AIDS Foundation Chicago

Apply now to the 2026 Public Health Boot Camp, held from September 16-19! Applications close Tuesday, June 16. ⁠
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The Public Health Boot Camp is an intensive public health residential training institute fostering future HIV community leaders. The educational training program is designed to enhance HIV/AIDS organizational leaders’ professional knowledge of public health concepts. Participants will learn and apply public health concepts to actual HIV/AIDS programmatic activities. Participants will work with local and national experts in public health. ⁠
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Learn more and apply: https://www.aidschicago.org/our-work/public-health-boot-camp/

Join the largest HIV gathering in the Midwest on Saturday, September 26! ⁠
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AIDS Run & Walk Chicago is a grassroots fundraising event held at Soldier Field where you can walk, run, or stroll along the lakefront with people from all walks of life. ⁠
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Together we will change the story of HIV by raising awareness and funds for people living with and vulnerable to HIV. Funds raised through this event support AIDS Foundation Chicago and over 30 community partners. ⁠
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Register today: https://action.aidschicago.org/event/aids-run-and-walk-chicago-2026/e790663?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=june

As a member of the Protect Our Care Illinois Coalition, we are committed to protecting as many community members as possible. See full statement on the Interim Final Rule that Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued, providing guidance to states to implement Medicaid work requirements, which will go into effect in Illinois on January 1, 2027:

We are excited to announce that registration is officially open for the Eliminating HIV Stigma Summit on Tuesday, July 21 at Loyola University’s Kasbeer Hall from 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM. ⁠
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Join public health agencies, healthcare service providers, as well as people living with and vulnerable to HIV to engage in dialogue around HIV stigma in the healthcare system and wider community. ⁠
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Registration is free but limited. Light breakfast and lunch will be provided. ⁠
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Register and learn more at: https://action.aidschicago.org/event/eliminating-hiv-stigma-summit-2026/e803653

The Women's Connection Summit of Hope returns on Thursday, July 2, 2026 at Olive-Harvey College from 10am - 2pm! ⁠
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This free community expo brings together local service providers to create a “one-stop” environment where participants are able to access vendors (case management, employment, housing, prevention, legal), informational round⁠ tables, a women’s accessory closet, gift bags, transportation, and an array of other women focused services to better ensure reentry into society.⁠

Questions? Contact Cynthia Tucker at [email protected].⁠

[AFC Communications is not supported with federal funds.]
Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago Illinois Department of Corrections Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Project VIDA Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois The GEO Group, Inc. Chicago Police Department

Read the full statement here: https://www.protectourcareil.org/index.php/news/

📣 LOCATION CHANGE 📣 Now at Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted, 3rd Floor

Join us tomorrow, Friday June 5 at 7:30 PM for a vigil to commemorate the 45th Anniversary of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and to honor those already lost and the millions more whose lives are at risk if funding is not restored. Hosted by the Morten Group.

On Friday May 8th members of AFC’s Connection to Harm Reduction (C2HR) team joined the Illinois Harm Reduction & Recovery Coalition (IHRRC) in Springfield to advocate on behalf of those in recovery and those who support Harm Reduction as a bridge to the recovery process.

Advocates spoke with representatives about the Holistic Overdose Prevention and Equity Act (HB4039) & The Overdose Prevention Site Pilot (HB2929).

AFC, as a member of the IHRRC, will continue to work alongside harm reduction advocates and people with lived experience to advance this critical legislation in subsequent sessions of the Illinois General Assembly. The Night Ministry The Perfectly Flawed Foundation

Summer’s heating up and it’s time to start moving— AIDS Run & Walk Chicago returns Saturday, September 26, 2026! ⁠
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Join us at Soldier Field as we run, walk, and roll together to raise funds and show our support in the fight to end the HIV epidemic in Illinois. Enjoy beautiful lakefront views, live music, and community fun! Whether you decide to participate, donate, or cheer from the sidelines, your actions will help strengthen our cause and drive change to those who need it the most. ⁠
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Every dollar raised makes a difference. Help us to: ⁠
RESIST attacks on our progress from those in power ⁠
RESTORE by taking care of ourselves and each other to sustain our activism ⁠
RENEW our commitment to a world where everyone has access to health care and housing ⁠
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Sign up for AIDS Run & Walk now— register at https://action.aidschicago.org/event/aids-run-and-walk-chicago-2026/e790663?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=june

Illinois lawmakers passed a record $56 billion state budget yesterday in a challenging fiscal environment. Thanks to the leadership of our legislative champions, advocacy from AFC and our partners, and thousands of emails sent from community members like you, the budget included a $1 million increase to the HIV lump sum - but it also included $1.25 million in cuts to PrEP medication access. ⁠
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We made progress in other priorities of our advocacy agenda, but the fight continues. ⁠
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Read our full legislative session report on the blog: https://www.aidschicago.org/the-resolute-advocacy-of-community-2026-end-of-legislative-session-report/
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[AFC Communications, Policy & Advocacy is not supported with federal funds.]