Final Farewell

So all the bags are packed and I am ready to go; but I didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye to all of you beautiful people. There has been so much to be grateful for in 2009. Project FIERCE is off and running! I hope that you have all enjoyed our time together. I will miss my hometown and all my friends.

Before I leave let me leave you with the three quotes that were on my cubicle wall for the past two years. They have inspired me, and gotten me through the rough days.

“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. The mediocre mind is incapable of understanding the man who refuses to bow blindly to conventional prejudices and chooses instead to express his opinions courageously and honestly.”
~ Albert Einstein 1940

This quote has gotten me through some of the toughest times in my life. It applies so much to HIV prevention. There is so much stigma and shame in this world that we have to be courageous and honest about this disease to defeat the mediocre mind.


“No real social change has ever been brought about without a revolution... revolution is but thought carried into action.”
~Emma Goldman

Again, so true! Social Change is what my life is always about. Changing the minds and helping to change some behavior. To me a revolution does not have to be some huge uprising. You can have a personal revolution. Like Miss Goldman says, it is just a thought carried into action.
And Finally:

“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.”
~ Dolly Parton

Who doesn’t love Dolly? Amazing talent and insight into the world; this is the most obvious and simple statement, yet, it is the one we always forget. Things will always get better! Just remember, Dolly says so.

So that is what I looked at everyday for 2 years. Those are the things that reminded me that I must continue to do what I do. I hope they inspire you all to do something extraordinary in your life.

Well, kids I am off to save the world!



XOXO,

Patricio!

From the Desk of P. Battani

Dear Project FIERCE Family:

This is the most difficult and saddest letter I have ever written. Over the last year, I have seen Project FIERCE grow from idea into something great. This is not to my credit but to the credit of the whole community. The support that I have received from Truman’s, Vickie’s, The Club has been amazing. I want to take this moment to thank each person who has helped achieve this goal.

Now for the hard part… I have resigned from AIDS Ministries/AIDS Assist effective January 8, 2010. The many years I have spent with the organization have taught me so much. Without the AMAA, I could not go forward at this time.

I am proud of the work that I have done with AMAA and Project FIERCE. Sometimes, like any proud parent, you have to let go and let them find their own way. I know that Project FIERCE is in the best hands, I couldn’t ask for better people.

As job opportunities have arose in the past, I have politely passed. I did this because I am committed to my community and their wellbeing. South Bend is my hometown; I care deeply for all of my brothers and sisters. However, an opportunity too good to pass up came along.

This new opportunity will help me to grow and what I learn, I can share. I will be moving to Bloomington, Indiana. I have accepted a position with Bloomington Hospital’s Positive Link. This does not mean that I am abandoning Project FIERCE; it just means I will watch from afar. I will always be a phone call away if anyone needs me.

Please understand that this position will enrich all of our lives for the better. With new information and new technologies to share, we can reach more people and hopeful end this epidemic. It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve my community in this capacity, I will truly miss everyone…and you scarecrow, I think I’ll miss you most of all.

Stay Health and Be FIERCE,

Patrick Battani

In My Not So Humble Opinion

It has been a year and as we head into the holiday season, I just wanted to give you all some of the insight that I have learned this year. This will be my last blog…so I am gonna make it a good one. With 2010 just around the corner, it is important that this year we make a resolution to be healthy. I don’t know what that means to you, but take care of your whole self this year mind, body and spirit. Here are my 2009 Lessons.


All that glitters isn't gold…sometimes it's just glitter.

I have learned that sometimes if it shiny and new, it isn't always right. I tried new things this year and not all of them were really worth that much other then the experience. Sometimes what you think is valuable is just cheap pieces of shiny plastic and sometimes shiny plastic is worth more then gold.



Stand strong and carry a big stick!
I really learned what it means to stand up for what you believe in this year. If they won't listen then use the stick! I am not advocating violence, but sometimes that is the only thing that people respond to. I did not get into any fights this year, but I have given some really intimidating looks.



Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover.

Boy, did I learn this lesson this year. I have actually found friends in people that I would have never been friends will. I honor those relationships and learn from my mistake. Be kind to each other…the toes you step on today may be connected to the butt you have to kiss tomorrow.


Rome wasn't built in a Day!
That may be true…but someone dreamt it in one day. Follow your dreams regardless of what anyone tells you. This was a lesson that I so need to hear. I have so many dreams in this world and I know that I can make them all come true!


You can always come home!

At the end of the day I have had my fun. Made new friends, made some changes and become someone who I am much prouder of today then I was yesterday. But at the end of the day all I really need is to come home where it is warm and loving. SO here is to 2010…wasn't the greatest year…wasn’t the worst. Thanks for the memories!



In my not so humble opinion, tomorrow hopes that we have learned something from today!

Love,
Patricio

I was born at a time that a “Gay Cancer” was sweeping through our communities in San Francisco, New York, etc. I often joke that I was born to fight AIDS. My mother told me that when I was born she had a birth control device called an IUD (Inter-Uterine Device) at that time there was only going to be a 30% chance that I would be alive today. I beat the odds and here I am fighting!


When I was 15 years old I had to take summer health, so I would have time to fit in drama in the school year. Much like any other 15 y/o I didn’t want to sit in a classroom for five weeks during my summer break. About half way through the course we began to talk about HIV/AIDS. A little black woman, named Debra, walked into the room. She had short hair, was rail thin, and the loudest voice I have ever heard. She wasn’t the usual suspect when it comes to public health. She was upfront, unapologetic, and welcoming all at the same time.

At this time in my life I was beginning to feel “different” then the other boys.(no it wasn’t puberty) I didn’t understand why I didn’t have crushes on the girls, but instead wanted to kiss the boy in front of me in health class. I knew that maybe if I knew more about sexuality that maybe I might just understand myself. (Still don’t!)

I joined a Peer Educators group both at AIDS Ministries/AIDS Assist and Planned Parenthood. I showed up that day to the back of a church; A young girl answered the door and welcomed me inside. I am a pretty shy person in groups where I don’t know anyone. So I sat quietly and listened as they talked about everything and anything.

We continued to talk over the weeks, months, and years. Finally, I was in a place that was comfortable and open to who I was. I made friends, went to conferences and educated our peers about HIV.

I went to college and continued to work with different organizations. I moved back to South Bend in 2005 and worked for a local program that was Abstinence based programming. (Sometimes you have to sell your soul to make some money.) In 2007, I began working at AIDS Ministries/AIDS Assist…again! I am finally in job that makes me happy to go to work.

For a long time, I have been feeling that we have not listened to our ancestors and elders. We have not heard their stories. We, as the GLBT Community, have lost so many people. I want our community to feel this, to understand this! Sometimes when I am out talking to people about HIV they give me looks like I am a “crazy homeless guy”.

I wonder what is going on. Have those people who lived through this forgotten, or just don’t want to recall? Do you the youth actually care? My generation just says “Yeah, we know!”

So here I am, sitting at my desk looking at the numbers going up. I wonder what do you know or does it even matter. I have always said that the day it gets easy to tell someone that they are HIV+ is the day I quit my job.

So tell me your story! What do you want to know? What is important to you? In some small way I feel that the words of our people with heal those of us who have never heard their stories. Help us fight the fight this year. World AIDS Day is in two weeks, what are you going to do?

In my not so humble opinion, Honor your ancestors, celebrate your elders, and empower our youth.

XOXO,
Patricio

Wisdom Wednesday

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