
The executive
director of New York's Gay Men's Health Crisis announced
Thursday that she will step down. Ana Oliveira, who joined
the center's staff in 1996, said in a statement that
she wants to "pursue other professional interests." An
interim executive director is set to be named by the
board of directors within 30 days.
"My work at the agency has been extremely
rewarding," Oliveira said. "I am proud of our
successes in the struggles against homophobia, stigma,
poverty, and gender inequities, societal factors that
fuel the HIV epidemic, and am also proud of those who
participate in these struggles—the board,
staff, volunteers, and, most of all, people living
with HIV and AIDS, who live the struggle every day."
Oliveira will stay at GMHC into early 2006 and
will assist the board of directors and the agency's
senior management with the transition process.
"During her tenure she saw GMHC through its
recovery from its biggest organizational crisis and
positioned it as an agency with strong fiscal
integrity, innovative programs, and wide-ranging services to
enhance the lives of people living with and affected
by HIV and AIDS," said GMHC board chair John
Colón. "Ana will be greatly missed and remembered
with great respect and affection."
Oliveira joined the staff of GMHC in 1996 to
create a women's department, where she developed the
targeted prevention, education, and early-intervention
services for women at risk of and/or affected by HIV.
She also oversaw the Lesbian AIDS Project and implemented
programs for women of color. Her leadership
strengthened GMHC's organizational capacity, launched
new programs in HIV prevention and community-level
interventions, and established significant new initiatives
in response to the expanding needs of the epidemic.
Notable among them are the Institute for Gay Men's
Health, a national partnership with AIDS Project Los
Angeles, the Women's Institute, and the agency's Return to
Work Program. (Advocate.com)
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