In 2003, after a year of personal punishment for allowing myself to become infected, I started to forgive myself and really start healing.  In about another year I reconnected with someone who is now one of my best friends, Kaleb James.  He and I decided to meet others like us and found there were very few events/venues to do so and in November 2004 launched the first event targeted towards recently infected and younger San Diegan HIV + men. There were 40 men in attendance at our first event at a Tea House on University Avenue in Hillcrest.  The group was then called Poz Youth and we were an "event" under San Diego POZabilities.  In about 1.5 years we ventured out on our own and became San Diego Young Positives (SDYP).

 

When I think of the many experiences I've had from working in the fantastic nightclubs of New York City for 4 years to pay for undergrad and falling in love with a Ukranian to having my heart broken in 2000 while I was in San Diego attending grad school by the same young man, to acting out in my pain and anguish to rising like a phoenix from the ashes and trying to make some good out of my hardship and challenges, I can honestly say it's been an exciting life so far.   I look forward to many more adventures and overcoming more challenges as I continue down my path.  Hope to meet some of you along the way!