5 Questions with Edi Young, Peer Research Associate for the Making it Work Project

Edi is a Peer Research Associate with the Making it Work Community Based Research Study. 

What first piqued your interest in the HIV sector?

My interest in this work is a result of my own experience in having illness. It is because of this journey that it became very evident to me that although there are many great frontline workers there are still barriers that lie in front of accessing services and better health care

What kind of impact do you hope your work has?

I am inspired to find a way to participate in change that is active in community. My hope is that more awareness of the need to provide safer, caring respectful environments in programs and services will empower community to come together and break down discrimination.

What is an exciting thing you are working on right now?

I am a singer songwriter and I am constantly writing songs that reflect what is going on around me. I am excited to see how being a part of this project will resonate into song and look forward to sharing.

What are you looking forward to in your work over the next year?

Over the next year l look forward to learning and sharing ideas about how community can achieve more caring and more accessible service.

If you could work with a celebrity, who would it be and what would you be doing?

I would have loved to work with John Lennon. He really invited people to hear each other and challenged systems that were not working for the well being of community. I could imagine hosting many public events filled with music and the gentle messages of inclusion and care of all people regardless of circumstance.