Category: Art & Artivism

Why did you attend our Zero HIV Stigma Day Event?


I work with HIV Modernization Movement – Indiana, which seeks to modernize Indiana’s HIV criminal and related public health laws. We celebrated Zero HIV Stigma Day this year with a special event on HIV stigma, sharing stories of how stigma shows up for Hoosiers living with HIV.

Zero HIV Stigma Day, observed annually on July 21st, is dedicated to reflection, education, and action against HIV stigma. This day highlights the harmful effects of HIV-related stigma on our society, particularly the barriers it creates to equitable access to life-saving care. It also serves as a rallying call for our communities to renew their commitment to protecting the dignity and well-being of every individual affected by HIV, regardless of their status.

We asked everyone who attended to share why they attended this year’s event. We used this as part of an interactive art exhibit on HIV stigma. There were other questions as part of this HIV Stigma Clothesline exhibit – I’ll post those later.

Professor Peacock with their interactive HIV Stigma Clothesline Project.

Here are those responses! Click on an image below, then scroll through the gallery.

Letter to the Editor: We are Stuck in the ’80s


Dear Editor,

HIV testing rates remain low due to the stigma surrounding the virus. Many people live for years unaware that they have HIV because they are afraid to get tested.

Laws criminalizing those who do not disclose their HIV status only make matters worse by further discouraging testing. These laws are based on 40 year old science. They are stuck in the 80’s. We need to change these laws, and end the stigma associated with their very existence.

By destigmatizing HIV and building trust between patients and healthcare providers, more people will feel comfortable getting tested regularly. This is critical to slowing the spread of the virus and connecting people to the life-saving treatments now available.

Let’s work to educate the public, support those living with HIV, and create an environment where people choose testing not out of fear, but because they understand it benefits our entire community.

To learn more about our efforts to modernize Indiana’s outdated HIV laws, go to https://hivmodernizationmovement.org/.

To learn more about a national #StuckInThe80s billboard campaign being now being run in Indiana, go to https://hivisnotacrime-etaf.org/

Sincerely,

Professor Peacock
aka C. Todd Fuqua
Artivist, Connector and Reflector

Vision Board 2023


Vision Board 101 – 2D

One of the traditions we’ve created at home is to create a vision board for the New Year. The basic starting point is a piece of cardboard. Yea, this is old school vision. boarding. And for this upcoming year, I present 2023.

I won’t expound on this. I simply share it with the Universe.

101 Resolutions for 2023

Vision Board 201 – An Infographic

The last couple of years, I’ve taken things to the next level in terms of a Personal Vision for the year.

Last year I chose 5 words for my year. They were “Be, Feel, Create, Learn, Grow.”

I had a flyer on my studio door and in my studio.

This year, I lifted the constraint and came up with my words for the year. They apply across all parts of me as a human being, a small business owner, an artist, an activist. It’s wholistic motivation for person-centric, trauma-informed living. That and $5 will get you a cup of coffee.

This year, I created an infographic. It will go on my studio door and in my studio.

Fancy.

Worth. Joy.

Having said that, my keyword for the year is Worth and my Why is Joy.

I created this infographic to motivate the troops (aka voices in my head) and keep my lean organization of one aligned.

Focus

My community focus continues to be on reducing stigma through my artivism. This includes my efforts linked to Celebrate UU, HIV Modernization Movement – Indiana, and community health, especially HIV & mental health. I’ll continue to blog here and through Professor Peacock.

For my business focus, I continue to use a 70/20/10 model to set priorities for the year. My keyword of Worth translates into focusing back on running a profitable business – something from which I stepped away the last 2 years due to my mental health & a subsequent artistic sabbatical…and a slowing coming back-tical.

Here we are, a new year with a Profit First mindset. Yes, I’ll read that book this year. Q1 even. Goal set.

My main studio focus with C Todd Creations this year will be headshots, although I’ll continue to freelance & do event photography when requested. I’ll also grow my speciality studio for dudeoir photography over at C Todd Dudeoir.

Thanks for listening.

Keep tellin’ the story,

Professor Peacock III