Jim Jenkins: Finding Loving, Caring Homes for HIV-Infected, Affected and Orphaned HIV Children

We had the deep pleasure of speaking with Jim Jenkins, founder of Children with AIDS Project of America, who has been working for over 20 years helping children with AIDS. We wanted to close out with this interview, because we believe that we have to not only empower people for AIDS awareness, but to help those who have been born with AIDS and every person fighting this horrible pandemic.

Bambi Weavil: Can you describe your job role to our audience?

Jim Jenkins: I am the founder and CEO of Children with AIDS Project of America, and now starting out 20th year of operations.

BW: Why did you choose to work in the AIDS awareness field?

JJ: My former wife and I adopted, who was known in 1987 as Arizona's first abandoned AIDS infant. Resulting from the difficulties we encountered, we formed Children With AIDS Project (CWA) for the purpose of finding loving, caring homes for HIV-infected, affected and orphaned HIV children.

BW: What do you feel is the most critical problem going into 2008 that you feel is happening in America that Children With AIDS is working on?

JJ: Keeping the public aware of HIV as it pertains in particular to children in the U.S., as well as the serious problems in the many countries of Africa. The general public interest in AIDS is much lower now as other diseases move to the forefront...and rightfully so...such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, etc.

BW: What do you feel is the most misunderstood notion of the AIDS pandemic?

JJ: That the disease is still out there with no cure yet. Folks have dropped their guard, and go back to old habits. Public education NOW is as important, maybe even more so now than back in 1987,when it was more high profile. Public awareness is so very important.

BW: What has been some positive progress Children with AIDS has made in 2007?

JJ: I guess keeping the organization alive and well. I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma Cancer, coupled with a broken ankle that refused to heal, but is now healing, which really limited my participation. Now am back on the front lines of "the battle."

BW: When someone donates to Children With AIDS, where does the money primarily go?

JJ: It supports our office and ongoing projects that we are developing....as we are and have been an all-volunteer organization. along with donations, we have a new poster which we are now selling, and is available on our web site, as well as a handmade AIDS doll, that is most unique that have been crafted for us for the past 10 years.

BW: What inspired you and your former wife to adopt two children of your own who were HIV+?

JJ: Adopting the first child, as well as the second, was a no brainer. We both then and NOW, firmly believe that every child needs a loving, caring, permanent family.

BW: Has there been a story that impacts you daily to keep you going?

JJ: Yes, it would have to be how we adopted our two children. James Michael was abandoned at birth back in 1987, he was addicted to cocaine, heroin, and tested AIDS positive. My daughter, Arlis Joy, was born out of wedlock in 1989, and in an institution in Washington DC whose both parents were HIV infected.

Both children, as it happened, were never HIV infected, but were called AIDS babies. Seems that all of the mother's antibodies are passed to a baby at birth, and over the first couple of years, the baby flushes out the mother's antibodies. Our two children only had the mother's antibodies, and never infected as they flushed them from their bodies. However, we continued to be discriminated for many years, in spite of the miracle of them both NOT infected. Most folks do not realize or understand this fact, but so be it to say, they were instrumental in our forming CWA, and they are still involved.

BW: Thank you Jim for sharing your personal story to the creation of Children with AIDS, we encourage everyone to please support their efforts by visiting their website, aidskids.org and donating.




	Jim Jenkins: Finding Loving, Caring Homes for HIV-Infected, Affected and Orphaned HIV Children We had the deep pleasure of speaking with Jim Jenkins, founder of Children with AIDS Project of America, who has been working for over 20 years helping children with AIDS. We wanted to close out with this interview, because we believe that we have to not only empower people for AIDS awareness, but to help those who have been born with AIDS and every person fighting this horrible pandemic. Bambi Weavil: Can you describe your job role to our audience? Jim Jenkins: I am the founder and CEO of Children with AIDS Project of America, and now starting out 20th year of operations. BW: Why did you choose to work in the AIDS awareness field? JJ: My former wife and I adopted, who was known in 1987 as Arizona's first abandoned AIDS infant. Resulting from the difficulties we encountered, we formed Children With AIDS Project (CWA) for the purpose of finding loving, caring homes for HIV-infected, affected and orphaned HIV children. BW: What do you feel is the most critical problem going into 2008 that you feel is happening in America that Children With AIDS is working on? JJ: Keeping the public aware of HIV as it pertains in particular to children in the U.S., as well as the serious problems in the many countries of Africa. The general public interest in AIDS is much lower now as other diseases move to the forefront...and rightfully so...such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, etc. BW: What do you feel is the most misunderstood notion of the AIDS pandemic? JJ: That the disease is still out there with no cure yet. Folks have dropped their guard, and go back to old habits. Public education NOW is as important, maybe even more so now than back in 1987,when it was more high profile. Public awareness is so very important. BW: What has been some positive progress Children with AIDS has made in 2007? JJ: I guess keeping the organization alive and well. I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma Cancer, coupled with a broken ankle that refused to heal, but is now healing, which really limited my participation. Now am back on the front lines of "the battle." BW: When someone donates to Children With AIDS, where does the money primarily go? JJ: It supports our office and ongoing projects that we are developing....as we are and have been an all-volunteer organization. along with donations, we have a new poster which we are now selling, and is available on our web site, as well as a handmade AIDS doll, that is most unique that have been crafted for us for the past 10 years. BW: What inspired you and your former wife to adopt two children of your own who were HIV+? JJ: Adopting the first child, as well as the second, was a no brainer. We both then and NOW, firmly believe that every child needs a loving, caring, permanent family. BW: Has there been a story that impacts you daily to keep you going? JJ: Yes, it would have to be how we adopted our two children. James Michael was abandoned at birth back in 1987, he was addicted to cocaine, heroin, and tested AIDS positive. My daughter, Arlis Joy, was born out of wedlock in 1989, and in an institution in Washington DC whose both parents were HIV infected. Both children, as it happened, were never HIV infected, but were called AIDS babies. Seems that all of the mother's antibodies are passed to a baby at birth, and over the first couple of years, the baby flushes out the mother's antibodies. Our two children only had the mother's antibodies, and never infected as they flushed them from their bodies. However, we continued to be discriminated for many years, in spite of the miracle of them both NOT infected. Most folks do not realize or understand this fact, but so be it to say, they were instrumental in our forming CWA, and they are still involved. BW: Thank you Jim for sharing your personal story to the creation of Children with AIDS, we encourage everyone to please support their efforts by visiting their website, aidskids.org and donating.			* Every day, 14,000 people contract HIV * 40.3 million people now live with HIV * AIDS kills one child every minute Featured Performer Raising Awareness for AIDS: Annie Lennox The Concept Behind "Sing": More Videos Annie's Call to Action: More Videos

	In Loving Memory - Some of Those We Lost to AIDS: Steven Bates, Bob Bendorff, Doug Boar, Joey Brunneti, Jay Burwick, Ray Coe, Keith Dodge, Doug Ermet, Gary Falardeau, Mark Fotopoulos, Jim Franks, Bill Graham, Jeffrey Grover, Jim Hankins, Frank Harper, Mike Hendricks, Frank Jackson, Jay Jackson, Pat London, Terence Maguire, John McLeod, Terry Peterson, Ron Pierson, Mark Pritchett, Steve Prokasky, John Richmond, Bill Robles, Steve Roher, Kenny Sasha, Jack Simmons, Randy Smith, Ted Smith, Jeffery Vogt...