25 YEARS AND COUNTING by sylvia rodemeyer
SHANTI O.C.
SHANTI O.C. HAS BEEN SERVING ORANGE COUNTY FOR 25 YEARS AND HAS GROWN OVER THE PAST TWO AND A HALF DECADES AS THE CHALLENGES SURROUNDING THOSE LIVING WITH HIV AND AIDS HAVE CHANGED. RECENTLY SHANTI O.C. MOVED TO ITS NEW LOCATION IN LAGUNA HILLS, EXPANDING THE SERVICES OFFERED TO THOSE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS IN THE AREA.
COMMUNITY EVENTS(cont.)
QUEER PEOPLE OF COLOR CONFERENCE The theme for this year’s Queer People of Color
Conference (QPOCC) is Fourway: Intersection of Race, Gender, Class and Sex[uality]. The weekend- long event allows all people the opportunity to understand the diversity of being a person of color within the queer community. It focuses on the issues of injustice and oppression faced by those within such communities, while simultaneously seeking methods of social reformation to allevi- ate such issues. The conference will shed light on various issues from the current political climate, safe sex and HIV, the coming out process for ethnic communities, to the movement of visual and per- forming arts. By illuminating these perspectives, through engaging workshops, discussion groups, caucuses and a captivating keynote speaker, QPOCC strives to fully expand the knowledge and empower the identities of queer people of color. QPOCC is set to take place the weekend of Friday, March 30, at 6 p.m. until Sunday, April 1, at 3 p.m. The location is at California State University, Northridge, located at 18111 Nordhoff Street in Northridge. For more information, call 818.583. QPOC (7762), e-mail
questions@qpocc2012.org or visit
qpocc2012.org.
Shanti Orange County, formerly known as Laguna
Shanti, originally provided counseling and support to those in the community dying of AIDS. The orga- nization sought to create a safe place where people could feel welcome and valued while fighting death, despair and isolation as the AIDS pandemic grew. Since that time, the nature of HIV/AIDS and its treat- ment has changed dramatically. As a result, Shanti O.C. has grown and evolved. It is no longer solely a mission to comfort the dying, for the past several years the organization has been committed to HIV/ AIDS prevention and education and to helping HIV positive individuals live as fully as possible, despite their diagnoses. Executive Director Sarah Kasman shares, “We
shifted from clients coming to us knowing they’re dying, to being able to assist them in learning to live a full and rewarding life with this disease.” Kasman started working with Shanti O.C. in the early days of the organization, moved out of state near the begin- ning of this decade and returned in her current role as executive director in 2005. She’s watched the disease change from a death sentence, to something that can be managed. Even so, in Orange County in particular, HIV/AIDS
remains highly stigmatized and because of that, those with a diagnosis often keep their status under wraps for fear of rejection. For this reason, there is
14 RAGE monthly | MARCH 2012
often a problem of isolation with long term HIV/AIDS clients because of the fear of discrimination. “We’re committed to addressing the body, mind
and soul, in addition to the medical, support and community,” Kasman says. Shanti O.C. helps more than 1,200 men, women
and families in Orange County infected or affected by HIV each year. Services include case management, home delivered meals, transportation, individual and couple counseling, therapy groups, support groups and HIV education and prevention services. The organization reports that 89 percent of all money raised goes directly toward running the programs that separate Shanti O.C. from other local organiza- tions. In addition to their standard fundraising efforts,
Shanti O.C. will be participating in the Orange County AIDS Walk on Sunday, May 6, and is currently assem- bling a team to walk as the Shanti Strutters. Most of the services provided by Shanti O.C. are provided by a staff of tireless volunteers
For more information on Shanti O.C. visit their new location at 23461 South Pointe Drive, Suite 100, in Laguna Hills or go to
shantioc.org.
A SPECIAL EVENING WITH DEAN KOONTZ New York Times best seller and internationally
acclaimed author Dean Koontz provides an insid- er’s view of the literary world and speaks about his experience, recent works, and upcoming projects during A Special Evening with Dean Koontz at The Laguna Playhouse. Barbara Barrett Demarco, host of KUCI’s Writers on Writing and Book Salon will moderate the evening, in which Koontz is certain to share about his most recent fiction, 77 Shadow Street, which debuted at Number One on The New York Times Best-Sellers List in December 2011. The novel transcends all expectations as the author takes readers on a gripping journey to a place where nightmare visions become real and where a group of singular individuals hold the key to humanity’s destiny. A Special Evening With Dean Koontz is on Monday, April 2, at 6 p.m. Tickets to the event are $50. The Laguna Playhouse is located at 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach. For information and to purchase tickets, call 949.497. ARTS (2787) or visit
lagunaplayhouse.com.
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