More than Marketing
03/13/23 • 21 min
More than Marketing
Insights into AHF’s communication and events wing
GUEST BIO:
Kevin Makdivichit is the Director of Marketing for AHF in the United States.
Ebonni Chrispin is the Director of Legislative Affairs and Community Engagement for AHF.
Max Alvarez is AHF’s Director of Events and Community Engagement.
CORE TOPICS + DETAILS:
[2:18] - AHF as Event Host
Why AHF is taking an active role in in-person events
International Condom Day. World AIDS Day. Marches, protests, and more. AHF is more active in life, in-person events than ever.
Why? Because it’s important for people to engage. They say that birds flock, fish school, and people tribe. AHF is committed to using our tribe mentality to connect on potentially sticky subjects like STIs, AIDs, and safe sex. When we gather to openly discuss these issues in public, we remove the power of silence to keep us complacent and uncomfortable and we make these topics something that can be addressed openly and effectively.
[4:56] - Starting with Greatest Need
How AHF chooses events and locations
How does AHF choose which events to host or participate in? It all starts with statistics. For example, the efforts surrounding International Condom Day centered around data about where STI rates were off the charts. All planning focused on using those numbers to go where public conversation and education was most needed.
[7:10] - The Next Phase: Finding Partners
Ebonni shares the importance of partnerships for events
AHF isn’t an island. In every event, Ebonni stresses the importance of considering small nonprofits, community leaders, and even local, statewide, and federal elected officials to become potential partners. In order for people to become advocates, they need to have a reason to believe in the cause. That starts with bringing them onboard and making people and organizations of all sizes and backgrounds feel that they’re a part of something historically significant and vital.
[14:57] - Keeping Events Free
Why AHF makes their events free to the public
Kevin relates how the “why” of AHF’s free events is more important than the “how.” Every event, show, protest, and gathering is all about a specific cause or message. It’s about getting more people in seats so they have the opportunity to learn something. The fewer barriers there are to people attending, the more opportunities there are for that learning and transformation to take place.
RESOURCES:
- [2:18] About International Condom Day
- [2:18] About World AIDS Day
- [20:20] AHF Events
FOLLOW:
ABOUT AFTER HOURS:
AIDS Healthcare Foundation is the world’s largest HIV/AIDS service organization, operating in 45 countries globally. The mission? Providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy for everyone, regardless of ability to pay.
The After Hours podcast is an official podcast of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, in which host Lauren Hogan is joined by experts in a range of fields to educate, inform, and inspire listeners on topics that go far beyond medical information to cover leadership, creativity, and success.
Learn more at: https://www.aidshealth.org
ABOUT THE HOST:
Lauren Hogan is the Associate Director of Communications for AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and has been working in a series of roles with the Foundation since 2016. She’s passionate about increasing the public visibility of AIDS, the Foundation's critical work, and how everyday people can help join the fight to make cutting-edge medicine, treatment, and support available for anyone who needs it.
- Learn more about Lauren at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenhogan3
- Learn more about AIDS Healthcare Foundation at: https://www.aidshealth.org
ABOUT DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:
In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, ...
More than Marketing
Insights into AHF’s communication and events wing
GUEST BIO:
Kevin Makdivichit is the Director of Marketing for AHF in the United States.
Ebonni Chrispin is the Director of Legislative Affairs and Community Engagement for AHF.
Max Alvarez is AHF’s Director of Events and Community Engagement.
CORE TOPICS + DETAILS:
[2:18] - AHF as Event Host
Why AHF is taking an active role in in-person events
International Condom Day. World AIDS Day. Marches, protests, and more. AHF is more active in life, in-person events than ever.
Why? Because it’s important for people to engage. They say that birds flock, fish school, and people tribe. AHF is committed to using our tribe mentality to connect on potentially sticky subjects like STIs, AIDs, and safe sex. When we gather to openly discuss these issues in public, we remove the power of silence to keep us complacent and uncomfortable and we make these topics something that can be addressed openly and effectively.
[4:56] - Starting with Greatest Need
How AHF chooses events and locations
How does AHF choose which events to host or participate in? It all starts with statistics. For example, the efforts surrounding International Condom Day centered around data about where STI rates were off the charts. All planning focused on using those numbers to go where public conversation and education was most needed.
[7:10] - The Next Phase: Finding Partners
Ebonni shares the importance of partnerships for events
AHF isn’t an island. In every event, Ebonni stresses the importance of considering small nonprofits, community leaders, and even local, statewide, and federal elected officials to become potential partners. In order for people to become advocates, they need to have a reason to believe in the cause. That starts with bringing them onboard and making people and organizations of all sizes and backgrounds feel that they’re a part of something historically significant and vital.
[14:57] - Keeping Events Free
Why AHF makes their events free to the public
Kevin relates how the “why” of AHF’s free events is more important than the “how.” Every event, show, protest, and gathering is all about a specific cause or message. It’s about getting more people in seats so they have the opportunity to learn something. The fewer barriers there are to people attending, the more opportunities there are for that learning and transformation to take place.
RESOURCES:
- [2:18] About International Condom Day
- [2:18] About World AIDS Day
- [20:20] AHF Events
FOLLOW:
ABOUT AFTER HOURS:
AIDS Healthcare Foundation is the world’s largest HIV/AIDS service organization, operating in 45 countries globally. The mission? Providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy for everyone, regardless of ability to pay.
The After Hours podcast is an official podcast of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, in which host Lauren Hogan is joined by experts in a range of fields to educate, inform, and inspire listeners on topics that go far beyond medical information to cover leadership, creativity, and success.
Learn more at: https://www.aidshealth.org
ABOUT THE HOST:
Lauren Hogan is the Associate Director of Communications for AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and has been working in a series of roles with the Foundation since 2016. She’s passionate about increasing the public visibility of AIDS, the Foundation's critical work, and how everyday people can help join the fight to make cutting-edge medicine, treatment, and support available for anyone who needs it.
- Learn more about Lauren at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenhogan3
- Learn more about AIDS Healthcare Foundation at: https://www.aidshealth.org
ABOUT DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:
In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, ...
Previous Episode
Having the Hard Conversations
Having the Hard Conversations
About SOFA and how AHF meets our community where they stand
GUEST BIO:
Tatiana Williams represents Transinclusive Group, a trans-led organization in affiliation with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.
Devina Boga is a member of the SOFA board and is a PhD candidate in the Prevention Science and Community Health Program, as well as a trainee in the Change T32 program.
Vie works with Planned Parenthood as a sexual health educator and works in community partnership with AHF through Decrim 305, striving to decriminalize sex work across the state of Florida.
Valoria Thomas is a former program manager at Broward House over counseling and testing, in an affiliate role with AHF.
Crystal Echevarria is a community mobilizer for AHF, collaborating with other community partners to help educate people on the resources AHF has to offer.
CORE TOPICS + DETAILS:
[3:07] - What is SOFA?
More than an advocacy group
Tatiana describes SOFA as a source of community feedback for AHF. Its goal is to initiate important conversations that relate to meeting marginalized communities where they are, allowing those community members to take an active part in that conversation.
Meanwhile, Vie talks about conversations that are already happening behind closed doors to the forefront of public discourse, providing medically accurate information and reducing stigma surrounding these topics.
[19:08] - Lessons from Megan Thee Stallion’s Story
Understanding the roots of domestic violence — and why we fail to trust women
All our guests speak on the very public situation regarding Megan Thee Stallion becoming a victim of domestic violence and evening being shot as a result. The consensus overall is that again and again, even among publicly beloved figures, we doubt their stories until we have irrefutable proof. We ask about the circumstances surrounding their victimhood, whether there was anything they did to “cause” it. And as long as we continue to do that, women will continue to be victimized and kept from being empowered to escape these situations.
[26:16] - Keeping Sex Education in School
Not talking about it doesn’t mean it won’t happen
For many young people, sex education in school is the only sex education available. There’s simply no evidence to suggest that sex education leads to increased sexual activity — in fact, sex education has been proven to reduce unwanted pregnancies, STDs, and other negative impacts to young people’s lives. That all begs the question — why is it continuously being removed from the curriculum? We have to ask ourselves who policies like this serve. Because it certainly isn’t the students and young people who are negatively impacted.
RESOURCES:
- [1:29] About Change T32
- [1:49] About Decrim 305
- [2:07] About Broward House
FOLLOW:
ABOUT AFTER HOURS:
AIDS Healthcare Foundation is the world’s largest HIV/AIDS service organization, operating in 45 countries globally. The mission? Providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy for everyone, regardless of ability to pay.
The After Hours podcast is an official podcast of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, in which host Lauren Hogan is joined by experts in a range of fields to educate, inform, and inspire listeners on topics that go far beyond medical information to cover leadership, creativity, and success.
Learn more at: https://www.aidshealth.org
ABOUT THE HOST:
Lauren Hogan is the Associate Director of Communications for AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and has been working in a series of roles with the Foundation since 2016. She’s passionate about increasing the public visibility of AIDS, the Foundation's critical work, and how everyday people can help join the fight to make cutting-edge medicine, treatment, and support available for anyone who needs it.
- Learn more about Lauren at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenhogan3
- Learn more about AIDS Healthcare Foundation at: https://www.aidshealth.org
ABOUT DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:
In Detroit, history was made when Bar...
Next Episode
Meet the Mobilizers
Meet the Mobilizers
Turning big plans into real action
GUEST BIO:
Jeremy Myers is a Baltimore-raised mobilizer who has been with AHF since 2021.
Taylor Watson is a mobilizer who has been with AHF for three and a half years.
Raymond Thomas is the AHF mobilizer for Washington D.C. He’s been with AHF for approximately eight years.
CORE TOPICS + DETAILS:
[2:43] - “The Five Senses of AHF”
What it means to be a mobilizer
Raymond Thomas eloquently explains the role of mobilizers as the “five senses of AHF.” In local communities, they’re on the ground taking a pulse of what’s going on — touching people, recruiting advocates, and keeping people engaged, interested, and aware of what AHF is fighting for every day.
Meanwhile, Taylor says mobilizers are like the bus — they bring the fuel, the people, and the direction to drive change. Finally, Jeremy describes mobilizers as the people who “fill in the blanks” between plans in meeting rooms and action in the pharmacies, events, and streets.
[5:03] - Two Communities, One Message
The dual audiences of AHF mobilizers
AHF mobilizers speak from two platforms, and toward two audiences — those within the community of people directly affected by AHF, and then those in the wider community to raise awareness. It’s about letting people affected know that AHF is fighting for them and giving them the resources they need, while also informing the larger general public about how they can get involved – and why they should.
[7:30] - Other Names for Mobilizers
If you want to understand mobilizers, hear what they call themselves
“Rally girls.”
“Community organizers.”
“Community disruptors.”
“Community liaisons.”
“Activists.”
“We’re not classy. Our job is to disrupt the order.”
These quotes from this week’s guests show how being a mobilizer can mean many things, and encompass many things. But it all adds up to a nontraditional role that’s not meant to be stuffy, quiet, or “classy.” It’s about being loud and being a voice for the communities AHF is trying to serve.
[10:04] - Uncomfortable But Never In Danger
Keeping mobilizers safe in difficult situations
Considering they’re on the front lines of AHF’s movement, mobilizers are often put into situations they describe as “high-risk” or “uncomfortable,” though none of our guests say they’ve ever felt as though their lives were in danger. They feel it’s their job to go places where others aren’t comfortable going, while also ensuring they and everyone they’re involved with are always safe and secure.
[13:33] - What’s Next
The future goals of AHF mobilizers
In speaking to all three of our guest mobilizers this week about their future goals, one unifying message became clear — the goals are constantly changing with each event, mission, and even from day to day. When asked, “What are your goals?” the response is always: “What event are we working on?” That constantly evolving role can be challenging, of course, but it’s also exciting and invigorating for our mobilizer teams.
“It really isn’t about the numbers sometimes,” Taylor shares.
RESOURCES:
[0:00] AHF Careers
FOLLOW:
ABOUT AFTER HOURS:
AIDS Healthcare Foundation is the world’s largest HIV/AIDS service organization, operating in 45 countries globally. The mission? Providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy for everyone, regardless of ability to pay.
The After Hours podcast is an official podcast of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, in which host Lauren Hogan is joined by experts in a range of fields to educate, inform, and inspire listeners on topics that go far beyond medical information to cover leadership, creativity, and success.
Learn more at: https://www.aidshealth.org
ABOUT THE HOST:
Lauren Hogan is the Associate Director of Communications for AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and has been working in a series of roles with the Foundation since 2016. She’s passionate about increasing the public visibility of AIDS, the Foundation's critical work, and how everyday people can help join the fight to make cutting-edge medicine, treatment, and support available for anyone who needs it.
- Learn more about Lauren at:
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