Joe Norton and Brodway Cares: "Relentless In Our Mission"

We had a special interview with not only a person living with HIV, but a person who is on the front lines fighting for AIDS Awareness, the Associate Director of Education & Outreach for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Inc.'s Joe Norton. For more information on Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS please visit and support at http://www.broadwaycares.org/:

Bambi Weavil: How long have you worked with Broadway? Can you describe your job role to our audience?

Joe Norton: I've worked here at Broadway Cares for 10 years now. I started as a producer, and am now the Associate Director of Education and Outreach. I work to develop outreach programs that inspire HIV/AIDS action by getting school theatre departments to raise funds for us. I also reach out to smaller theatre companies and regional theatres to do the same. Often, I am called upon to represent BC/EFA in the AIDS community. And, I volunteer my time to teach AIDS awareness and prevention seminars in schools.

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

JN: I am HIV-positive for almost 16 years now. It's a way for me to make sense of my life. Fighting AIDS and HIV keeps me healthy. Also, to honor all my friends and family who have died from AIDS-related causes.

BW: What do you feel is the most critical problem going into 2008 you feel is happening that Broadway Cares is working on?

JN: The most critical problem now is lack of funding for on-going services at many ASO's across the country. There is a misconception now that because less people are dying from AIDS than did in the 80s and 90s, AIDS is less of a problem in this country. It's not exactly true. Because more people are living with HIV, and not enough is being done to prevent new infections, critical services are necessary for long-tem care. Governmental funding programs are either being capped, cut or re-directed, so direct care services are in jeopardy. BC/EFA still strives to keep those services alive.

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

JN: That abstinence-only education works to prevent new infections. It is not true. We need to do better with HIV-prevention campaigns for young people.

BW: What has been some positive progress Broadway Cares has made in 2007?

JN: BC/EFA has been relentless in our mission to raise funds for HIV/AIDS direct care services, even during the Broadway strike. Luckily, we have a lot of support from our extended communities, such as national tours, smaller theatre companies across the nation, and most definitely from schools. Because of our successful efforts to reach younger populations, we are contributing to prevention campaigns that work. When young companies or school groups get involved with us, they become peer educators in their own communities. Often, a small red ribbon campaign grows to a week-long, campus or community-wide AIDS Awareness carnival, sometimes involving speakers form our local grantees, AIDS Quilt displays, and student-written and performed monologues, skits and songs about AIDS. The kids are making such a difference in the lives of so many people with HIV/AIDS.

BW: When someone donates to Broadway Cares, where does the money primarily go?

JN: Our funding goes out in two streams: First, to the Actors' Fund's AIDS Initiative, which supports anyone in the entertainment program who is affected or infected with HIV/AIDS. The Initiative offers the Al Hirschfeld free health clinic, the Phyllis Newman's Women's Health Initiative, supporting housing for people with AIDS, counseling and case management and a number of other critical services. Secondly, through our National Grants program, we fund almost 500 AIDS service organizations nationwide. Check our website for a complete list of both programs at The Actors' Fund and our national grantees by state.

BW: Have you had any memorable experiences with an HIV+/AIDS client? If so, what has been a story that impacts you daily to keep going?

JN: My cousin was a Broadway actor who died of AIDS in 1991. He introduced me to the theatre when I was just a boy. When his friends started dying in the late 80s, the theatre community was one of the first to mobilize the fight against AIDS. I will always remember how the theatre community celebrated his life when he passed. Some of my co-workers here knew him. I feel like he is here with me now, guiding me in my work.




	Joe Norton and Brodway Cares: "Relentless In Our Mission" We had a special interview with not only a person living with HIV, but a person who is on the front lines fighting for AIDS Awareness, the Associate Director of Education & Outreach for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Inc.'s Joe Norton. For more information on Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS please visit and support at http://www.broadwaycares.org/: Bambi Weavil: How long have you worked with Broadway? Can you describe your job role to our audience? Joe Norton: I've worked here at Broadway Cares for 10 years now. I started as a producer, and am now the Associate Director of Education and Outreach. I work to develop outreach programs that inspire HIV/AIDS action by getting school theatre departments to raise funds for us. I also reach out to smaller theatre companies and regional theatres to do the same. Often, I am called upon to represent BC/EFA in the AIDS community. And, I volunteer my time to teach AIDS awareness and prevention seminars in schools. BW: Why did you choose to work in the AIDS Awareness field? JN: I am HIV-positive for almost 16 years now. It's a way for me to make sense of my life. Fighting AIDS and HIV keeps me healthy. Also, to honor all my friends and family who have died from AIDS-related causes. BW: What do you feel is the most critical problem going into 2008 you feel is happening that Broadway Cares is working on? JN: The most critical problem now is lack of funding for on-going services at many ASO's across the country. There is a misconception now that because less people are dying from AIDS than did in the 80s and 90s, AIDS is less of a problem in this country. It's not exactly true. Because more people are living with HIV, and not enough is being done to prevent new infections, critical services are necessary for long-tem care. Governmental funding programs are either being capped, cut or re-directed, so direct care services are in jeopardy. BC/EFA still strives to keep those services alive. BW: What do you feel is the most misunderstood understanding of the AIDS pandemic? JN: That abstinence-only education works to prevent new infections. It is not true. We need to do better with HIV-prevention campaigns for young people. BW: What has been some positive progress Broadway Cares has made in 2007? JN: BC/EFA has been relentless in our mission to raise funds for HIV/AIDS direct care services, even during the Broadway strike. Luckily, we have a lot of support from our extended communities, such as national tours, smaller theatre companies across the nation, and most definitely from schools. Because of our successful efforts to reach younger populations, we are contributing to prevention campaigns that work. When young companies or school groups get involved with us, they become peer educators in their own communities. Often, a small red ribbon campaign grows to a week-long, campus or community-wide AIDS Awareness carnival, sometimes involving speakers form our local grantees, AIDS Quilt displays, and student-written and performed monologues, skits and songs about AIDS. The kids are making such a difference in the lives of so many people with HIV/AIDS. BW: When someone donates to Broadway Cares, where does the money primarily go? JN: Our funding goes out in two streams: First, to the Actors' Fund's AIDS Initiative, which supports anyone in the entertainment program who is affected or infected with HIV/AIDS. The Initiative offers the Al Hirschfeld free health clinic, the Phyllis Newman's Women's Health Initiative, supporting housing for people with AIDS, counseling and case management and a number of other critical services. Secondly, through our National Grants program, we fund almost 500 AIDS service organizations nationwide. Check our website for a complete list of both programs at The Actors' Fund and our national grantees by state. BW: Have you had any memorable experiences with an HIV+/AIDS client? If so, what has been a story that impacts you daily to keep going? JN: My cousin was a Broadway actor who died of AIDS in 1991. He introduced me to the theatre when I was just a boy. When his friends started dying in the late 80s, the theatre community was one of the first to mobilize the fight against AIDS. I will always remember how the theatre community celebrated his life when he passed. Some of my co-workers here knew him. I feel like he is here with me now, guiding me in my work.			Meet Dillon, our special friend affected by HIV Ashley Judd, Global Ambassador for YouthAIDS YouthAIDS Global Ambassador, Ashley Judd's Asia Diary * 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 Please purchase "Sing" by clicking here Annie's Call to Action: More Videos Please purchase "Sing" by clicking here

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