By Zach Baldwin

As we celebrate PRIDE in the nation’s capital and across the country this summer let's all remember to honor all of our brothers and sisters. As LGBT individuals we cannot deny the connection our community has to the HIV epidemic. Rather than let this stand as a dark period of our community's history let's turn this into a shining example of how we can all band together for a common cause: ending an epidemic.

Thank you for supporting me and the broader LGBT community. I hope you will also join me in supporting NMAC and their work.

Capital Pride 2014

As the Director of Development at NMAC I spend all day thinking about how to secure more funds to support the operations of the agency and it's incredibly talented divisions. I feel privileged to work alongside these dedicated individuals every day.

As the face of HIV has changed, so has our approach. We've shifted gears to meet the needs of a changing epidemic by working with those most disproportionately affected by the virus. NMAC works with community-based organizations across the country, providing them with the knowledge and skills (we call it capacity building and technical assistance) to better serve the local communities where they operate. Without these essential services, many of these local organizations that address the epidemic on the ground would not be able to keep their doors open. We also provide top-notch education, facilitated by our treatment division, on PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and other cutting-edge treatment options to ensure that people at risk for HIV are educated and protected while linking HIV positive individuals to high-quality care - a critical part of stemming the spread of the virus. For over 20 years NMAC has built leadership in communities of color to end the epidemic. Moving forward, we are working to prepare the next generation of leaders who will take us to the end of the epidemic. Join us in the struggle.

NMAC, formerly the National Minority AIDS Council, will educate, advocate, collaborate and compel – with urgency – for health equity within communities of color in our tireless quest to end the HIV epidemic. We aim to advance our mission through a variety of programs and services, including: capacity building, national and regional training conferences, treatment and research programs, publications, and a website: http://www.nmac.org/. NMAC also serves as an association of AIDS service organizations providing valuable information to communitybased organizations, hospitals, clinics and other groups assisting individuals and families affected by the AIDS epidemic.