Philadelphia FIGHT explained

Philadelphia FIGHT
Status:	Non-profit
Purpose:	End the AIDS epidemic within the lifetime of those currently living with HIV.
Formation:	1990
Headquarters:	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Website:	Philadelphia FIGHT

Philadelphia FIGHT (FIGHT) is a Philadelphia AIDS service organization that provides primary care, consumer education, advocacy and research. FIGHT was formed as a partnership of individuals living with HIV & AIDS and clinicians.^[1]

FIGHT is a non-profit organization, which is in part funded by the AIDS Activities Coordinating Office of Philadelphia.

About

Mission

"Philadelphia FIGHT is a comprehensive AIDS Service Organization providing state of the art, culturally competent HIV primary care, consumer education, advocacy, social services, outreach to people living with HIV and to those who are at high risk, and access to the most advanced clinical research. Our goal and hope is to end the AIDS epidemic within the lifetime of those currently living with HIV."^[2]

History

FIGHT was founded in 1990.

Programs

• AIDS Library provides access to information on treatments, nutrition, and history of the pandemic, and referrals to regional and national resources.^[3]
• Critical Path AIDS Project was founded by Kiyoshi Kuromiya in 1987. Today FIGHT's program provides Internet access and digital literacy training to low-income people.^[4]
• Jonathan Lax Immune Disorders Treatments Center provides clinical care to people with HIV/AIDS. Clinicians also conduct research to test potential therapies for HIV/AIDS.^[5]
• Project TEACH (Treatment Education Activists Combating HIV) trains people living with HIV to act as community and peer educators, especially in low-income areas and communities of color.^[6]
• Youth Health Empowerment Project (Y-HEP) was founded in 1994 to reduce the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.^[7]
• Family Dentistry Center was founded in 2013 to provide high quality dental care, with an emphasis on reducing dental anxiety.^[8]
• Pediatric Health Center was founded in 2016 to serve low-income children and youth, regardless of insurance, income or immigration status.^[9]

Events

• AIDS Education Month: recognized every June, FIGHT organizes summits about HIV prevention as well as youth, faith, and prison issues. FIGHT also organizes citywide testing for National HIV Testing Day on June 27 with other local agencies, including: ActionAIDS, GALAEI, and the Mazzoni Center.^[10]

Controversies

• Racism Allegations
  • Philadelphia FIGHT has been accused of racist employment practices by several former staff members, many of whom have advocated for the removal of the CEO and Board and the establishment of new, anti-racist policies.^{[11] [12] [13]} Philadelphia FIGHT has denied all allegations of racism and discrimination.^[14]

See also

• Kiyoshi Kuromiya
• Gloria Casarez

External links

• Philadelphia FIGHT Website
• Critical Path Project (Archived)

Notes and References

1. Web site: About FIGHT . Philadelphia FIGHT Website . https://web.archive.org/web/20120705164758/http://fight.org/about-fight/ . 2012-07-05 . June 20, 2012 . live.
2. Web site: Philadelphia FIGHT Mission Statement. https://web.archive.org/web/20120705010926/http://fight.org/about-fight/fights-mission-statement/. dead. July 5, 2012.
3. Web site: AIDS Library. https://web.archive.org/web/20101123162838/http://aidslibrary.org/sub.php?id=68. dead . November 23, 2010.
4. Web site: Critical Path Project. https://web.archive.org/web/20120705165248/http://fight.org/fight-programs/critical-path-project/. dead. July 5, 2012.
5. Web site: Jonathan Lax Center. https://web.archive.org/web/20120526072957/http://fight.org/fight-programs/the-jonathan-lax-center/. dead. May 26, 2012.
6. Web site: Project TEACH.
7. Web site: Y-HEP. https://web.archive.org/web/20120627115232/http://fight.org/fight-programs/y-hep-the-youth-health-empowerment-project/. dead. June 27, 2012.
8. Web site: FIGHT Family Dentistry . 2024-03-08 . Philadelphia FIGHT . en-US.
9. Web site: Pediatric and Adolescent Health Center . 2024-03-08 . Philadelphia FIGHT . en-US.
10. Web site: HIV Prevention & Education Virtual Summit Calendar . Philadelphia FIGHT.
11. Web site: Owens . Ernest . 2018-02-12 . Departing Employee Accused Philly FIGHT of “Pervasive Racism” in Staff-Wide Email . 2024-03-08 . Philadelphia Magazine . en-US.
12. Web site: Owens . Ernest . 2018-02-28 . Social Justice Groups Denounce “Discriminatory Practices” at Philly FIGHT . 2024-03-08 . Philadelphia Magazine . en-US.
13. Web site: Cwiek . Tim . 2024-02-20 . Philadelphia FIGHT sued for alleged racial bias . 2024-03-08 . Philadelphia Gay News . en-US.
14. Web site: Rodriguez . Jeremy . 2018-03-01 . FIGHT protests racism allegations . 2024-03-08 . Philadelphia Gay News . en-US.