Monthly Update Archives - 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

The post June 2024 | Welcome, Sophia and Curt, and Best Wishes to Amy appeared first on Siempre Unidos.

April 2024 | 2023 Annual Report

Siempre Unidos — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 18:43:15 +0000

Siempre Unidos is growing in Honduras and the U.S.!

In Honduras, we saw a significant growth in the number of patients served. All of our newly diagnosed HIV+ clients were between the ages of 15 and 25, which is a shift we have seen in recent years. Almost all were gay men or transgender women.

As you will read in the 2023 Annual Report, in addition to the great work being accomplished in Honduras, we also welcomed two new board members in our work.

Thank you for ensuring highly-rated HIV and primary care, outreach, and advocacy services in Honduras.

The post April 2024 | 2023 Annual Report appeared first on Siempre Unidos.

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

The post December 2023 | Let Communities Lead appeared first on Siempre Unidos.

August 2023 | Education for Opportunity

Siempre Unidos — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 11:00:29 +0000

“Josie” is a 26-year-old mother raising three children ages 7, 5, and 1 year on her own. She lives just outside of the dump in San Pedro Sula, Honduras where she makes a living picking through the garbage for items to resell.

The Siempre Unidos staff provide monthly day-long health fairs, health education workshops, and income-skills training to her community. After attending a workshop about gender equality and rights, she sought help to obtain child support from her ex-husband. The Siempre Unidos staff referred her to free legal services and she now receives financial payments from the children’s father.

Equipping women like Josie with knowledge and skills helps them stay healthy and able to better support their children and plan for their futures.

Educational workshop topics include HIV education and testing, nutrition, adolescent pregnancy, and gender equity.

The post August 2023 | Education for Opportunity appeared first on Siempre Unidos.

May 2023 | 2022 Annual Report

Siempre Unidos — Tue, 02 May 2023 15:57:16 +0000

With your tremendous support, we achieved high ratings in Honduras and the U.S. for our HIV and primary care services for people who are marginalized due to their gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and/or poverty.

As you will read in the 2022 Annual Report, the accolades include a 100% score on patient care from the Honduras Secretary of Health and a four-star (100%) charity rating by Charity Navigator, the country’s largest independent charity evaluator. After this report went to print, we learned that Episcopal Relief & Development named Siempre Unidos Outstanding Partner in Latin America for two consecutive years.

Thank you for ensuring highly-rated HIV and primary care, outreach, and advocacy services in Honduras.

The post May 2023 | 2022 Annual Report appeared first on Siempre Unidos.

March 2023 | International Partnerships

Siempre Unidos — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 21:33:01 +0000

“We met doctors from Spain and Switzerland,” Pascual Torres, the Honduras Executive Director wrote. “They visited to introduce themselves as the new regional directors of Médicos Sin Fronteras (MSF).”

The Doctors Without Borders directors sought out Siempre Unidos because of our work with vulnerable groups, e.g., people living with HIV and/or in extreme poverty. We serve as a community liaison and advisor to the international aid organization to support its services for people affected by violence and discrimination in Honduras.

Our partnerships with international agencies such as MSF, Direct Relief, and the Pan American Health Organization demonstrate the strength of our reputation as a high-quality and compassionate community-based organization.

MSF doctors, wearing white vests, visit with Pascual and the Siempre Unidos staff

The post March 2023 | International Partnerships appeared first on Siempre Unidos.

New Years Day 2023 | Love is Love

Siempre Unidos — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 23:10:31 +0000

We are grateful for your support of our clinical, advocacy, and outreach services for people living with HIV in Honduras.

Facing stigma and poverty, many of our patients call Siempre Unidos their family.

Thank you for being a part of Siempre Unidos.

We wish you a Happy New Year!

The post New Years Day 2023 | Love is Love appeared first on Siempre Unidos.

December 2022 | Neighbors

Siempre Unidos — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 23:09:46 +0000

“Our little neighbors, and their pet, came this morning to pay a visit to our facility and had an informal chat with me,” Pascual Torres, the Honduras Executive Director wrote last week. “They all received bags of candies.”

Situated where the territory of two gangs meet, our San Pedro Sula clinic is an oasis of peace and caring. We receive over 1,200 patient visits from individuals needing non-HIV services such as treatment for flu, high blood pressure, and infections. By serving the local community, our clinic is viewed as a resource for everyone, including gang members, and HIV-positive people can maintain anonymity.

We wish you a wonderful holiday season full of friends, neighbors, and family.

The post December 2022 | Neighbors appeared first on Siempre Unidos.

November 2022 | Direct Relief Partnership

Siempre Unidos — Sat, 05 Nov 2022 23:06:03 +0000

Medications for high blood pressure and diabetes, antibiotics, and pain relievers fill our pharmacy shelves. When the Covid pandemic hit, our staff and patients were well provisioned with masks. People prefer our services for many reasons, including a reliable supply of medications in a country where government clinics face frequent shortages.

We are grateful to Direct Relief, a Santa Barbara, CA, nonprofit organization providing medical supplies around the globe, for generously donating and shipping us these items for over 10 years. The photo below includes Erick Molina, Direct Relief Senior Manager for Latin America (in the center), during this week’s visit to Honduras.

Thanks to such partnerships, Siempre Unidos brings high-quality care with compassion to people with HIV and who live in extreme poverty.

The post November 2022 | Direct Relief Partnership appeared first on Siempre Unidos.

October 2022 | Full Circle

Siempre Unidos — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 23:03:27 +0000

Having grown up in the bordos, unincorporated communities living in make-shift huts without sanitation and subject to flooding from the rivers, Gina Meza knew the health challenges her neighbors faced. We met her in 2016 when she was supporting herself through medical school by cleaning and selling large, used coffee bags at marketplaces and peddling candy at the university.

Siempre Unidos donors covered the cost of her personal medical equipment, e.g., stethoscope and oto-opthalmoscope, and provided annual living stipends of $2,000. The Siempre Unidos physician met regularly with her to review her progress and provide support.

Today, Dr. Meza is an intern and working with Siempre Unidos, serving the same communities where she grew up. On her first day, Honduras Executive Director, Pascual Torres, wrote, “I am so proud and thrilled, practically jumping on the clinic roof! She is a breath of fresh air!”

Thank you for helping to bring high-quality HIV and primary care services and advocacy for some of our most vulnerable community members.

Dr. Gina Meza and Director Pascual Torres

The post October 2022 | Full Circle appeared first on Siempre Unidos.