My name is Chloe and I have been volunteering off and on at HIV Alliance for the past 8 months. I worked in San Francisco, CA at a Needle Exchange Program through the organization, Tenderloin Health, and I wanted to continue working in HIV prevention and sought out HIV Alliance in Oregon.

As a volunteer I was given multiple opportunities to work with other programs within the agency. I was offered a variety of volunteer events to work and trainings to attend, like representing HIV Alliance at the 2010 Lane County Project Homeless Connect. I was immediately welcomed and accepted by the existing staff and volunteer community. I felt trusted, even as a new volunteer, to work on various projects and in different positions.

Volunteering at HIV Alliance is significant to me because I have the opportunity to help the local community affected by HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C. I also have been able to learn of the struggles and challenges individuals diagnosed with this disease face, be it homelessness, mental illness, or addiction issues. Overall, my experience at HIV Alliance has been an overwhelmingly positive one.

As a Family and Human Services major at the UO I am required to complete three internships throughout my time in the program. I chose the HIV Alliance as my third site because of its great reputation among my peers. I am involved in many of the prevention aspects of the HIV Alliance; needle exchange, HIV and Hep C prevention counseling and testing, and I am working with Jeff Nichols on Hepatitis C program development. For me, the best part about being a volunteer at the Alliance is working with the clients. I have been able to get a lot of hands-on experience and work with populations that I otherwise would not have the opportunity. I am also passionate about public health, and believe the HIV Alliance's use of the harm-reduction model is effective while being realistic.