The Reunion Project Town Hall Chicago Report

The Reunion Project has released its comprehensive report on the recent town hall forum, “Long-Term Survivors: Sharing Wisdom & Shaping Legacies,” held on May 17-18, 2024, in Chicago. The TC CFAR co-sponsored The Reunion Project’s town hall through the Center’s Community Dissemination Award. 

“When Dave Kern and I envisioned this forum, we anticipated a meaningful reconnection to our origins in Chicago. What emerged was a powerful affirmation of the need to center our efforts around health equity and personalized support,” said Jeff Berry, executive director of The Reunion Project. “The insights from this gathering will guide our future initiatives and collaborations.”

The town hall marked a homecoming for The Reunion Project, returning to Chicago where the initiative first launched in 2015. This event brought together HIV long-term survivors, older adults living with HIV, and key stakeholders from across the region to share insights, network, and collaborate on improving the quality of life for this community.

Highlights from the Report

Health Equity as a Foundation
The forum underscored the critical need for health equity, defined as the attainment of the highest levels of health for everyone. Discussions revealed that systems and services must address disparities in access and outcomes, combat stigma, and be grounded in intersectionality.

Core Values Identified
The forum emphasized three essential characteristics for effective support systems:

  • Wellness: A comprehensive approach to wellbeing that encompasses physical, mental, and emotional health.
  • Wholeness: An integrated approach to care that addresses the entirety of an individual’s needs, promoting holistic support.
  • Personalization: Tailoring services to meet each individual’s unique needs and experiences, avoiding a one-size-fits-all model.

Key Findings and Recommendations
The forum highlighted the necessity of trauma-informed care and the importance of creating supportive environments where individuals feel valued and heard. The discussions also called for removing barriers to access and ensuring services are as accessible and comprehensive as possible.

The full report is available on The Reunion Project’s website.