Last week I finished my first 40 days as the new Executive Director of Southwest Center. It has truly been an inspiring start hearing from staff, board members, and our community stakeholders.
When I accepted the offer to join the Southwest Center team a good friend asked me why I would want to leave Minneapolis, particularly during a time of uncertainty in our country. Brutal winters aside, I replied that my passion to continue work in the HIV community was rooted in the principles of fairness, equality and justice, and a fundamental belief that all people should have the right to health care and the supports they need to live their best lives. Southwest Center embodies this value and was the primary driver in my decision to leave Minnesota.
Since the beginning of this epidemic, the fight against HIV has always been more than a search for a cure. It has been a battle for human dignity. A battle to demonstrate that each life, regardless of race, sexual orientation, gender identity, nation of origin, or religion has inherent value. HIV continues to this day to take the largest toll on our most marginalized communities. From gay men and transgender women to injection drug users and people of color – those who are most often shut out of our communities are also the most vulnerable to a wide range of health challenges, including HIV.
Maricopa County is one of 48 counties across the U.S. with the fastest rates of new HIV infections. This has resulted in over 11,000 individuals living with HIV in our county and many more who are unaware of their status. And while we have seen heroic efforts and huge advancements towards ending the epidemic, the sad reality is that we have seen little progress in addressing not only the stigma of being HIV positive, but also the impact HIV has on our marginalized communities.
As we continue our work to build our future together, in the coming months the Board of Directors will begin a strategic process which will define our vision and work moving forward. We have a strong foundation to build on due to an incredibly talented and dedicated team of professionals who have and continue to serve our clients each day with respect and compassionate care.
I believe that together we are better. Together we will build healthy communities, reduce new HIV infections, and improve HIV-related health outcomes. Together we will ensure that anyone who walks through our doors will feel welcomed and have the opportunity to build a healthy and thriving future.
Thank you for your past support of Southwest Center. I hope we can meet in the future when we can gather together once again. In the meantime, feel free to reach out if you would like to learn more about our work, suggest some ideas, or just share your story why you support Southwest Center. I would welcome hearing from you.
--Chuck Peterson, Executive Director