2022-100-Faces-Book - Flipbook - Page 57
Tim
Believer. Partner. Educator.
Tim has been at Columbia CARES for more than 25
years. He tested positive for HIV in 1993 and stayed in
the traditional workforce for a few years until becoming
an educator and now executive director at CARES,
which serves rural communities affected by HIV and
AIDS. Tim says as he battles the stigma associated
with HIV, he can bring a unique perspective to
his position.
“I can understand what a person is going through.
I know what excuses we make. That helps too—to
know where someone may feel that we aren’t strong
enough, but I know that we are. That helps as much
as anything. I think if we just put all of our ideas, our
preconceived notions, whatever it may be—whether
it’s being homeless or being HIV positive or being
hungry—I think if we put all those aside and simply
help people, I think it just cuts through everything. That
changes everything. It changes our community.
It changes our world.”
Columbia CARES
