Posts by DylanBoyer
October Spotlight: Tom Bichanga
15 Years of Care, Humor, and Sometimes Wigs When you walk into Aliveness Project on a busy afternoon, you can usually find Tom Bichanga somewhere in the kitchen serving members, joking with staff, or sitting in the dining room to make sure everyone feels at home. You may even catch him borrowing a wig from…
Read MoreAliveness Project Awarded $200,000 Grant from Medica Foundation to Expand HIV Prevention Care to Unhoused Neighbors
Aliveness Project is proud to announce that we have been awarded a $200,000 grant from the Medica Foundation through their Strategic Initiatives program. This transformational investment will allow us to bring HIV prevention and care directly to our unhoused neighbors, expanding access to lifesaving services for those who need them most. “This grant will give…
Read MoreSeptember Spotlight: Daniel Holt’s Vision for a Healthy Community
When Daniel Holt first connected with Aliveness, it was 2012 and he had signed up to volunteer for Dining Out for Life. What he found wasn’t just a fundraiser, it was community. “I had so much fun volunteering for DOFL,” Daniel says. “It’s like high school but without the bullies. Everyone feels safe, everyone can…
Read MoreAugust Spotlight: David went from Fear & Terror to Pride & Activism
When David first walked through the doors of Aliveness Project in February of 2000, he was scared. He had just been diagnosed with HIV at 21, navigating life as a young man living with trauma, addiction, and fear. “It went from fear and terror,” he says, “to pride, activism, and acceptance.” Now 25 years later,…
Read MoreVoyage Minnesota – Bold Journey: Meet Kendall Mager – July 29, 2025
We’re in the news! 📰Voyage Minnesota sat down with Kendall Mager, our Program Manager of Case Management, to talk about resilience, the history of HIV activism, and the life-changing work happening at The Aliveness Project. Kendall shares her journey from intern to licensed social worker, the vital role compassion and adaptability play in HIV care,…
Read MoreA New Era in HIV Prevention Starts: 6-Month PrEP Now Available at Aliveness – July 18, 2025
Aliveness Project Becomes First in Minnesota to Offer 6-Month HIV Prevention Injection Aliveness Project is proud to announce that we are the first organization in Minnesota to offer YEZTUGO (Lenacapavir), a newly approved, long-acting injectable for HIV prevention. This exciting milestone reflects our commitment to accessible, innovative care that centers the needs of the community.…
Read MoreJuly Spotlight: Michelle Bahr: Advocate, Volunteer, Ally of the Year, and Lifelong Learner
If you’ve ever met Michelle Bahr at Aliveness Project, you probably remember her hugs. Warm, respectful, always accompanied by a big smile and an ask: “Is a hug okay?” Michelle brings what she calls “grandma energy,” but behind that gentleness is a fierce and lifelong commitment to people living with HIV. For over ten years,…
Read MoreKare 11: Aliveness Project to offer newly approved, first-of-its-kind HIV prevention treatment – June 23, 2025
We’re in the news! 📰KARE 11 featured The Aliveness Project as one of the first clinics in Minnesota to secure doses of Lenacapavir (Yeztugo) — the newly approved, twice-yearly injectable PrEP that could be a game-changer in HIV prevention. Our team shared how this breakthrough can help remove barriers to care for Black, brown, trans,…
Read MoreThe Food Group – Breaking Food Barriers for LGBTQIA+ Minnesotans – July 10, 2025
We were featured! 🌈The Food Group highlighted The Aliveness Project as a longtime partner food shelf in honor of Pride Month. The story shares our 40-year journey from a community potluck to a wraparound network of services — including our food shelf, which provides culturally connected groceries and meals to LGBTQIA+ Minnesotans and people living…
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