San Francisco Chronicle - Sunday, November 25, 2001
Meredith May, Chronicle Staff Writer

The street-level snapshots under bridges, in living rooms and at the doctor's office have been shown in an Oakland church and are drawing the attention of the Alameda County Public Heath Department, which wants to use their message. The 15 artists were pulled together by Pacific News Service, a San Francisco-based news wire that publishes teen writings through YO! Youth Outlook and the Beat Within, a writers workshop inside juvenile hall in six Bay Area cities.

All the youths took pictures in Alameda County, where supervisors three years ago were the first nationwide to declare an AIDS epidemic in the African American community.

Despite heavy public health campaigns and more federal funding, the epidemic continues. African Americans make up 15 percent of Alameda County, yet account for 57 percent of the nearly 6,000 AIDS cases diagnosed since 1980. Rates are also out of proportion among Latinos.

That's why Pacific News Service Editor Sandy Close wanted a homegrown way to bring AIDS out of the shadows.

"It's this important idea that silence is death," Close said.

"The taboo about AIDS is so strong that people just -wouldn't know it if they were introduced to it. Doctors -won't ask black women about it because they -don't want to offend. Married Latinas are getting it because their husbands are sleeping with men and not saying anything. Our writers in Juvenile Hall will talk eloquently of friends dying in their arms of gunshot wounds but never mention all the people they know who die of AIDS."

Town Criers teenagers learned to load and shoot with $20 Holga plastic cameras. Using a grassroots documentary technique developed at the University of Michigan called Photovoice, they captured the silent reality of AIDS in Alameda County. Each wrote a few paragraphs to explain the pictures.

One 21-year-old photographed herself having blood drawn. Two weeks before joining the Town Criers project, her HIV test came back positive.

"I am losing control of my life and I hope God will see me through," she wrote. "AIDS is a problem because some are in love or some have unsafe sex or use drugs. The condition exists because people are blind to the fact that they can get AIDS. We need to be more aware and get educated about AIDS."

A daughter captured her father reminiscing of his jazz band and football days while flipping through his high school yearbook - better times before he contracted AIDS.

There's the picture of an uncle hugging his niece, who -can't always get that close to her because his immune system is compromised.

"Taking pictures of my uncle allowed me to see more in his life - I got to understand the pains and trials and tribulations," said Steven Meckler, 19, of Walnut Creek.

"He has to think about it first before he gets close to her," Meckler said.

"Kids have germs all over, and he can get a cold that makes him really sick so easily."

The images -aren't supposed to be works of art, Close said. The art comes from the combination of what the young people write and observe and their willingness to speak openly about how AIDS is a part of their daily lives, she said.

Their work, put together as a slide show, deeply moved the congregation at Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland, said Dr. Robert Scott, head of the church's AIDS ministry.

"They are getting directly to the issue of attitude, because there are people still in hiding about AIDS," Scott said. "We talked that day about being clear that this -isn't just a disease of gay, white men. Anyone who is sexually active is at risk."

Tim, an 18-year-old serving out his probation for a nonviolent crime at Camp Wilmont Sweeney in San Leandro, had no experience with AIDS until he met and photographed Manuel Monzon.

"He came to Sweeney and told us about his life in Mexico, where he used to get beat up all the time because he was gay. He came here to escape that, and I took a picture of him on a mountain where he feels free."

Tim learned that Monzon has to take a lot of pills, -doesn't feel so good some days, but is happier than he's ever been. Living in the Bay Area, he is a health educator who is respected in the Latino community for discussing AIDS issues. And whereas he once -couldn't rise from bed because he was so sick, he is now a five-time cyclist in the annual San Francisco to Los Angeles AIDS Ride.

"I never talked to anyone about AIDS before, and it was good to hear that AIDS -isn't always a bad story," Tim said.

Working on the project changed some stereotypes for Joseph and Paul, two other teenagers at Camp Sweeney. At first they both teased Tim for spending time with a gay man, something they said would have made them uncomfortable.

"In my school, if you talked about AIDS you'd be the black sheep," said Joseph. "After doing this project, I've met people who have AIDS and they are cool people."

Paul said he now respects Tim for photographing Monzon and taking the time to learn his story.

"I used to think AIDS would never affect me because I'm not gay, but now I learned I am in one of the highest-risk groups because I'm a teenager," he said.

Close has plans to make a video of the Town Criers' images and written pieces and wants to show it in churches and community centers throughout the Bay Area. AIDS epidemiologist Maria Hernandez is arranging for the pictures to be put up in the Alameda County Public Health Department lobby and for the photographers speak on Dec. 1, World AIDS Day.

"I really think they need to talk about AIDS more in school," Paul said.

"Instead they spend all this time on drug prevention. You can stop doing drugs, but you -can't stop AIDS once you get it."

New school order

The truth is coming out about the real purpose of school. It's not to prepare us for the real world, but a world that has been created by those in power. Why isn't school teaching children in depth about HIV and AIDS? They teach us dates and lies about this world and we go into the world unprepared and miseducated.

One of the keys to life is education. It prepares us for the world we have to face. What if there was a class focused on HIV and AIDS and ways to prevent getting the disease that was required, like English, math and world history? Maybe the information received would help raise the awareness of this disease.

It seems weird that we learn about HIV and AIDS in our young adult years. We need this information starting at kindergarten, all through elementary school, junior high, high school and college. We need to be brainwashed in a good way to take our lives more seriously. -- Kehinde Koyejo .

A Rock and a Hard Place

The plant in this picture represents life and the rock represents the hard times. The hard times can be rocky and tough, but if you look hard through the cracks, you can find enough light to live a peaceful and happy life through the hardness. The plant learned to overcome the rock and found the light to live.

To a person diagnosed with a sickness such as AIDS, it is very hard to live.

But if you look real hard, you can find a reason to live, whether it's family or to help and warn others about this terrible and deadly disease. The plants and people that are stuck in hard situations show strength. There is always a bright side to look for and, once you find it, you can live peacefully knowing that you have something to live for.

We can help assist people to fight the war against AIDS by giving support and lending a helping hand. - Timothy .

Too Much to Swallow --

This person takes 14 pills daily and pays thousands of dollars to stay alive, and there is still no guarantee that she will live until the next day.

Anybody can get AIDS because it -doesn't discriminate against rich, poor, black, white, straight or gay. Some people are lucky to get the health coverage they need and some have to use drugs to relieve the pain. This problem exists because it comes down to money.

- Jose Mendoza .

Innocence

I see Shakira, a self-defined angel who wants to show her innocence. Happiness is happening. Shakira has moved on beyond the point of loveliness. She has shown that AIDS isn't going to stop her from doing anything that she wants to do. She has gotten married and is just working on herself because AIDS isn't stopping her.

For everyone, I think there always is a high higher than your lowest low. How low will you go is the question because you've got to know when to pull yourself up.

This condition exists because of self-determination and self-motivation. These two things can determine one's path.

- Toshia Christal .

Passing Me By

Inside a package is a piece of rubber, a piece of rubber that can prevent you from catching AIDS through transmission of fluids. Some people may feel so comfortable or in love with a person, not knowing his or her background, but loving their personality. Some walk right pass protection thinking this person is OK, but they're not. And it takes only one time to be infected.

Remember to pick up one or two and use them despite the love you have for another person or personalities. It's important to have protection and be protected from AIDS, despite whom you like or love. Remember the many consequences for not using a condom. No glove, no love. - Samuel

AIDS and youth

-- www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec00/aids_youth.html "Dying Young: The Fight Against AIDS" was a "Newshour with Jim Lehrer" special for students produced in November 2000. The site has loads of links for teens.

-- www.YouthHIV.org Features news, features, campaigns, links, message board and listservs (e- mail groups).

-- www.avert.org/young.htm Facts about AIDS transmission, statistics and history aimed at a teenage audience.

-- www.kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health Look for links to basic AIDS information and answers to teenagers' common questions about sexual health on this site, produced by The Nemours Foundation.

-- www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/hivadolescent.htm Produced by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the site has information on teenage AIDS statistics and important phone numbers.

-- www.thebody.com/whatis/children.html From the Body Health Corporation comes this long list of links on youth and AIDS. This site has all the basics on transmission and safe sex, as well as personal accounts on coping with AIDS, AIDS policy and resources. E-mail Meredith May at mmay@sfchronicle.com. For more information about the Town Criers project, call Pacific News Service at (415) 438-4755. -2001 San Francisco Chronicle Page A - 1
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