World Aids Museum Incorporated

WORLD AIDS MUSEUM AND EDUCATIONAL CENTER (THE ORGANIZATION) IS A NOT-FOR- PROFIT ORGANIZATION AND WAS INCORPORATED IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2011 TO RAISE AWARENESS AND ERADICATE STIGMA OF HIV/AIDS BY DOCUMENTING THE HISTORY, REMEMBERING THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED, EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT THE DISEASE, ENLIGHTENING THE WORLD TO THIS CONTINUING TRAGEDY AND EMPOWERING THE SURVIVORS.

THE WORLD AIDS MUSEUM AND EDUCATIONAL CENTER, OPENED ON MAY 15, 2014 IN WILTON MANORS, FLORIDA AND MOVED IN AUGUST 2020 TO FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA. WE ARE A MUSEUM AND EDUCATIONAL CENTER THAT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TO VISIT, EXPLORE AND ENJOY. WE OFFER GUIDED DOCENT TOURS ON REQUEST. IN OUR MAIN GALLERY IS THE CHRONOLOGY OF AIDS, WHICH IS THE HISTORY OF HIV AND AIDS. WE HAVE A SMALL ART GALLERY, MULTIMEDIA, AND ARTIFACTS THAT OFFER THOUGHT-PROVOKING AND HEARTWARMING ART EXPERIENCES. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS SINCE 2015, WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE HIV AND SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTION (STI) PREVENTION EDUCATION IN INDIVIDUAL CLASSROOM, SCHOOL CLUB, AND SCHOOL ASSEMBLY SETTINGS. IN ADDITION TO PRESENTATION AND VIDEO, INTERACTIVE ENGAGEMENT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO ASK QUESTIONS AND CONFRONT THEIR OWN FEARS AND BIASES. THE GOAL OF "IN CTRL" IS TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE EDUCATED LIFE CHOICES. IN ADDITION TO BROWARD COUNTY MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS OTHER VENUES SUCH AS ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS AND JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS ARE PROVIDED EDUCATION. OUR OUTREACH BEGAN IN THE FALL OF 2015. SINCE THEN, OUR EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND TRAINING STAFF HAVE TAUGHT ABOUT 10,000 STUDENTS. OUR "IN CTRL-EDUCATED CHOICES" PROGRAM IS A VERY DETAILED SAFE-SEX LESSON ABOUT HIV AND STIS. IN DECEMBER 2016, A SECOND OFFERING, "STIGMA ELIMINATION," WAS UNDERTAKEN TO HELP ERADICATE STIGMA TOWARD PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV OR AIDS. STIGMA CONTRIBUTES TO INFECTION-SPREAD BECAUSE IT ACTS AS A BARRIER TO TESTING. TESTING LEADS TO TREATMENT WHICH PREVENTS TRANSMISSION. WE ALSO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING FOR ALL LEVELS OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH-SERVICES PROVIDERS TO INCREASE THEIR CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN WORKING WITH CLIENTS OR PATIENTS AROUND ISSUES RELATED TO HIV AND AIDS. OUR EDUCATORS INCLUDE ADULTS WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH OR AFFECTED BY HIV/AIDS, AS WELL AS HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENT PEER EDUCATORS WHO WORK IN PAIRS TO PRESENT THE PROGRAMS. THE PEER EDUCATOR PROGRAM INCLUDES A MULTI-SESSION TRAINING EXPERIENCE, ALONG WITH SUPERVISED FIELD EXPERIENCE. WE WELCOME UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS LOOKING FOR FIELD EXPERIENCES TO ENRICH THEIR EDUCATION THROUGH WORKING ON A VARIETY OF MUSEUM PROGRAMS.