Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

AIDS in action: Strengthening a new movement led by Canadians living with HIV (Social, cultural, environmental and population health)Purpose: My research aims to 1) explore the challenges and opportunities faced by a new movement led by Canadians living with HIV to place the affected community of people living with HIV/AIDS (PHAs) back to the forefront of the national HIV response; and 2) establish the key factors and conditions that may help strengthen this community-led effort. Rationale: Early HIV activism has given way to the present-day neo-liberal government and HIV sector, resulting in the needs of PHAs not always being met. With the formation the Canadian Positive People Network (CPPN) in May 2015, an opportunity exists for PHAs in Canada to take a lead as a collective in determining the priorities for themselves within the HIV movement. Theoretical Framework: The proposed research study will utilize an anti-oppressive, critical, post-structural social work theoretical framework to examine and analyze the contextual, individual, social, institutional, and political factors that currently impact the collective organizing movement of PHAs in Canada as an oppressed group in society, as well as opportunities that exist for PHAs to reclaim their power and place within the HIV movement as a group. Methods: Qualitative interviews with key HIV+ Canadian activists of diverse social locations and backgrounds will be conducted to explore what they feel are necessary to sustain a PHA-led collective movement that is currently taking place in Canada. Findings of the study will be shared with the community through a knowledge translation exchange event to be organized in collaboration with CPPN to promote the betterment of Canadian PHAs.