LetsStopAIDS is calling on tomorrow’s leaders to reach out and apply for five vacancies on their board…
By Paul Cadiente
When the LetsStopAIDS team sat down to think about how to structure its board, it had three key goals in mind, diversity, skills development and empowering the next generation of board leaders through mentorship. Now, we’re calling on tomorrow’s leaders to reach out and apply for five vacancies on our board. As a youth charity, LetsStopAIDS knows what younger generations value and we’re delivering it.
The next generation cares about being part of a community where the organization creates space for developing personal and professional relationships. This social aspect creates a meaningful ripple effect delivering an impact across the community and society at large. This dynamic drives mentorship, leadership and a general sense of greater responsibility.
We want to continuously inspire youth in Canada and globally to play a meaningful role in ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 through our numerous HIV education programs for youth. We want to encourage young people affected by HIV to take action, striving to achieve zero new HIV infections. To enhance HIV youth awareness within our society, we want to create spaces for youth to discuss topics surrounding their sexual health.
As we grow as a charity, we’re seeking to structure our board using a representation-first model. That means we’re seeking out diverse people with varied gender and sexual orientations as well as BIPOC, people impacted by HIV/AIDS, youth and newcomers to Canada. In bringing together diverse voices, we desire to accurately reflect lived experiences, promote diversity and thoughtfully build our community.
From a skills perspective, we’re seeking out members not only with board governance skills but also in legal, finance, human resources, philanthropy, tech, project management, youth development and more.
We’re being intentional about who we recruit, and we’ve created an evaluation and board member recruitment process to make sure we have a diverse mix of skills and representation, meeting the needs of our community. We’re investing in cultivating future board leaders that are committed and have leadership aspirations
Our HIV Youth Prevention and Awareness Programs
New board members will help us grow and make our programs even better. Programs such as our Peer (To Peer) workshops, a youth-HIV peer ed program consisting of a series of interactive workshops, created and delivered by youth for youth.
LiveLifeLoving, our supportive and stigma-free online forum where young people can share information, stories, and learn more about HIV in a safe environment. LiveLifeLoving acts as a virtual first point of contact for those living with HIV.
NoTimeToWait gives young people the opportunity to further their knowledge of HIV-related issues and develop the advocacy skills necessary to carry out sustainable initiatives. Last year’s theme was “Me, You, Us”, focusing on the individual, interpersonal and collective perspectives.
The Winning Seed is a component of NoTimeToWait, where applicants propose an initiative that provides a solution or brings awareness to an issue related to HIV. LetsStopAIDS chooses the winner and sees it through with seed funding and mentorship.
To apply, forward a cover letter and a current CV/resume to Paul Cadiente, board chair at pcadiente@letsstopaids.org and cc vma@letsstopaids.org with the subject line: 2023 LSA Board Recruitment. We have a rolling deadline, aiming to have people vetted and interviewed by May 15, 2023.
PAUL CADIENTE is the chair, board of directors, for LetsStopAIDS. Visit letsstopaids.org for more information.
Shamin Mohamed Jr / 12 April 2023
Thanks for the support, IN Magazine! As founding LetsStopAIDS when I was 15, and now entering our 19th year, were so excited for this growth ☺️