September 18th is National HIV and Aging Awareness Day! At Cascade AIDS project, we're dedicated to providing compassionate care to all those living with or affected by HIV, including aging adults and long-term survivors of HIV. Today, we have some exciting updates to share from our Aging Well Program. As we continue to expand our services and our ability to serve the community, we’re thrilled to announce new staff, upcoming classes and workshops, and a special event designed to uplift and honor long term survivors. 

Meet Our New Team Members

We are delighted to welcome two new members to our Aging Well team:

Bower Luna - Aging Well Program Assistant
Bower has volunteered for CAP and participated in AIDS Walk NW after moving to Portland in 2021 and previously worked at an HIV/AIDS organization in Los Angeles as a coordinator in the Public Health Division. In this position he was able to gain exposure at Wellness Clinics, Testing, and Linkage Services, and was certified as an HIV tester. He was also a temporary staff member at AIDS/LifeCycle where he was part of a team assisting with logistics that set up camp in a different city every day for a week. He has worked for environmental and education nonprofits in San Francisco and Philadelphia, as well as the private sector for a variety of companies: an auction house in San Francisco, an advertising agency in NYC, and a vacation property management company in Portland. Bower was looking to return to nonprofit and was drawn to the Aging Well Program because of his lived experiences and believes the program offers important services. Having lived on both coasts - growing up in southwest Florida and living in California for 23 years - Bower finally made Portland his home after first visiting friends and family here over twenty years ago. He has an art degree where he studied printmaking and jewelry design and has enjoyed photography most of his life and continues to create art as a hobby. Bower and his partner spend weekends with friends, visiting plant nurseries for inspiration, thrifting, thinking about traveling, and morning cups of coffee in the backyard. He hopes to one day share his life stories like David Sedaris.

Brian Reeves - Aging Well Program Specialist
Brian grew up in Lafayette, Indiana, home of Purdue University. During middle school, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS controversy created public outrage and fear, which left a lasting impression on him. He earned a degree in Computer Graphics Technology and was on the Dean’s list.   

Brian moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, for his first engineering job, where he quickly met LGBT friends of all ages. He met the originator of the Indy Pride Parade and volunteered to help find a local car dealership to provide trucks to pull the floats. Many dealers refused, but one dealer was willing to support the event!  He joined the local Lambda Classic Car Club and restored a 1949 Studebaker himself. After spending his entire life in Indiana, Brian was looking for something different. His cousin, who had moved to the Portland, Oregon area, invited him to visit, tour the city and see the terrain.   

 In January 2020, Brian decided to make the move to Portland. A friend of his cousin introduced him to the Aging Well members, and he loved the group. The first couple of years were challenging, with the COVID lockdown and Oregon wildfires bringing smoke close to home. Slowly, life returned to normal. In August 2024, Brian applied for the new Aging Well Specialist position and is excited to have been selected. He looks forward to using his extensive knowledge of computer systems to educate the community about technology and internet safety training for aging adults. Will also be doing mental health screens with appropriate referrals if needed.  

New Class Series: Technology Literacy

To support navigating the digital world with confidence, we’re introducing a new class series on technology literacy. These classes will provide practical skills and guidance on using various digital tools and platforms, including Microsoft, Apple and Android, and are open to anyone who identifies as an aging adult living with HIV. Class dates are undetermined as the program is in development, but please email for more information. To learn more, reach out to Aging Well at agingwell@capnw.org. 

New Class Series: Health and Wellness Chat

We are launching a series focused on health and wellness specifically designed for aging adults living with HIV. These zoom chats will cover various topics including nutrition, exercise, and other strategies tailored to the needs of our community. The first group will meet on November 8. To learn more, reach out to Aging Well at agingwell@capnw.org. 

New Art Focused Group: Creative Studio

We are excited to announce a new monthly group that will focus on creating art. Art is known to be a strong therapeutic path for the aging. We will provide art supplies and we invite anyone aging with HIV, or affected by HIV, to join us and create something unique. The first group meets on October 9. To learn more, reach out to Aging Well at agingwell@capnw.org.

World AIDS Day Long-Term Survivor Storytelling Workshops

In honor of World AIDS Day, we are thrilled to announce a special workshop series for long-term survivors, which will culminate in a World AIDS Day event on December 2nd. These workshops are designed to provide a space and a platform for long-term survivors to share their stories and connect with others. No prior storytelling experience required. To participate, please reach out to Aging Well at agingwell@capnw.org.

Stay tuned for more information on the upcoming World AIDS Day event, where participants will have the opportunity to showcase their stories and celebrate the resilience of long term survivors.

We look forward to seeing you in our upcoming classes and workshops and to honoring long term survivors together on World AIDS Day!
For more information on any of these updates or to get involved, please visit our website or contact us directly at agingwell@capnw.org.
Happy National HIV and Aging Awareness Day!