During difficult times many of us rely on our MOMs for support, and in a very real sense through a new San Diego partnership for the HIV/AIDS community, that’s exactly what’s happening. Priority, a MOMs Pharmacy and Being Alive San Diego have announced that they will be collaborating on an innovative HIV Community Learning Center at 3940 Fourth Avenue in Hillcrest. Besides providing free, easy-access to a wealth of HIV/AIDS information and services in the heart of the neighborhood, key features of the HIV Community Learning Center will be a Community Resource Wall, an Artist Gallery, an Onsite Client Advocate, Private AIDS Service Organization Office Space, and Priority, a MOMs Pharmacy.
“This collaboration with Being Alive is consistent with the MOMs Pharmacy philosophy,” said Anthony Luna, Vice President of Priority, a MOMs Pharmacy who donated the space for the new center. Similar projects, partnering withUnder One Roof in San Francisco and Lifelong AIDS Alliance in Seattle opened this past year. “We recognize that during these difficult times when funding for HIV services is being cut, that it is not just enough to serve the community, you have to give back and be an active and involved part of it. We are excited to be collaborating with such a well respected organization as Being Alive San Diego to help ensure that these valuable programs and services continue.”
The center will provide a welcoming and safe space for people living with HIV/AIDS to obtain information on the many valuable programs and services offered by Being Alive and MOMs Pharmacy, as well as information on other local community AIDS Service Organizations.
The new HIV Community Learning Center will also provide several private offices for one-on-one client meetings, counseling, treatment education, ADAP screening and outreach efforts whereby an ASO representative may meet with, inform, and potentially enroll clients in their programs and services. The offices will be furnished with comfortable modular furniture allowing for flexibility in use of the space and free Internet access.
Another key feature of The HIV Community Learning Center will be “The Being Alive Family Room”. This dedicated space will function as a waiting area for pharmacy clients during normal pharmacy business hours, as well as, serve as a casual meeting venue for smaller client support groups after hours.