PROPOSAL+PAGE

Ok guys, post your parts of th proposal here!

Our goal is to create a meaningful collaboration between the AIDS Community Resources and Syracuse University. This type of collaboration is meant to benefit both the students and the organization itself. We want to set up a university course that requires students to create, script, and perform a short play that discusses the issues of AIDS and discrimination. This type of class would help students understand more about the AIDS community and allow them to educate other students. Ultimately, we want to generate discussion between groups and disprove any negative preconceived notions about AIDS. This relationship would benefit the organization because it is fulfilling their mission statement to educate others about AIDS and end discrimination. Hopefully this collaboration will improve relations between the community and the university and act as a precedent for other student organizations and courses. Research done by Johns Hopkins Univesity has proven that this type of education (through short plays) about AIDS increases the awareness of the audience. This awareness will give the students the terminology and background information to have meaningful discussions about AIDS. We would like for the students to perform this play at the various dormatories throughout the universities at workshops facilitated by the RAs. This would require students to attend the play; hopefully engaging them and convincing them to participate in discussion.
 * What are we planning on doing?**

-Kayley (ok so I know this a little thin, but I need your help with this section because it relies heavily on all of our opinions, so if you could all maybe write a thing or two that you would add or subtract from this, that'd be great! I will be on as frequently as I can to make comments and read wha you wrote. I'll be able to add a bit more when I get home to my books, etc. Thanks guys!)

Another goal of ours is to help expand the ARC’s goals. Since they want to provide prevention, education and support services to those infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS in the Central, Northern, and Mohawk Valley regions of New York, we can have plays at the schools in these districts. We can collaborate with those in the drama department to ensure that our plays are convincing, motivational, and great. We will be sure to incorporate script ideas from the ARC. After each play, a member of ARC will give a short speech to promote their center. They can also give time for Q & A. - De'Jon: Hey guys I think that this is a really idea. We should also target the students in the community. This is just a thought, you guys can leave me your opinions. thanks. - Marshal- I like the idea of collaborating between the ARC and Syracuse University, but I have a hunch that there is already an organization that talks about AIDS at the university. It could be the LGBT community here on campus or some other health organization thats not catching my attention. I still like the play idea and making it an assignment for a new class, however, performing it in every dorm seems unrealistic. It would require a day in which most students aren't busy. Knowing us we probably wouldn't attend even if there were giant banners and fliers hanging around our dorm, because of our crazy schedules. I think having a few shows at specifically coordinated times such as at "Mayfest" or national AIDS Awareness Days would be ideal. The class could also have some guest speakers talk about their experiences with AIDS and the discrimnation they encounter or specialists explain the disease. However, the class is one class only, and there doesn't seem to be any follow up classes such as from WRT 105 to WRT 205. How would students broaden their understanding of AIDS if its just one class that most student probably won't enroll into? I also feel odd commenting on this but below you state that ethnic minorities and races are more prone in their susceptibleness to AIDS, but most of campus is White. I agree on making the "community" more diverse but its almost counter intuitive. I hope I didn't offend anyone with my negativity, just thought I should address some issues that may affect our later decisions as to how we are to collaborate the University to the ARC and beyond.

**Budget:** There are many things we must consider for our budget. - Props - Materials - Costumes - Lighting - Special effects
 * Stage/auditorium prices.
 * Flyers (and all other things that include promoting the plays)
 * All things needed for the actual play

- Etc

- De'Jon: Hey guys, these are just a few things I thought we should include in our budget, but im sure there is a lot more. So if you guys think of any thing else please post it. I will try to receive estimates for these expenses (if that's possible). Thanks guys. - Marshal- Hello, I found this budget sheet the ARC assembled from their site, so we could probably refer to it. It doesn't seem to load so I'll send you guys an email. I also wanted to refer back to the pointers De'Jon made in her email earlier as to how we are to attract people to the play. I thought food was a very good incentive, but obviously not a high class meal, but tidbits. Food is a major curiosity and connective device. People use it to try new things or go on dates as something to do. So if food were served it would draw more people. We also already know what type of play we're going to do, but specifically what is going to be shown? Are they clips from "Rent" or our own take on an AIDS play?
 * Travel expenses (if we decide to travel to the schools in the community)
 * Drama department stipend (if they would charge, instead of giving up volunteer time)

__The Issue:__ The Aids Community Resource Center is a Multicultural AIDS Service Agency. Young people in the United States need to be educated about HIV/ AIDS because U.S. youth are at constant risk of getting HIV infection. The risk is particularly prominent for youth of minority races and ethnicities. Therefore, it is important that having such a diverse and multicultural community particularly of youth/ students, Syracuse University provide education and awareness for HIV/AIDS. “The US Department of Health ad Human Services estimates 250,000 people in the United States are HIV positive and don’t know it” (ACR). Education and awareness will work to limit new cases of HIV/AIDS as well as provide resources and help for those already infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.

__Background:__ The Aids Community Resource Center was created in 1983. It is a not-for- profit, community-based organization that provides help and education through prevention and support services to people infection with and affected by HIV and AIDS. Aids Community Resource Centers are located in Central, Northern, and Mohawk Valley regions in New York State. This includes six offices that provide services in nine counties: Cayuga, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, and St. Lawrence counties.

It is Important to have a Community Resource Center in Central New York because HIV continues to thrive in the center of New York State and it is particularly challenging for rural communities to obtain resources. ACR provides many opportunities for individuals to seek out and receive help/ recourses because they are committed to connecting with those in need. “From June 2006- June 2007, ACR provided support services to a combination of 1040 HIV positive clients and their families. 13,613 individuals were reached though prevention and education services” (ACR).

ACR works to prevent HIV infections by educating the community as well as to enhance the quality of life for those people already infection/ affected by HIV and AIDS. They work with the community to promote education and awareness, addressing AIDS and HIV related needs, and providing information and assistance to obtain resources that will work to meet these needs. These resources include facilities to get tested, prevention programs, a variety of support groups, outreach events, social activities, ect. ACR also works towards ending discrimination, an ongoing problem that people may be faced with being associated with HIV/ AIDS. Racial background, gender identification, and sexual orientation are generally associated with HIV/ AIDS and may lead to/ cause discrimination and harassment, particularly in social environments such as school. ACR works toward creating communities that are inclusive and supportive regardless of racial gender and sexual identities. There should be no groups of insiders and outsiders, no one should have to face discrimination or harassment. School should not be a dangerous place for anyone, but rather safe, healthy, supportive, and empowering environment.

Through the partnership both the organization and the university benefits heavily.
 * Benefits for both the organization and SU **

This partnership can help the organization expand tremendously. The ARC will be able to voice their knowledge across a wider range of people. The play will speak to college students, as well as the youth within the community. The play could help the ARC accomplish their mission better. The plays will speak to the youth in a different way. Most people respond better when the message is expressed through entertainment. The audience will enjoy great show and receive helpful knowledge and awareness about AIDS. With the short plays, the ARC receives plenty of advertisements. The plays will inform the audience of the organization. The short plays help the community and the university to attain knowledge about prevention, education, awareness and discrimination.

Syracuse University benefits from the partnership in many ways. The university will continue to build a rapport with the community. It is important for the university to be intertwined with the community. Universities should be interested in what they bring to the surrounding communities. The short play also brings entertainment among the students. It is helpful for the students to get a break from the awful papers and stressful test. They must enjoy themselves sometimes. The partnership will bring more recognition to the drama department. The drama students will display their great talents in the plays. Most importantly, the SU community learns more about AIDS. The plays help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, other STDs, and discrimination among students.

Overall, the partnership will bring safe and healthy surroundings to many. - De'Jon: Hey guys, once again these are just my thought for the benefits, but if you guys have more benefits please post them. Thanks


 * EVALUATIONS (measuring of the partnership’s effectiveness)**

We will measure the success of the partnership in several ways. The outcome of the plays is a great measurement. If more people begin to voluntarily come, then it shows that the play is receiving recognition. The greater the outcome, the more people will hear the message. The reaction of the audience will also be considered. If people are providing all their attention during the play rather than sleeping, then they are responding well. The audience can also show interest after the play. The number of thoughtful questioners and listeners during Q&A is measured. Some may even ask for information about the ARC, such as phone number and address. The responses toward the ARC are also measured. The center should ask every new comer: ‘how did you hear about our program?’, whether it was a call, a visit to the website, or a visit to the actual center. This way the center can know if the partnership’s promotions are helpful. Surveys may also be conducted to measure effectiveness. We can have mini surveys after the play. They will ask specific questions about AIDS and other issues presented during the play. This is a great way to determine what the students learned, if any.

- De’Jon: Hey guys, I really had no idea what else to include in this section, so I know it’s a little skimpy. So if you guys can’t make it more lengthy maybe we can combine it with another section. It may fit perfectly with the goals or the benefits. -Marshal- Surveys are a good start for beginning a program; expanding on its universality. Companies use surveys to gather information about the possible success of a product by studying customer opinion, such as whether the product was useful. Sometimes we even get emails asking us to fill out surveys and get paid doing so. Surveys are useful tools to help us determine whether our product, the play, is successful in changing opinions, educating AIDS awareness, and voicing opinions. However, once a good amount of information has been gathered, the next step would be to evaluate the information and tweak it accordingly. If the play is successful, motivating participation in the AIDS community, especially the ARC, then a class could be created in response to interest in learning about AIDS and sociological studies such as discrimination. The ARC's collaboration with the play would in turn develop a relationship between Syracuse University and the city community. Perhaps the play could tell stories of AIDS community patients within Syracuse, and if the class were to take place, community speakers may share their experiences directly to the students. It's within these close knit environments that allow students, professors, community members and the program organization to learn from one another, not only in the topic at hand. Quite possible topics such as advertising: How to appeal more to others?