Joseph Sellman

Served in the U.S. Air Force with an assignment in Germany from 1970-73 and honorably discharged in 1973. Toke a European discharge from the military services to tour the capitals of Europe for one year and then returned to my job as a customer service representative with the Dinner's Club credit card company in 1974. Enrolled in 1974 at City University of New York while at the same time working as a postal worker and supervisor with the U.S. Postal Service. A long term HIV/AIDS survivor of 25 years who now spends his time as a community organizer and activist on key issues pertaining to People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWAs) and other health care issues. For the past ten years, I have been quite involved with fellow colleagues in the movement to promote HIV awareness and prevention, along with lobbying for increased funding for HIV/AIDS programs on a City, State and Federal level. I now reach out on in a collaborative way to members of the faith and community-based organizations to promote the agenda of HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. In conjunction with other consumer members from the various local service provider organizations, I have assumed a leadership role to urge more consumer involvement in support of a National AIDS Strategy Policy currently being implemented by the Obama Administration. A former secretary to the NYC Chapter of the National Action Network (NAN), a civil rights organization lead by the Rev. Dr. Al Sharpton.