Greater Community AIDS Project

A massive thank you to the McKinley Foundation and everyone who attended the Social Justice Awards event this Saturday! We are deeply humbled to be honored alongside so many amazing community organizations and change makers.

Thanks to your incredible support, we were able to provide food vouchers to individuals and families living with HIV. This ensures they have direct access to the nutrition they need to thrive, stay healthy, and achieve viral suppression.

Nutrition is healthcare. Thank you for supporting our mission and standing up for community health! 🫶🏼

Want to help support your community? Purchase a food voucher for our clients and mail it to us at PO Box 713 Champaign IL 61824! These are given directly to clients in need. Or donate on our website GCAPnow.com/donate . Thank you for your support and care ❤️

https://www.walmart.com/ip/855527301?sid=D2F6C398-8102-4E8B-8C1D-6C0FF818633A

Happy Pride Month! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

As we celebrate the joy, resilience, and history of our LGBTQIA+ community this month, it is also a vital time to look back at our roots—and look forward at the work still left to do.

Did you know that Greater Community AIDS Project was born directly out of local LGBTQIA+ advocacy and activism?

In our early days, we were founded by a group of local gay activists who stepped up when the rest of the world turned its back. We were initially called the Gay Community AIDS Project. Later, we transitioned to our current name to reflect an important reality: HIV does not discriminate, and the virus can affect anyone.

But as we honor that history, we have to talk about the modern reality of the epidemic. While the name changed to reflect everyone, the data shows us that systemic health inequities still run deep.

Today, gay and bisexual men account for more than two-thirds of all new HIV diagnoses in the U.S.—and among them, Black and Hispanic/Latinx men are disproportionately affected due to systemic barriers to care. Furthermore, transgender women continue to face an incredibly high risk, living with HIV at rates tens of times higher than the general population. These aren't just statistics; they are our community members, and these gaps exist because of ongoing barriers to healthcare, stigma, and systemic neglect.

Just like the activists who founded GCAP, we refuse to let our community be ignored. Pride started as a riot and a fight for survival, and the fight for health equity is still a massive part of that legacy.

This month, let's ✨ celebrate✨ how far we've come, honor the activists who built the foundation for HIV care, and recommit to breaking down barriers for everyone in our community.

When you support GCAP, you are directly funding local care, local advocacy, and local equity right here in East Central Illinois.
❤️🏳️‍🌈Donate today 🏳️‍🌈❤️ gcapnow.com/donate

Please join us in welcoming Jessie Stevens (he/him) to the GCAP team as our new Case Manager!

Born and raised in Chicago, Jessie’s lifelong passion for HIV/AIDS advocacy stems from the loss of his grandmother to the disease in the early 90s. That tragedy shaped Jessie into the person he is today—a tireless advocate for social justice and equity who has dedicated his life to inspiring change through social work.

Jessie previously served as an HIV Housing Case Manager at Chicago House, where he supported people experiencing homelessness and connected them with necessary resources. A certified Community Health Worker and a graduate of Northeastern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Social Work, Jessie brings a wealth of knowledge to GCAP and our clients. While beginning his work here, he is also currently pursuing his Master of Social Work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. As the newest addition to the GCAP team, Jessie looks forward to being an agent of change in Central Illinois by removing the stigma people living with HIV/AIDS and the LGBTQ+ community faces and empowering marginalized groups.

Please reach out to Jessie ([email protected]) for client referrals, questions regarding case management, or inquiries about transitional housing. We currently have three open rooms available in our Champaign House.

You can also learn more about our services by visiting our website at gcapnow.com.

We are hiring! Are you passionate about social justice, health equity, and the LGBTQ+ community? We are looking for a dedicated Case Manager to join our team!

This role focuses on:
❤️ Providing intensive case management and support to clients living with or at risk of HIV/AIDS.
🧡 Participating in community outreach initiatives.
💛 Delivering HIV education and advocacy.
💚 Making a direct, positive impact on the health and well-being of our community.

Benefits include:
💙$43,650–$44,590 per year for a 35-Hour work week
💜 Full-Time, Hybrid, Flexible
🩷 2 weeks PTO and 8 sick days
🤍 Mileage and cell phone reimbursement

APPLY TODAY!

>>Apply on Idealist: https://ideali.st/8WfvDM
>>Apply on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4377626169/
>>Email resume and cover letter to [email protected]

GCAP is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer.

Doing some Christmas shopping and want to help a good cause? We have clients that are in need of some items!! 🎄

🎄☃️Christmas Wishlist⛄🎄

🎁 Shirts XL (casual)
🎁 XL Sweat shirt
🎁 Pants, 34 waist, 36 length (casual)
🎁 L/XL Sweat pants
🎁 Black shoes with laces, slip resistant, size 11.5 (Walmart has a section on slip resistant shoes)
🎁 Black mid calf socks
🎁 Walmart gift cards
🎁 Gas gift cards (circle K or similar)

Donations can be sent to our PO box or pick up can be arranged by contacting our board of directors at [email protected]. Monetary donations can be made online at gcapnow.com/donate or by mail to the address below. Thank you 😁😁

GCAP
PO Box 713
Champaign, IL 61824

Donate | Greater Community Aids Project of East Central Illinois Support our Mission Donations may be sent by mail to: GCAP, PO Box 713 Champaign IL 61824 or by PayPal to [email protected] All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by IRS regulations. EIN 37-1189518 Donate Now

This , help make a difference right here in your community.

Every dollar you donate to GCAP empowers individuals and families living with and affected by HIV and AIDS. Your support provides essential access to housing and supportive services—the basic needs required to live healthy, happy, and long lives.

Your donation is vital! It helps reduce virus transmission in our community and helps us fight back against the harmful laws and systemic stigma that continue to exist in our society.

Be the force that breaks down barriers and lifts up your neighbors. Click here to donate for a healthier future: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5FBPF2RKT7DKL

Want to make a long-lasting impact? Become a Monthly Donor!

Just select "make this a monthly donation" on our PayPal site. We are truly grateful for everyone who keeps our mission alive and strong!

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Today, December 1st, we recognize World AIDS Day. This year's theme, "Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response," speaks directly to the challenges we have faced, and continue to face, in ensuring continuous care and support for people living with HIV.

The disruptions of the past few years have tested the resilience of our entire community. At GCAP, we have seen firsthand the devastating impact of these challenges. ​We have lost clients due to the inability to access essential support like medical care and stable housing, and ​we have struggled to support those in need due to cuts to funding and housing resources.

This is Unacceptable.

​When systemic disruptions block access to basic needs and entitlements, lives are lost. This is an unfortunate reality that will become all too common if these cuts and barriers continue.

To truly transform the AIDS response, we must fight for health equity and social support. We must ensure that access to Medicare, Medicaid, and stable housing accessible for everyone living with HIV.

Join us in remembering those we've lost and fighting for a future where disruptions no longer cost lives. ❤️

​

We are hiring! Are you passionate about social justice, health equity, and the LGBTQ+ community? We are looking for a dedicated Case Manager to join our team!

This role focuses on:
❤️ Providing intensive case management and support to clients living with or at risk of HIV/AIDS.
🧡 Leading community outreach initiatives.
💛 Delivering HIV education and advocacy.
💚 Making a direct, positive impact on the health and well-being of our community.

Benefits include:
💙 Up to 43,650/year (35 hrs/week)
💜 2 weeks PTO, 8 days sick time
🩷 Flexible and hybrid work environment
🤍 Mileage and cell phone reimbursement

APPLY TODAY! Send your resume and cover letter directly to: [email protected]

Learn more about the position here: https://lnkd.in/g37UXXbU

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer.

Were you at the recent GCAP 5K/1 Mile and Resource Fair?? ♥️

It rained all night the night before and into the morning and stopped right on time for our event 😊🥲. The joy and energy was palpable!! and the beautiful leaves 🍂 and running outfits were bright against the light grey background of beautiful Crystal Lake Park.

We had free bagels + cream cheese and hot coffee from Good Judys Espresso & Bagel Bar, free veggies given away by Sola Gratia Farm, free flu shots from Walgreens, snacks donated by WEFT Community Radio… resource/info booths by Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, Uniting Pride, Urbana-Champaign Reproductive Justice, Urbana Park District, facepainting by Kate Grueneberg…

Trautman Real Estate Agency & Appraisal brought handwarmers to share with everyone 🥹 😭 and also had a booth.

Body N' Sole Sports provided invaluable insight, assistance and race supplies!

And of course thank you to our volunteers! Couldn’t do it without you!

Definitely felt like we succeeded with putting on a community event, resource fair and bringing folks together to raise awareness, funds and information about GCAP, our 40 years and our mission. Plus getting to bring together and share the information from our event collaborators!

We feel lucky and grateful that so many folks came out on a cold, windy morning.

We will never forget it! Thank you again and hopefully see you next year at the next one!

Reflecting on a delightful night celebrating the Greater Community AIDS Project’s 40th Anniversary. 🌹

Thank you for hosting Analog! And thank you Sun Singer + Suzu's Bakery for catering.

Thank you to all the attendees and speakers. Thank you to Dave n Lisa and Chris Chism for sharing your wonderful talents 🎶 with us and our guests.

Cheers again 🎉 to GCAP and all of the supporters and compassionate people that care to keep our work/mission going.

GCAP mission: GCAP empowers individuals and families living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in East Central Illinois by providing housing and supportive services, and actively works within the community to reduce virus transmission.

Will post some reflections about our recent 5K as well, very soon…