The Fresno - Central Valley HIV/AIDS Project
I am collaborating with Fresno State Sociology Associate Professor Chris Sullivan on a project that explores how people in Central California remember the AIDS pandemic. This project explores how people in Central California remember the AIDS epidemic. Through interviews with long-term survivors, care workers, and family members, we are examining narratives of that time which have rarely been recognized. We are also tracing the social and health care response to the disease and community organizing to prevent and support people living with HIV/AIDS.
We are inviting community members, families, and professionals in social and health care to contribute to a meaningful project by sharing stories and memories from a significant time in our shared history.
The goal of this initiative is to honor the resilience and acknowledge the suffering of individuals by documenting their lived experiences. Your voice can help preserve this history and contribute to a deeper understanding of its impact of HIV/AIDS in our community.
So far, we have interviewed over 60 people in connection to HIV/AIDS in the Fresno region. We are still looking for people willing to share their stories as family members, people living with HIV, healthcare and social service personnel and community activists. If you or someone you know is interested in participating, please reach out. We welcome all perspectives and experiences.
This research has been presented at conferences in Cork and Dublin, Ireland, as well as in Oulu and Rovaniemi, Finland. We are currently in the stage of beginning to write up the results of research.
Dr. Christopher (Chris) Sullivan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at California State University, Fresno. His research focuses on understanding how processes of globalization influence social institutions – from large-scale financial institutions like the World Bank, to more local institutions centered around HIV care in California’s Central Valley. Sullivan lived and conducted research in mainland China for nearly 5 years.
Contact us!
We are interested in stories of HIV in the Central Valley. Please reach out if you would like to be interviewed or would like to have further information that would be relevant for our project. We want to document our local history and need your help.