History of the New York Capital Region Chapter of the NAMES Project Foundation

The idea for creating a chapter of the NAMES Project in our area came after a group of us from the community got together to volunteer at the 1996 display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt in Washington, DC. The three day display was an empowering and moving experience for everyone involved. After returning home, the volunteers started exploring the idea of creating a chapter here in Albany New York. An exploratory committee was formed to investigate community participation and to conduct a needs assessment.

It was determined that there was a tremendous need for the Quilt in the Albany area to raise awareness to the AIDS pandemic, and to use the Quilt as an education tool against the spread of the disease. There was great interest from the community and many people joined in our quest.

Once the steering committee was formed to establish a work plan and timeline for forming the Chapter, we were off and running. The name for the chapter was chosen and we became an official chapter of the NAMES Project Foundation in 1997 as the “New York Capital Region Chapter”. For the first three years, our chapter operated under the umbrella of the Council of Community Services. Then in 2000, our chapter became incorporated and established its own 501©3.

Our mission continues: providing a vehicle for remembrance and healing for those who have lost the fight to AIDS while educating about HIV/AIDS prevention and raising awareness of the epidemic in our communities.