This is part 2 of a special series focusing on the community of Honoring Our Experience, and their work with longterm survivors of the HIV/AIDS virus.
“I can’t change the past, but my path forward can be informed by my past… Maybe the way to reconcile it is to be more compassionate and really engage in this community,” says Carlos Ferreira of recognizing his role as a long-term survivor of HIV/AIDS.
On From Sparks to Light, we hear the stories of people who are making a difference. People who are giving back in various ways. What we don’t often hear, however, is the stories of how those actions impact others. What happens because of that work.
In 2024, Honoring Our Experience will celebrate its 10th anniversary. Over the next year we will hear the voices of the people who have become integral members of the long-term survivor’s community that Honoring Our Experience has helped create. People who never imagined they would live long enough to look back and recognize the path they’d walked and discover the new one that stood in front of them. People who have found their spark and are leading the journey forward.
Carlos immigrated to America at the age of 4 from the then Portuguese African colony of the Cape Verde Islands. In 1985 he tested positive for HIV and was given a 3-year life expectancy.
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive,” he says. “To do so, with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some STYLE”.
As you listen to this interview, consider
Carlos talks about the importance of finding his purpose. How does finding his purpose make a difference in his life? How might you find your own?
As you consider the lessons you’ve learned in life, how do they inform your path forward?
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what might you say?
Listen to Carlos’ episode here.
You can learn more about the work of Honoring Our Experience here.