History
Based out of Columbus, Ohio, The Tobias Project, Inc. is
a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization consisting of African-American
men and women with a commitment to service. Our mission is
to provide prevention education and testing to the Central
Ohio minority community as it is related to HIV/AIDS and
other health disparities, creating an environment for people
of color that is empowering.
Historically, there have been many organizations and agencies
who have attempted to reach the Columbus, Ohio African-American
community, yet the message always seemed to elude those who needed
it most. Since the Tobias Project is an African-American founded
and member-driven organization, we hope this communication
and cultural gap will decrease, in itself being
a positive dynamic for disseminating information and education
within the targeted population. An effective method of doing
this, in addition to holding HIV education and prevention
workshops, is to have HIV-positive individuals discuss “living
with HIV"
The group was initially established in 1996 as “In
the Life Social,” an informal group of African-American
men within a social network. The name was later changed in
honor of the late Carl Tobias, a former facilitator of the
group who passed away from AIDS-related complications. As
Carl was a dedicated advocate for health education who
exemplified the ideas of friendship, loyalty, and community
involvement, it was under these same principles that
the group sought for and received its 501c3 designation to
become an officially recognized organization in January 2003,
subsequently expanding its focus to target all minorities
affected by HIV/AIDS and STD's in Columbus and abroad, regardless
of gender or sexual orientation.
Our primary program objective is to educate and inform the
minority community about HIV in a way that is both tangible
and applicable. Often, many minorities view HIV as an issue
that does not affect them, so it is our intent to change
this mindset, to talk about what HIV is (and isn’t)
and how its prevention benefits us all. An effective method
of doing this is to, in addition to holding HIV education
and prevention workshops, to have HIV-positive individuals
discuss “living with HIV,” providing first-person
insight as to how their lives have been effected by the virus.
It is important for audiences to see and listen to these
people, bringing home the point that HIV can impact anyone,
regardless of age, race, gender, or sexual orientation.
Tobias Project, Inc. Speakers Bureau- This program is a community outreach program. The knowledgeable staff conducts educational presentations to local organizations, churches and toher places where the gourp is invited to speak.
We are located at 844 East Main Street Suite A, Columbus Ohio 43205, or simply phone 614-252-2727. For Questions or concerns about the Mpowerment please contact Victor Peoples, Project Coordinator at vpeoples@tobiasproject.org. If you have any other questions or concerns about testing and other services that we provide, please contact Preston Mitchell, Project Director at pmitchell@tobiasproject.org
Swahili for "Unity," The goal of the Tobias Project, Inc.’s Umoja Project - “Bringing Minorities Together to fight HIV“, is to provide comprehensive, consistent, and culturally based HIV prevention information to minority men and women in the Columbus, Ohio area. By providing this information, we seek to reduce the rate of infections among minorities in Columbus and beyond.
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Our
Programs
The Tobias Project, Inc. embraces the diversity of it's community and has adapted it's programs to meet the needs of all people. Inclusively the organization continues to expand it's ever increasing number of programs to meet the needs in Central Ohio. This nationally recognized organization continues to elevate the knowledge base of it's staff to successfully promote these programs, and they are;
High Risk Heterosexual (HRHS) Groupl Level Intervention- This program provides HIV and Syphilis education and testing for high risk heterosexuals by the use of group level interventions.
Outreach-This program includes a bi-monthly distribution of condoms to twenty-seven (27) local bars, barber shops, beauty shops, and other locations.
High Risk Heterosexual (HRHS) Individual Level Intervention- This program is targeted to high risk heterosexuals. After the individuals are educated, the participants are tasked to teach their peers about safer sex practices.
Popular Opinion Leader High Risk Heterosexual (POL HRHS) Individual Level Intervention- This is a popular leader program which uses one-on-one intervention for high risk heterosexuals. After the individuals are educated, the participants are tasked to teach their peers about safer sex practices.
Popular Opinion Leader Men Who Have Sex With Men (POL MSM) Individual Level Intervention- This is also a popular opinion leader program which uses one-on-one intervention for men who have sex with men (MSM). After the individuals are educated, the participants are tasked to teach their peers aobut safer sex practices.
Popular Opinion Leader (POL) Group Level Intervention- This popular opinion leader program targets groups of individuals in common settings such as barber/beauty shops. The participants are educated about safer sex practices and then asked to share the information with their family and peers.
Mpowerment Individual Level Intervention- This one-on-one intervention program targets men who have sex with men (MSM) between the ages of 13 to 24. The program includes condom demonstrations, safer sex negotiation skills, and included HIV-101, a presentation focused on the basic facts of HIV and general sexually transmitted diseases (STD) prevention. The intervention is conducted in various locations throughout the city.
Mpowerment Group Level Intervention- This program targets men who have sex with men (MSM) between the ages of 13 to 24. The group level program also includes condom demonstrations, safer sex negotiation skills, general sexually transmitted diseases (STD) prevention, and includes HIV-101, a presentation focused on the basic facts of HIV. The intervention is directed to groups of young men.
Syphilis Elimination Program (SEP)- Columbus is number one in the state of Ohio of reported Syphilis cases. This program targets the whole community and provides comprehensive, consistent, and client based education which include the stages of the disease, the physical manifestations of the disease, treament and testing.
Comprehensive Risk Counseling & Services (CRCS)- This program is a client centered HIV prevention activity. Originally, CRCS was conceived as a combination of HIV risk reduction counseling and conventional case management for person at high risk of transmitting or acquiring HIV. CRCS provides multiple sessions of client centered HIV risk reduction counseling to help initiate and maintain behavior change to prevent the transmission of HIV.
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