A Pillar of Health and Safety in the East Bay

Growing up as a gay, Black man in Oakland, George Jackson has strong ties to the community he serves. The road that took him to his current role as executive director of the AIDS Project of the East Bay (APEB) goes back to losing his favorite uncle to AIDS when he was only eight years old. “He was special to me,” says Jackson, “He protected me from bullies; he was always in my corner.” His uncle’s death gave him an emotional connection to the virus – and the people affected by it – and that keeps him working to help people get the care they need.

“We don’t turn people away,” Jackson says. “We offer a very safe space that is welcoming to all.”

“Safe space” is a phrase that gets used in several ways, but for people affected by HIV, having a trusted, reliable safe space to turn to is an invaluable lifeline for their health and peace of mind. As the oldest existing AIDS-related service organization in Alameda County, the AIDS Project of the East Bay has been guiding people in need of help for decades by providing a wide range of critical health and social services.

“It’s one-stop shopping for people with HIV,” says Jackson. The agency provides free HIV testing, other health screenings, harm reduction care, primary care, sexual health care, “tricked-out” mobile clinics, food donations, and clothing donations. 

Additionally, APEB provides housing assistance. Living with HIV comes with its own share of expenses that can often affect one’s ability to pay the rent, especially for low-income earners. In the increasingly expensive Bay Area housing market, providing rental assistance helps to reduce the number of people who find themselves forced to make the choice between getting proper medical care or having a place to live.

Beyond providing tangible goods, housing assistance, and medical services, the APEB office is home to a place called “The Den,” a warm inviting hub used to foster community and host support groups. It also acts as a community resource center where people can use computers to look for jobs and update their resumes, or just have a second home to go to. 

And for whatever’s left that APEB can’t provide, “We point them in the right direction,” Jackson says.

While APEB offers their services for all people, they are an especially trusted resource for gay men, Black, Latinx, and trans communities. One of the challenges these communities face is a medical mistrust of mainstream health providers. But leaders and staff at APEB are regarded as guardians of their best interests. 

APEB has also established itself as a prefered alternative health care center for heterosexual men dealing with the stigma of being HIV positive. “HIV doesn’t have to be a death sentence,” Jackson says. “But some people are so paralyzed by the stigma that they die because they refuse to get treatment.” 

AIDS Project of the East Bay is there to offer help, treatment, a range of care, and limitless compassion for all who step through their doors.