POCAAN Gala will celebrate the accomplishments of 2022, big things ahead for ‘23
“We’re still here and we’re still fighting.”
That was the message sent by POCAAN Development and Communications Manager David Corrado. Since 1987, the People of Color Against AIDS Network has been working to serve people in marginalized communities across the state of Washington. POCAAN provides a variety of services, from HIV/AIDS testing to housing support to medical care and more. At one point, the organization had seven offices scattered around Washington State. Since then, their physical footprint has shrunk but their impact continues to grow.
“Currently we’re majority grant-funded, so there’s not a lot of unrestricted funds,” Corrado said. “But to have new partners and see them investing in wanting to kind of diversify our impact, diversify the people we reach reach and the programs that we serve means that we're in a really exciting point of growth.”
Corrado says he’s been planting the seeds for further growth of the organization. They are currently in talks with the county as they aim to acquire one of the hotels purchased by King County in 2021. That would allow POCAAN to house individuals and provide care. They also recently retrofitted an RV into a mobile clinic with two testing rooms.
“We're hoping to take be able to take that around the state and making it a regular thing, just helping folks and meeting them where they’re at,” Corrado said.
Prevention Coordinator Ariyah Albert agrees that the community impact of POCAAN is growing in the right direction. She moved to Seattle just three months ago but has already fallen in love with the people and the work she does.
“It's really fulfilling getting to work with people that look like me and also people that are living the same experiences as me,” Albert said. “As a trans woman who is also positive and of color, I get to I get to deal with my experiences every day.”
Albert also works on POCAAN’s housing program. In addition to her community work, she’s a performer and will be featured at the POCAAN Gala on December 17th. The gala itself will include performances, awards, and a look back at all the work done by POCAAN this year.
“People can expect a night of excellence that shows us everything is worth the work. It’s going to show an organization that is immersed in this community,” Albert said. “You're going to have awards given out, you're going to have entertainment, you’re going to be supporting the art and the local artists and giving them space to be creative.”
The Keynote speaker for the evening will be Ashley McGirt, the founder and president of the Washington Therapy fund. Also featured will be comedian Mitch Mitchell and drag performer Sable Jones St. James.
The gala will be a night of celebration and of purpose for an organization which is still working towards their mission every single day.
You can find out more about the gala and register here
