2018 CIIP Program Book CIIP Booklet 2018 | Page 47

Growing up, I promised myself I would never work in an office. But, as the saying goes: it
is not the house that makes the home, but the people in it. And to be honest, I feel the
same way about Star Track. Though the organization may be housed in a cookie-cutter
office building, the rainbow calendars on the walls, the plethora of Beyoncé posters, and
most importantly the staff, transform the space into a fabulous, thrilling environment to
work in.
Growing up as a queer mixed-race person, I found that some of my main identities were
the same ones that caused me the greatest grief and anxiety. But every day that I came
in to work I had the privilege of not having worry about code switching for fear of being
“too gay.” Rather, I got to be as fabulous as I wanted with my coworkers (who in all hon-
esty were sometimes even more fab than me, which I absolutely loved). In fact, everyone
was so open with each other that we had office gossip sessions where we talked about
anything from problems with plumbing to my own issues with internalized oppression.
And aside from the event planning and general administrative tasks, I would say that
socializing with my coworkers and community members was the most important aspect of
this internship. Having the opportunity to hear about native Baltimoreans’ experiences, be
they queer or otherwise, I nonetheless felt myself better prepared for the interactions I had
with community members at events and programming such as the Kiki Ball, Press Play, and
even the LGBTQ 101 session I co-taught with my coworker-turned-gay-mother, Kurt.
Ultimately, aside from the innovative event planning and amazing public health work,
the down-to-earth, no-holds-barred socializing between coworkers as well as community
members is what makes Star Track such a special program. As a program that is mostly
composed of the very people we try to serve, Star Track builds community without by
building it within. Getting to really become an integral part of this community through CIIP
has been meant more to me than words can express.
Community Partner: STAR TRACK
Intern: Aubrey Roland
Site Supervisor: Eva Fury
What is STAR TRACK?
The STAR TRACK Program’s mission is to provide
leadership in Maryland on adolescent HIV health
issues by providing comprehensive, interdisciplin-
ary, individualized, and confidential health care to
HIV infected and at risk adolescents and young
adults. We also provide youth-friendly health
education, prevention, and early identification
services to HIV infected and at risk adolescents,
young adults, and their communities.
• Prepared safe sex materials and tended general administrative needs
• Staffed outreach events including the Kiki Ball, Gayme Night, Karaoke Night,
etc, and tabled/canvassed at different venues and networking events to in-
crease awareness about Star Track
• Attended and participated in meetings on collaboration with other organiza-
tions as well as general staff meetings
• Researched resource guides regarding other social determinants of health not
directly offered by Star Track, including community farms, free legal aid, voca-
tional trainings, peer-mentor groups, etc.
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