Siempre Unidos, Author at Siempre Unidos

June 2024 | Welcome, Sophia and Curt, and Best Wishes to Amy

Siempre Unidos — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 21:56:47 +0000

After 9 years serving as the Executive Director of Siempre Unidos, Amy is retiring to focus on family and friends. We are extremely grateful for her years of dedicated, skilled leadership. We are fortunate to have found two highly skilled professionals who are willing to work part-time to replace Amy. Please welcome Sophia Sleap and Curt Cassels to our team.

Sophia Sleap, Program and Grants Manager
Sophia Sleap is a seasoned nonprofit t professional with 15 years of experience in fundraising, research, and advocacy. She has a strong track record of success in the United States, Latin America, and the United Kingdom. Sophiahas been the Development Director for Proyecto Pastoral, a community-based organization in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, for six years. In this role, she was key in securing funding to support the organization’s important work raises$3.5M annually and oversees a team of five.

Before joining Proyecto Pastoral, Sophia completed her Master’s in Latin American Studies at UCLA. She also has experience working for a nonprofit organization in Peru and has participated in delegations to El Salvador. Originally from England, Sophia began her career in fundraising after completing her bachelor’s degree in history and philosophy at the University of Leeds. Outside of work, Sophia enjoys surfing and spending time with friends.

Curt Cassels, Siempre Unidos, Development Director
Curt Cassels brings a wealth of experience in the non-profit and business sectors to Siempre Unidos. Curt is committed to giving back to the community and has a proven track record of success in fundraising and event management. Previously, Curt served on Aid for AIDS of Nevada (AFAN) in LasVegas, where he successfully spearheaded two AIDS walks and played a key role in developing the Rick Monroe AIDS Rose Memorial Garden on the UNLV campus.

Curt’s dedication to social justice continued when he moved to San Francisco.For over ten years, Curt was involved with North Beach Citizens, a successful homeless advocacy non-profit founded by Francis Ford Coppola in San Francisco. During his time with North Beach Citizens, Curt served in various leadership roles, including Board Member, Secretary, and Chair of multiple fundraising events. Curt helped raise over $1.5 million through his leadership to support the organization’s work.

In addition to his non-profit work, Curt has extensive experience in the beauty and wellness industry, having held executive positions at Chanel, Murad, and Procter & Gamble. Most recently, Curt assisted beauty startups in launching their products with top US and European retailers. Today, besides his responsibilities with Siempre Unidos, Curt is a travel advisor. Outside of work, Curt enjoys travel, SFJazz, and SFOpera.

We will miss Amy and wish her well. And, as you have read, both Sophia and Curt bring new energy, experience, and passion to our organization. We look forward to working with them and further advancing Siempre Unidos’ impact.

Welcome, Sophia and Curt, and Best Wishes to Amy

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December 2023 | Let Communities Lead

Siempre Unidos — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 21:53:54 +0000

The above slogan is the United Nation’s annual theme to mark World AIDSDay. It recognizes that communities impacted by HIV/AIDS must be supported and emboldened as leaders to help end AIDS.

Since its founding, Siempre Unidos has employed people living with HIV as case workers, HIV educators, and program managers. We have created patient advisory councils and supported community groups organizing parades and marches.

We celebrate the courage, commitment, and leadership of the groups most impacted by HIV in Honduras – people who are LGBTQ+, Garifuna (Afro-Caribbean), sex workers, and people living in extreme poverty.

Let Communities Lead

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Febuary 2021 | Healthy Meals

Siempre Unidos — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 21:24:54 +0000

Most of us eat twice as much salt as is recommended. High sodium consumption contributes to high blood pressure and increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.

And so begins the presentation on healthy eating by our new nurse. Trained in nutrition, he asks the masked patients to identify foods that are high in salt, fat, and sugars. He provides recipes and demonstrates cooking techniques to make wholesome meals from the food stuffs and eggs we distribute monthly. This is one of the many ways we help keep our patients healthy and well-informed.

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January 2021 | Rebuilding

Siempre Unidos — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 21:22:07 +0000

“So, so happy,” writes Pascual Torres, Siempre Unidos Honduras Executive Director, about Zoila whose joy is evident through the mask. She has just received a cookstove, mattress, and a month’s supply of food.

Immediately after November’s hurricanes Eta and Iota devastated Honduras, we put out a call to raise $120,000. Seventy donors responded heroically including the Jeff and Marieke Rothschild Foundation, Direct Relief, Galina and Jon Borschow, and board members. We met our goal!

And the work continues. The day after Christmas, Pascual sent photos via WhatsApp of more deliveries bringing more relief.

Thank you for your generous response to help our patients regain their livelihoods and homes.

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December 2020 | Les Misérables

Siempre Unidos — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 21:19:49 +0000

A patient and her daughter carry a new mattress home down a muddy road.

“It’s not that they are thieves. They are just starving,” Pascual said in describing the risk he takes when traveling to neighborhoods where patients live.

Devastation wrought by November’s two hurricanes, pandemic curfews, and extreme poverty necessitate home visits to bring medical care, food, beds, cookstoves, and roofing materials.

Siempre Unidos continues to provide high-quality HIV and primary care services following best practices to limit Covid-19 infection. With your tremendous help, we are responding with emergency relief for the hundreds of patients whose homes and livelihoods were destroyed.

Pascual and the Staff work so hard; they reflect the effort described by Victor Hugo:

“…a progress from evil to good, from injustice to justice, from falsehood to truth, from night to day, from appetite to conscience, from corruption to life; from bestiality to duty, from hell to heaven, from nothingness to God. The starting point: matter, destination: the soul. The hydra at the beginning, the angel at the end.”

If you are making year-end gifts, please consider Siempre Unidos.

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November 2020 | Hurricanes

Siempre Unidos — Sun, 01 Nov 2020 21:18:31 +0000

Exactly 22 years ago, Hurricane Mitch hit Honduras. The second-deadliest Atlantic hurricane on record, it caused over 7,000 fatalities in the country. Images of mudslides and floods washing away villages and destroying infrastructure and crops were seen around the world.

In response to the crisis, Denise Main and her family traveled to Honduras where they met Pascual Torres and witnessed his work providing companionship and hospice care to people dying alone and of AIDS. A strong friendship formed resulting in a partnership to build clinics to care for people with HIV.

Today, Honduras is bracing for Hurricane Eta’s arrival. Some of our staff have stayed home and patients’ visits were cancelled for safety reasons. Pascual took the following photo today showing cows being carried away down a river breaching its banks due to rain preceding Eta’s arrival. Over 30 inches of rain are predicted between now and Friday. Currently rated category 4, Eta is expected to reach category 5 status before landfall.

In 2020, Pascual knows he is not alone in keeping the doors open, the patients seen, the medications dispensed, and the food distributed.

Thank you for your support.

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October 2020 | Direct relief for our patients

Siempre Unidos — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 21:15:46 +0000

The emails fly back and forth. “How many bottles of medication for blood pressure control? Diabetes? Are you out of sutures? What about antibiotics?” Denise and the Siempre Unidos physicians are making orders for the next maritime shipment from Direct Relief, a nonprofit organization donating medications and medical supplies.

Since 2008, Direct Relief has sent Siempre Unidos 25 shipments of medications and medical supplies valued at $21.5 million (wholesale acquisition cost). The goods arrive quarterly at the port city of Puerto Cortes stacked on pallets as seen below. Direct Relief pays for the shipping as well.

Pascual Torres, the Honduras Executive Director, says that our patients bypass other healthcare providers to reach our clinics because they know we are well-stocked, unlike many public hospitals.

“It is a joy to be able to help you fulfill your mission,” says Erick Molina, Program Operations Manager at Direct Relief. We feel the same way and wish to thank Direct Relief for its impact on our patients.

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September 2020 | Covid Impact on HIV Care

Siempre Unidos — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 21:15:08 +0000

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupts care to people living with HIV and threatens to undo global progress in reducing the disease’s burden according to the International AIDS Society and a recent New York Times article.

In their responses to the coronavirus, governments have shifted resources away from HIV care, and national lockdowns have reduced access to care. Populations vulnerable to HIV – commercial sex workers and people who are LGBT – are experiencing renewed stigma, persecution, and economic hardship.

Honduras experiences these trends with delays in receipt of antiretroviral medications, limited access to transportation, and reassignment of medical staff to care for COVID-19 patients. Siempre Unidos continues to rise to these challenges providing safe clinical care, consistent medication supplies, individual therapy, and reporting of human rights violations.

Your support is greatly appreciated.

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August 2020 | How to qualify for nutritional support

Siempre Unidos — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 18:11:13 +0000

5 lbs each of flour, sugar, beans, rice, cooking oil, salt, canned goods and other items

Do you answer “yes” to most of the following questions?

HIV positive?
Live in extreme poverty?
Single mother?
High viral load?
Low CD4 count?
HIV related co-infections?
Anemia?
Underweight?
Unemployed or underemployed?
Lack family support?

If you are a patient in our Honduras clinics, you qualify for a monthly bag of basic food supplies (5 lbs each of flour, sugar, beans, rice, cooking oil, salt, canned goods and other items).

If you are a supporter, these are the results we proudly share:

Decrease in viral load (level of infectiousness)
Increase in CD4 count (strength of immune system)
Weight gain
Normal hemoglobin levels
Early identification of medication resistance and timely therapy changes
Improvement of quality of life and increased life expectancy

These outcomes help each person live a more healthy life; they also decrease the likelihood of infecting others and impoverishing families and communities.

Thank you.

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July 2020 | HIV, Poverty & Covid 19

Siempre Unidos — Sat, 04 Jul 2020 22:16:51 +0000

Zoom Meeting with Siempre Unidos

“Do your part” to prevent the spread of Covid 19 reads the large label found on the bag held by Pascual Torres, Honduras Executive Director. It holds flour, cooking oil, rice, and other food staples provided monthly to the 60 HIV-positive patients who live on less than $2/day and must maintain a sufficient diet to avoid becoming sick.

During our Zoom call, Pascual reported the social fall-out from the pandemic. “You would not believe the number of people you now see begging on the streets. There are hundreds of people. I saw a young boy with his index finger held up asking for 1 lempira (< 1 cent).”

In Honduras, HIV is driven by the virus and poverty. We are grateful for your support in helping to keep people living under immense hardship healthy and safe.

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