Allies for Health + Wellbeing, formerly the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force, is acquiring Project Silk, an HIV prevention and education program designed to reach LGBTQIA+ young people of color. Project Silk currently is managed by Community Human Services (CHS).
“As the oldest and largest HIV service organization in western Pennsylvania, Allies has always had HIV prevention and education at its heart,” said Sean DeYoung, CEO of Allies for Health + Wellbeing. “We are excited to bring Project Silk under our umbrella and look forward to serving the young people of our community in a new way.”
Project Silk was formed in 2012 by the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Public Health. The program was designed to raise awareness about HIV and offer young people, particularly those in Pittsburgh’s ballroom community, a safe space to express themselves. CHS assumed management of the program in 2015.
“It has been an honor for our organization to be trusted with such a brilliant and innovative project,” said Alicia Romano, CEO of CHS. “We believe the time has come for Project Silk to embark on a new chapter of growth and expansion beyond what we can offer. The success and impact that Project Silk has achieved are truly remarkable, and it fills us with great pride. We look forward to witnessing the continued success of Project Silk under its new direction.”
“Ending the HIV epidemic is all about prevention,” DeYoung said, “and that starts with our young people. We can’t wait to see what the future holds with Project Silk at Allies.”
The last business day of Project Silk under CHS will be Sept. 30, 2023, with Allies assuming management of the program on Oct. 1.