Affinity Community Services and Critical Justice Alliance joined forces to present Recovery, Reclaiming, and Redefining: Saying Yes to Life, a series of workshops that focused on sex and stigma, HIV/AIDS, community outreach, and religion.
UIC professor Dr. Johari Jabir kicked off the Saturday afternoon workshop with an interactive, high-energy discussion about sexuality and religion. His talk included how the Bible's Genesis' story of Adam and Eve influences today's secular world of decisions, people, and institutions. Jabir challenged guests to think of real-life associations and applications in regards of the Garden of Eden, and also to view spirituality beyond religious institutions.
"I thought the discussion was really thought provoking and informative. It was a great moment. I definitely walked away with a different awareness," said guest KOKUMO.
Starting off with a set of intimate questions about sexuality, Health Educator/Campaigns Coordinator of Black Women for Reproduction Justice Cherisse A. Scott welcomed attendees to a talk on sex and stigma in today's culture. Scott explained the difference between sex and intimacy in terms of sexual health and expression. Scott urged people to take responsibility over their own reproductive and sexual health. She went on to share a touching story of how her father who suffers from full blown AIDS and was a victim of his environment. According to Scott, certain environments such as the church aren't always conducive to being yourself.
"The church has not made itself a place of where you can be yourself," said Scott.
Affinity Community Services Board Vice President Kelly Saulsberry spearheaded a discussion on critical thinking that invited guests to brainstorm grass root ideas that could benefit their prospective communities. Many guests expressed their discontent over the prevalence of violence, litter, and undesirables in their neighborhoods. Saulsberry encouraged and offered guests simple solutions to address their community concerns. Saying hello, placing trash cans in high-traffic and litter areas, and even engaging others in conversations were all potential solutions. Saulsberry also notes that critical thinking is not limited by education or social class and even points to a "poverty of spirit" as responsible for poor neighborhood upkeep from certain residents.
"Each of us can think critically. You don't have to have a PHD. You don't have to have a master's. We just need to cultivate a space where we can," said Saulsberry.
The workshop ended with a collaborative discussion, led by Affinity Community Services Executive Director Kim Hunt, on how institutions can aide and support in the concerns, problems, and blocks addressed during the workshop. According to Hunt, the purpose behind the workshop was to raise consciousness of the underlying factors including oppression and socioeconomic setbacks that lead to poor health outcome in the communities of color. People as well as institutions can make a difference in the fight against HIV/Aids.
"People can hold politicians accountable to make sure that the little bit of HIV/AIDS funding that is out there really does follow the epidemic, " said Hunt.