by Jennifer Hoesing

We Make the Change, a statewide campaign designed to increase the awareness of HIV/AIDS and its impact on communities throughout Florida, is using art to tell the story of Floridians living with HIV. Faces of HIV uses larger-than-life portraits, journal entries and interviews to explore the effects of stigmas, the personal relationships, and care issues associated with being HIV-positive.

The Faces of HIV mobile exhibit truck

It’s all part of a mobile art exhibit traveling the state.  The exhibit truck takes to the streets today at the Florida State University College of Medicine. The exhibit stops tomorrow at Tallahassee’s Governor’s Square Mall before traveling to Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville, and Tampa later this year.

“We need to eradicate stigmas,” said Thomas Liberti, Chief of the Bureau of HIV/AIDS for the Florida Department of Health, in a press release. “The Faces of HIV project allows people from across the state to experience real-life stories of inspirational and courageous individuals who have shared their difficulties, battles, and triumphs.”

Visit the Faces of HIV website to view photos, read journal entries and see videos from the participants.