December 1, 2005
HW'S DIXIE DUO
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FIGHTERS: Reaze and Webb at November's C2EA summit in D.C. (photo: Thabi Moyo) |
Now it's time to tell you about two other folks who were instrumental in pulling off Tuesday's Mississippi Medicaid protest—the Jackson duo of openly HIV-positive Robin Webb and college-aged activist Shannan Reaze. You may have read about them here this summer, shortly after Mississippi first announced the policy. With a little help from Housing Works, Webb and Reaze quickly established AIDS Action in Mississippi (AAIM) and hastily organized a press conference in front the capitol building decrying the damage the new policy could do to Medicaid recipients with HIV/AIDS, who usually rely on a regimen of three brand-name drugs to treat their HIV alone (never mind other illnesses). Virtually moments after the press conference nabbed the attention of the Associated Press and the New York Times, the state quietly waived the policy for recipients with HIV/AIDS.
But Webb and Reaze didn't stop there. They continued organizing a broad-based opposition to the policy, knowing that people with HIV/AIDS were just a fraction of recipients who could be hurt by it. And a few months ago—amidst the tumult of the run-up to the Campaign to End AIDS' 4 Days of Action in D.C.—Webb and Reaze entered AAIM into a formal partnership with Housing Works, becoming HW's first-ever paid advocacy staffers in the South, where they are opening an AAIM office on State St. This Friday, they will convene a statewide meeting of advocates to discuss a "big picture" HIV/AIDS advocacy blueprint for Mississippi—and to work toward making "da 'ssipp" the first official state-level confederation of the Campaign to End AIDS, now that C2EA is moving from a caravan-based to a state-based mobilizing structure.
When looking to expand HW's advocacy beyond New York City and Capitol Hill, HW CEO Rev. Charles King singled out Mississippi for a reason: "In all of the nation, there is not a worse place than Mississippi to be a person living with AIDS and HIV," he says. "The stigma is so great, and general healthcare and services for those who are poor are so lacking. That's why Housing Works is committed to making change in Mississippi for people living with AIDS and HIV. We're thrilled to have found people as courageous and talented as Robin and Shannan to take up the challenge to organize the state to end AIDS."
A FIERCE PAIR
In many ways, Webb and Reaze embody two different generations of AIDS activists joining forces. Veteran pozzie and deeply spiritual Webb, 48, grew up in Mississippi but lived in New York City for years before coming home in recent years to be near family and volunteer at Grace House, a Jackson AIDS residence. High-spirited Reaze, who just turned 25 this Saturday (happy birthday!), grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and is finishing her senior year at Jackson State University, where she developed her chops organizing for prison reform and reproductive rights before getting involved last year with HIV prevention.
Both laid-back 'ssipsters are quickly adjusting to the whirlwind, do-it-yesterday HW style of activism, with all their attention since the end of November's C2EA summit focused on organizing Tuesday's keep-the-heat-on Medicaid protest and this Friday's statewide C2EA meeting. Webb calls pulling together a statewide C2EA network "our one mission right now. We're going to have a statewide conversation and identify our immediate issues. AAIM is growing organically, but most of all we're here to improve the lives of people in Mississippi living with HIV."
For Friday's meeting, says Reaze, "we'll have representation from all three regions of the state—northern, central and coastal, which is especially important post-Katrina. It all starts with getting people off the couch!" she laughs.
Webb, who still manages to volunteer for Grace House and a crisis hotline, calls the new HW/AAIM/C2EA fusion "phenomenal—it's been a whirlwind that I couldn't have imagined eight months ago. It feels like divine intervention to me." Reaze seconds that emotion: "It's an amazing opportunity for me to serve the community and do something that empowers and betters all of Mississippi," she says. "I'm really excited."
So is the HW crew in New York City and D.C.—including King, legal team topdog Armen Merjian, federal advocacy director Robert Cordero and new hire national organizer Larry Bryant—all of whom have been spending far more time in Mississippi than any of them ever thought they would be.
So how do Webb and Reaze serve up southern hospitality to their visiting new colleagues? "Fried catfish and fried pickles!" screams Reaze. "That," adds Webb, "and hanging out at gay bars."
That's right, you jaded northern city slickers, they've even got those now down in da 'ssipp.