Planned Parenthood of Greater New York has launched a new health care initiative for World Aids Day on Thursday that is dedicated to a Bronx figure who committed her life to improving the well-being of those impacted by AIDS.
Manning Norman visited Planned Parenthood for the very first time 20 years ago, and says it was out of pure desperation.
"I was told by one of the guys I was using drugs with this is where we could come get something to eat, we can get a MetroCard, and after we finish, we can put our MetroCards together, sell it and get more drugs,” said Norman.
He says that instead of finding that quick fix, he found a community that would change his life forever through Project Street Beat.
“They did something that my mother couldn’t do, church couldn’t do,” said Norman. “I wanted to be like them.”
As a health promoter for Project Street Beat, Norman says he spends his days assisting those impacted by HIV and AIDS on a mobile health bus.
When Project Street Beat first started back in 1988, the program was known for offering HIV and STI testing to those in need. But today, they offer more holistic services to the community, thanks to the launch of the Daphne Hazel Achievement Project.
The program provides substance use counseling, mental health referrals, and housing services as well as traditional treatment to those with HIV.
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