EHE Imagine Campaign in Action in Three Jurisdictions

This blog highlights efforts undertaken in Dallas, San Juan, and Detroit to implement the Imagine: Ending HIV. It’s Possible. Campaign and inspire the HIV workforce in their Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) efforts. Project activities include recruitment of new staff, connecting with community champions, and being a part of a national initiative.

Dallas: Customizing Campaign to Recruit Staff

The Dallas County EHE Team has made their mark on the Imagine: Ending HIV. It’s Possible. Campaign, customizing the campaign’s graphics to recruit elite staff to implement innovative interventions along the HIV care continuum. They join a dedicated workforce united around reducing the number of new HIV infections by 90 percent by 2030.

“We took the Imagine campaign graphics and added some elements for our staff recruitment,” Miranda Grant, EHE Coordinator, explained. “It’s a powerful message to send to potential candidates that Dallas County is on the front lines working to make change.”

“It’s a powerful message to send to potential candidates that Dallas County is on the front lines working to make change.” 

Miranda Grant, EHE Coordinator

To spread the campaign's message and engage the HIV workforce community, Dallas County also plans to use the Imagine materials for future staff onboarding and outreach events. The graphic is posted on Dallas County's EHE webpage.

San Juan: AIDS Task Force Embraces Campaign

“We are extremely grateful to be a part of a national campaign. It means a lot to see real people be represented and recognized,” said Marla Berdecia, Media and Content Specialist, San Juan, Puerto Rico Aids Task Force.

When the call went out for volunteers to be photographed for the Imagine: Ending HIV. It’s Possible. campaign (Imagine), the staff at San Juan, Puerto Rico’s AIDS Task Force, quickly responded.

To spread the campaign's message and engage the HIV workforce community, the team worked with the municipality of San Juan, Puerto Rico, to post a link of the campaign video on their AIDS Taskforce San Juan website main page along with a link to the TargetHIV.com/Imagine site. They wrote and shared a blog in Spanish (Te invitamos a conocer la nueva campaña de Ending the HIV Pandemic) with their 300+ subscribers, including doctors and people within the community.

“When we showed the campaign video to our leadership and partner organizations, they were impressed and felt immediately involved.” Marla Berdecia

In addition, the San Juan team showed the Imagine campaign video before meetings with their partner organizations and within the department to help build momentum and excitement around their jurisdictional EHE efforts.

Berdecia added, “We have nine organizations that are working with us. It is important to show that we are part of a national campaign. It adds credibility to our work.”

Detroit: Imagine Connects Community Champions

The Detroit Health Department is leading the charge to end the HIV epidemic by connecting its community to resources and outreach events. Akilah Benton, Detroit EHE Project Manager, shared, “It’s great to have facts sheets and other resources to share with providers, the champions that are pushing EHE forward.” By volunteering to be photographed for the Imagine: Ending HIV. It’s Possible. campaign, the Detroit EHE Team played an invaluable part in creating campaign materials to promote the EHE initiative across different platforms.

“It’s great to have facts sheets and other resources to share with providers, the champions that are pushing EHE forward.” Akilah Benton

“We posted the campaign graphics on our Detroit EHE Facebook page because it is important to reach the community on the social channels that they use regularly,” explained  Benton. “Our role is to support the work that the community is doing.”

Recently the team launched their own Detroit EHE website and has featured Imagine campaign branding and graphics that include team members front and center. To spread the campaign's message and engage the HIV workforce community, Detroit EHE shared another Facebook post promoting their mission. It reads:

“The Detroit EHE Team is committed to combating HIV and addressing barriers impacting the Health & Wellness of the community. Please visit Imagine: Ending HIV. It’s Possible. for more information.” Detroit team members are pictured in the graphic with the text. “People with passion, commitment, motivation.”