We are a nonprofit organization that educates high-risk minority communities in Austin about comprehensive HIV prevention strategies. K.U.M. stands for Knowing, Understanding, Managing your knowledge and use of prevention options.
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Meet Prevention Specialist Joey Garcia
Q: Where are you from?
A: I’m a bit of a nomad. My friends like to call me a sturdy oak. Like a tree, I have my roots, my branches, and my leaves. I am always moving in hopes of new sites and experiences. I cannot leave Texas, however.
You will find my roots in the south most point of Texas, the Rio Grand Valley. I originate from a little city called Harlingen. My branches, however, have extended to different parts of Texas. Leaving behind my leaves in every city (Arlington, San Antonio, Laredo, Houston, South Padre Island, and Austin) as a memory of where ive been. My branches, being the experiences and new family and friends, I take with me.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about Austin?
A: I can honestly say my favorite thing about is how open it is to new experiences. I have heard the term “Keep Austin Weird.” I had never known what that meant, until now. Living in Austin, I have found that diversity and acceptance here is bountiful. I don’t think you would find a place so accepting and willing to grow, unless you were in New York or California.
Q: Why are you passionate about sex education?
A: My passion for sex education comes from my background in Harlingen. At the age of 13 I was told to leave my household due to my sexual orientation. Being gay or homosexual in my family was frowned upon. I was a lost child, having no support. I turned to living in the streets, sneaking into dorm rooms after hours, and even living with total strangers. Experiencing situations that I’m particularly not fond of. In this mess of things there were a few individuals who were there guiding me. I secretly found them my guardian angels. Among these individuals was my cousin. He took me in and showed me what being “gay” in this world meant. I got a job working at a gay friendly night club called Envy. Being new, everyone wanted to know who I was. I was overwhelmed with the number of people. I was more overwhelmed with the number of people who were faced with STDs. I was scared, so I went to my local testing center and proceeded to get tested. I found the people there were so kind. They made me feel so comfortable, almost like a home. I found myself getting tested every 3 months, as directed. I joined every program they had and learned everything I could possibly learn from them.
One day I was waiting to get tested and heard someone screaming. An older man was so nervous, asking the people questions. The counselor must have been new because he didn’t know how to answer them. I walked up and started answering his questions, unknowing they had already called someone to answer. They were so surprised with the amount of knowledge I had and my life experience, I became an advocate for them. I want to give someone what was given to me when I was a kid and lost, hope. I had no one in this world and now I have my family.
Q: Why is it important for you to reach communities of color in your outreach efforts?
A: The importance of reaching people of color in our outreach efforts is to decrease the number of newly infected individuals. Statistics show that our numbers are not only continuous, but increasing. The numbers in people of color, at a higher increase. Making up of more than half of peoples infected with HIV.
Q: What qualities are you looking for in a PrEP Squad member?
A: There are plenty of qualities to pick from, but the most important quality that I would be looking for in a PrEP Squad member is heart. Someone who understands how this is affecting our community and is willing to do something to increase the chance that our community will grow without fear of HIV or the stigma behind it.
Q: How do you spend your time outside of work? (hobbies, goals, projects, social life, etc)
A: Having such a community filled background, I find myself back in my roots. I am in the streets as much as possible with my friends. I visit my drag family members and support them during their performances. I keep myself busy traveling any chance I get to the cities listed above, never forgetting to leave behind my leaves and bring back with me another branch. I love to swim in the moonlight wearing the tiniest of shorts to feel closer nature’s beauty.
Q: What’s a fun fact about yourself?
A: A fun fact about me is that I love to see people smile and am always willing to help out as much as I can to see someone smile. I believe that a smile is the most genuine act someone can do. Also, my mother says I could charm a snake with my words but not my voice. I love music. I love to dance, I have taught a few dancers and helped a female impersonators get started, but I cannot sing. Betty White is my favorite Golden Girl.
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Meet Prevention Specialist Maria Chaves Daza
Q: Where are you from?
A: That’s a complicated question, and the answer goes something like this: I was born in Colombia and migrated to Miami when I was 8, I lived there until I went off to college in Chicago. Then I moved to upstate New York for graduate school where I spend the last seven years! All these places are like a home to me and they are part of the answer to the question where am I from.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about Austin?
A: How dog friendly the city is in general. My dog cashew, a rescue, can hang with me everywhere and I love that.
Q: Why are you passionate about sex education?
A: Because I love sex and everyone should be more comfortable about it. I mean it can be so pleasurable and at the same time it can change our lives, yet we remain shy about it and I just think we need to change this!
Q: Why is it important for you to reach communities of color in your outreach efforts?
A: The numbers don’t lie. Communities of color, especially Black and Latinx communities are affected the most and there is a lot of stigma over getting tested and sex in general. So I’m happy to be working on this project and that we are focusing on these specific communities so that we can make people more aware and comfortable about their prevention options. I just want to contribute to changing the stats and people’s lives in whatever way I can.
Q: What qualities are you looking for in a PrEP Squad member?
A: PrEp Squad members have to be passionate and creative. It’s not easy to get people to talk about their sex practices so these two qualities are a must. They also must understand some of the challenges communities of color face around sex and be willing to meet people where they are, no judgement. We are all learning new things everyday.
Q: How do you spend your time outside of work? (hobbies, goals, projects, social life, etc)?
A: I love food, so I go try new stuff out or visit my favorite spots. I also like to go to farmer’s markets and walk my dog.
Q: What’s a fun fact about yourself?
A: English is not my first language. I also studied French since the fourth grade, I’m rusty but I can manage a conversation still.
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Check out these buttons we made for Austin Pride this weekend!!!
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K.U.M. is recruiting peer educators to help educate communities in Austin on safer sex practices. Peer educators also have an opportunity to earn some cash from the outreach they do so feel free to contact them for more info on how join our PrEP Squad!
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