March Damien Center Update

Damien Center’s Positive Youth Action have been asked to come out to the Phoenix Theater to be a part of their “Trail Talks” series. During the Trail Talks series, the Phoenix Theater has different non-profit organizations come out and share their mission or a part of their programming. Typically, the non-profit organizations present alongside a play that falls in line with their mission.

This Trail Talk will be happening in conjunction with their production of “No AIDS, No Maids: Stories I can’t F*ckin Hear No More”, a one-woman play by Dee Dee Batteast.

In this one-woman performance, actress and teacher Dee Dee Batteast crafts a darkly humorous exploration of the obstacles minority storytellers face in the American media. No AIDS, No Maids looks hard at the archetypal and two-dimensional characters women of color have played for over 50 years and disassociates gay men from the pervasive narrative of disease. As we consider the roles that race and gender play in our political and cultural lives, Batteast’s work points out the poor nutrition of deficient narratives.
(More about this play here: http://www.waltzingmechanics.org/no-aids-no-maids)

The Positive Youth Action Cohort would like to showcase the creative storytelling of HIV+ individuals, we are inviting on their behalf for any staff or clients at Damien Center to participate. If you write poetry, lyrics, or short stories and would enjoy having a space to be heard creatively, this is your opportunity to do so.

No AIDS, No Maids calls for more creative representation for Black women and gay men other than replaying traumatic histories on repeat. Positive Youth Action wants this event to do exactly that and provide a space to celebrate and bring to the forefront the fact that HIV+ individuals are far more than their diagnosis.

We are hoping to have five folks contribute creatively along with members of our cohort and be given an audience to hear their words. If someone has something they’d like to share but would not like to read it or share it themselves, we can work with the writer and the cohort to arrange for one of the young folks to share it for them. Those that participate will be given tickets to a performance of No AIDS, No Maids, courtesy of Phoenix Theatre.

If you are interested in participating or having your creative works highlighted, please reach out to Evren Elliott [email protected].

Damien Center welcomes all clients who want to contribute to the organization’s mission to be a part of the Client Advisory Board. The Client Advisory Board, or CAB, is a space for clients to come and talk through client services and how we can better them as an organization. We want to create a safe space for client’s voices to be heard so that we can build new programs and services as well as continue to make changes in existing programs and services as needed.

The Client Advisory Board will meet on the fourth Thursday of each month at 1:15 – 2:15 PM. Clients who attend will receive a $20 gift card for attending the meeting as well as lunch. If you are interested in being a part of CAB, please contact Chris Feagans [email protected] or contact your care team.

CAB Information:

• Starts March 24th, Every fourth Thursday of the Month
• 1:15 –2:15pm
• Contact: Chris Feagans

Damien Center is partnering with Jameson Camp again to bring back Camp Tataya Mato for children and youth between the ages of 7 to 17. Jameson Camp is located on Indy’s Westside and offers the only camp program in Indiana that serves children and youth who are affected by or have family members that are affected by HIV/AIDS.

Tataya Mato is a 6-day/7-night camp that offers all traditional camp activities such as archery, arts and crafts, rock climbing, ropes course, and many other activities. The camp combines traditional camp activities with daily lessons to help with character development and personal growth. Campers are immersed in a supportive environment that allows them to interact with other children their age who have gone through similar experiences to them.

Damien Center clients who have children or grandchildren are interested in attending camp this year will receive financial assistance to do so, however, clients will be responsible for the $5.00 registration fee for their children or grandchildren. Camp Tataya Mato will be held on July 10th – July 15th and is an overnight camp. For any questions or concerns that clients have regarding camp, please contact our Family Support Specialist, Diana Owens, MSW [email protected].