the aids memorial quilt

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Photo of Bob Bowers and friends at the AIDS Memorial Quilt display in 2012.

AIDS Quilt panels waiting to be displayed on the National Mall in Washington D.C.

Photo of Dr. Michael Gottlieb at the AIDS Memorial Quilt on display in Washington, D.C. - 2012

“What If It Were You” asks a simple and direct question.

This worthy campaign, spearheaded by the compassionate advocates at HIVictorious and generously supported by many local businesses, asks an honest question to every individual. What would you do if you found out you were living with HIV? What will you do when confronted with the risk of contracting HIV through unprotected sex or drug use? HIV/AIDS affects everyone. Reminding all of Wisconsin that they may be at risk for this horrible virus, especially youth, tackles the ignorance and apathy that is much too pervasive within Wisconsin and its younger residents. The poster campaign involves young people, inspiring them to foster awareness and fight the indifference and stigma that cripples our fight against AIDS. “What if it Were You?” takes the battle to our schools, where prevention education and the struggle against ignorance should be more prevalent. AIDS Network is excited about this thoughtful and important awareness campaign. As more and more people  throughout Wisconsin test positive for HIV every year, “What If It Were You?” asks the candid and critical question.

~Dan Guinn

What if it Were You? is a poster contest designed to inspire youth to cultivate and communicate a more truthful, and inclusive perception of HIV/AIDS, promote prevention and compassion and aid the eradication of youth misconceptions and apathy.

What if it Were You? aims to compel youth to recognize and renounce stereotypes and stigma, and dispel misguided beliefs about not being at risk.

The contest is intended to empower youth to discover and define their own interpretation of the significance of HIV/AIDS and design a poster using words &/or images to portray their point of view and deliver an HIV prevention message that will be effectively received by their peers.

Allowing youth a voice and a means to convey their message will undoubtedly result in communication methods most likely to command the attention of and have the utmost influence on their peers..

Power Surge

​by Bob Ickes

​Collin Burke, a high school senior from Madison, Wisconsin, says he took art class “by accident.” The teacher soon had Burke and his classmates entering the “What If It Were You?” AIDS-poster contest. “We had to demonstrate ‘What would you do if you found you had AIDS,’ ” says Burke, 18. “My poster expresses that I would try to make the world understand the facts. You know, like a lightbulb going on.” He took first place out of 100 competitors; the poster (left) will decorate buses, hair salons and diners throughout Madison. Says AIDS activist Bob Bowers, who sponsors the program through HIVictorious.org, “We picked Collin’s poster and thought we knew everything about him—until he was interviewed by the media and we found out that his uncle died of AIDS before he was born.” Says Burke: “I wish I had known him.”

My long-time friend, Richard B. Kaplan, who was on Jeopardy's Tournament of Champions.

My friend and fellow fitness trainer, Rick Wilson.

What an amazing woman.

My gym buddy!

My shark fishing brother from another mother.

I'll never forget your big spirit, buddy!

It was a bit strange to see my name on the AIDS Quilt. RIP, Bobby B.

Photo of AIDS quilt panel from the 2006 United States Conference on AIDS.

This photo is from the United States Conference on AIDS in Hollywood, Florida circa 2006