Helping women educate themselves and inform others about HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention is one of the cornerstones of SMART’s work. So, in a sense, the terms “outreach” and “advocacy” apply to all components of SMART University and its adjunct programs.

SMART Women in the community.

Throughout its 10-year history, SMART has made a concerted effort to establish a presence in our community: distributing healthcare and safer-sex information at schools and health fairs throughout the five boroughs, lobbying city council members in Manhattan and state legislators in Albany, and attending conferences where we can both share information about our work and increase our knowledge base.

During this time, Founder Susan Rodriguez has lobbied for- and emphasized the importance of educating women about the need for developing better microbicides: vaginal gels, creams or suppositories which block or prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. (More on microbicides.)

SMART attends Ms. Foundation convention.

Many of our efforts are spearheaded by Janet Cameron, MSW, Program Director of SMART University and SMART Youth, and SMART University Program Coordinator Yolanda Diaz, a former client who came on staff in 2004. Cameron and Diaz have represented SMART at the Young Women of Color HIV/AIDS Coalition’s Second Annual Health Summit at St. Francis College, The Northern Manhattan Profiles conference on Sexual Diversity (hosted by the East Harlem HIV/AIDS Care Network) and the Union Settlement Health Fair.

Diaz leads SMART’s community prevention work, advocates on behalf of women living with HIV/AIDS and represents SMART in the steering committee of the East Harlem HIV Care Network and other community groups. A gifted community organizer, trainer and spokesperson, Yolanda also has been a regular presence at New York’s Port Authority for over three years, not just distributing safer safe and HIV informational materials but engaging people in a non-threatening manner about the importance of HIV prevention and treatment.

SMART's safer sex and HIV informational materials.

SMART Women and Youth both distribute SNAG Bags – which include condoms and safer sex information – in their communities. In the past year, SMART Youth has created its own, distinctive SNAG bag, with greater peer appeal. These bags not only include attractive condoms, but lubricants, key chains and samples of lip gloss from SMART supporter M.A.C. Cosmetics.

“Our youth also did a special prevention project – condom baskets, which they asked local businesses and universities to put out for them,” says Cameron. “By the summer of 2008, their Outreach efforts will include message-oriented T-shirts designed by the Youth and available for sale on our website.”
For more on microbocides, lobbying, community education and outreach efforts, visit SMART’s Web site.