may be more of a reliance on formal support systems that may not be prepare to meet LGBT needs.
For those interested in taking the survey, please contact Betty at 1(773)472-6469 ext 448 or bakins@centeronhalsted.org to set up an appointment.
Best Gay Chicago.com
Chicago Vegan Mania After Party to Benefit Mercy for Animals
Chicago VeganMania
Pulaski Park Fieldhouse, Chicago
Chicago VeganMania is a free, day-long celebration of vegan community, culture, cuisine, couture and commerce with an emphasis on local businesses. The first 100 in the door age sixteen and over will get a free swag bag, too, so get here early! There will be amazing speakers, including Nathan Runkle, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau and others, as well as great cooking demos (Isa Chandra Moskowitz!), fantastic bands and incredible vendors. Lots of food, too!
After the VEGAN MANIA EXTRAVAGANZA, join MERCY FOR ANIMALS for the official after-party !
OCTOBER 9th 7-10pm At the Funky Buddah Lounge, 728 W. Grand Ave, Chicago.
Purchase your tickets today!
Tickets are $20 per person and include delicious vegan snacks and a complimentary drink. There will also be a raffle, a silent auction and a live DJ! You must be 21 or over to attend.
Tickets are limited so be sure to secure your spot at The Official VeganMania After-Party today!
Gay Chicago Casting Call for Dr. Laura Berman’s New Harpo TV Show
Are you struggling with your sex life or relationship?
Dr. Laura Berman , a world-renowned Sex & Relationship Expert,
has a brand new show on OWN…and she’s here to help you!
Have you lost the spark in your relationship?
Is intimacy – or lack thereof –
a source of conflict between you and your partner?
Are you desperate to reconnect but don’t know where to turn, or don’t have the resources to get the information you need?
Chicago’s Dr. Laura Berman can help!!!
You’ve seen her segments on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and “The Dr. Oz Show” and heard her great advice on “Oprah Radio” but now Dr. Berman has a brand new TV show, In The Bedroom With Dr. Laura Berman, fully dedicated to helping couples achieve greater intimacy and connection, not to mention better sex!
Dr. Berman understands the juggling act you go through every day and the significance of keeping your sex life a top priority. If you’re struggling with your intimacy, want a better relationship and long for a more fulfilling sex life, Dr. Berman is here to shed some light. Let Dr. Berman show you how to get exactly what you want and need in the bedroom and beyond!
If you live in the Chicago area and you want Dr. Berman’s advice, contact us today ! Please be sure to include a description of your family and the issues you’re dealing with, along with a recent photo. Couples need not be married but must be committed to making a change and be willing to appear and discuss their private lives on Television, if selected.
GAY COUPLES ARE BEING ENCOURAGED TO APPLY!
Author Dan Savage in Chicago fo ICAH June 15th
Dan Savage
is a somewhat controversial American author, media pundit, journalist and newspaper editor. Savage writes the internationally syndicated relationship and sex advice column Savage Love. Its tone is frank in its discussion of sexuality, often humorous, and hostile to social conservatives, as in the Santorum controversy.
Savage, who is gay, has often been the subject of controversy regarding some of his opinions that pointedly clash with both those of traditional conservatives and those put forth by what Savage has been known to call the “gay establishment”.
On Tuesday, June 15, 2010, at the Chicago Cultural Center, ICAH will host their 5th annual event Let’s Talk about Sex. Dan Savage will be honored.
There will also be a presentation from About Face Theater’s production of Fast Forward.
You won’t want to miss this great event!
“This year the Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health (ICAH) has many reasons to celebrate. We have grown tremendously and touched the lives of thousands of young people. Your support is invaluable to our continued success and growth.”
Ticket Prices:
$150 Full program + VIP reception (5:00-6:00 pm)
$100 Full Program
When … Tuesday, June 15, 2010 5 PM – 9 PM
Where …. CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER 78 E. Washington, G.A.R Hall
REGISTER ONLINE FOR THIS AWESOME EVENT !
Author Dan Savage in Chicago fo ICAH June 15th
Dan Savage
is a somewhat controversial American author, media pundit, journalist and newspaper editor. Savage writes the internationally syndicated relationship and sex advice column Savage Love. Its tone is frank in its discussion of sexuality, often humorous, and hostile to social conservatives, as in the Santorum controversy.
Savage, who is gay, has often been the subject of controversy regarding some of his opinions that pointedly clash with both those of traditional conservatives and those put forth by what Savage has been known to call the “gay establishment”.
On Tuesday, June 15, 2010, at the Chicago Cultural Center, ICAH will host their 5th annual event Let’s Talk about Sex. Dan Savage will be honored.
There will also be a presentation from About Face Theater’s production of Fast Forward.
You won’t want to miss this great event!
“This year the Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health (ICAH) has many reasons to celebrate. We have grown tremendously and touched the lives of thousands of young people. Your support is invaluable to our continued success and growth.”
Ticket Prices:
$150 Full program + VIP reception (5:00-6:00 pm)
$100 Full Program
When … Tuesday, June 15, 2010 5 PM – 9 PM
Where …. CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER 78 E. Washington, G.A.R Hall
REGISTER ONLINE FOR THIS AWESOME EVENT !
Tommy Hensel Presents Invisible Armor – Protecting Personal Energy
Do you ever feel drained after being around a certain person or in a particular place?
Is there someone in your life who has decided that you are their personal doormat?
Ever feel ‘just plain bad’ for no discernible reason?
If the answer to any of these questions was “YES,” then you are in need of “Invisible Armor.” With simple yet powerful techniques created by author Tommy Hensel, you will learn how to block the negative energies around you, pull in the positive and to manifest those things you need to live your life more joyfully.
Invisible Armor: Protecting Your Personal Energy helps you develop the skills to identify your personal energy, focus and direct that energy, clarify your personal boundaries, create energetic protection, enforce your new boundaries . . . and much more!
The original book and CD were created and published in 1999. Now, author Tommy Hensel has taken a decade of working with clients and used that experience to refine, revise and expand the original text.
The downloadable e-book version of “Invisible Armor: Protecting Your Personal Energy” and for a limited time, copies of the CD “Creating Your Personal Energy,” are now available.
Tommy Hensel, author of “Invisible Armor: Protecting Your Personal Energy” is available for bothindividual coaching and group training in the techniques from the book and CD. Working one-on-one with the client, Tommy will help them assess the state of their personal energy. Together, they will then develop a focused, practical plan to cleanse, shield and protect their energy.
A current resident of Chicago, Tommy Hensel was formerly a 10-year resident of the Seacoast region of New Hampshire. He originally hails from South Carolina and has spent time as a resident of Florida, North Carolina, DC, Pennsylvania and Maine.
Tommy works as an actor, director, singer and cabaret artist as well as a spiritual coach and counselor, Feng Shui consultant and hands-on healer. He has worked with hundreds of people both privately and in workshops to transform their lives using the techniques described in his book Invisible Armor: Protecting Your Personal Energy. He is also one of the creators and teachers of the Wei Chi Healing™ system of hands-on healing.
Join the Facebook FanPage
Visit Invisible Armor
Tommy Hensel Presents Invisible Armor – Protecting Personal Energy
Do you ever feel drained after being around a certain person or in a particular place?
Is there someone in your life who has decided that you are their personal doormat?
Ever feel ‘just plain bad’ for no discernible reason?
If the answer to any of these questions was “YES,” then you are in need of “Invisible Armor.” With simple yet powerful techniques created by author Tommy Hensel, you will learn how to block the negative energies around you, pull in the positive and to manifest those things you need to live your life more joyfully.
Invisible Armor: Protecting Your Personal Energy helps you develop the skills to identify your personal energy, focus and direct that energy, clarify your personal boundaries, create energetic protection, enforce your new boundaries . . . and much more!
The original book and CD were created and published in 1999. Now, author Tommy Hensel has taken a decade of working with clients and used that experience to refine, revise and expand the original text.
The downloadable e-book version of “Invisible Armor: Protecting Your Personal Energy” and for a limited time, copies of the CD “Creating Your Personal Energy,” are now available.
Tommy Hensel, author of “Invisible Armor: Protecting Your Personal Energy” is available for bothindividual coaching and group training in the techniques from the book and CD. Working one-on-one with the client, Tommy will help them assess the state of their personal energy. Together, they will then develop a focused, practical plan to cleanse, shield and protect their energy.
A current resident of Chicago, Tommy Hensel was formerly a 10-year resident of the Seacoast region of New Hampshire. He originally hails from South Carolina and has spent time as a resident of Florida, North Carolina, DC, Pennsylvania and Maine.
Tommy works as an actor, director, singer and cabaret artist as well as a spiritual coach and counselor, Feng Shui consultant and hands-on healer. He has worked with hundreds of people both privately and in workshops to transform their lives using the techniques described in his book Invisible Armor: Protecting Your Personal Energy. He is also one of the creators and teachers of the Wei Chi Healing™ system of hands-on healing.
Join the Facebook FanPage
Visit Invisible Armor
