Jeff Berry, newly named director of The Reunion Project
The Reunion Project has always held a special place in my aging heart, probably because the national network of long-term HIV/AIDS survivors addresses the very issues relevant to people like me, namely, what the hell will happen to us as we age, and where do we find support?
Initially, the Reunion Project held weekend events in various cities across the country, and while that work continues, it has grown into a solid network of survivors and has given them a voice.
The big news is that Jeff Berry, a co-founder of The Reunion Project with activist Matt Sharp, has been named the first Executive Director of the organization. That also means that Jeff is leaving his 17 year tenure as editor of Positively Aware, a monthly publication for people living with HIV, to take on the position.
Jeff and I discussed his late-ish in life transition to a new career path, the work of The Reunion Project, and why so few resources have existed to aid long-term survivors as we navigate aging and our unique mental and physical challenges.
Congratulations to Jeff Berry, and to the hard-working steering committee at The Reunion Project. From the beginning, so much progress in the HIV arena has been by people living with HIV ourselves. The great work of The Reunion Project is the latest example of that.
Mark
