Anthony Gillespie Named NASW Public Citizen of the Year

Indiana advocate honored for his dedication to HIV/AIDS

Washington--The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is pleased to name Anthony Gillespie as the 2006 Public Citizen of the Year for his advocacy on behalf of those affected by HIV/AIDS.

Mr. Gillespie is the Executive Director of Brother Uplifting Brothers (BUB), Inc., a nationally recognized model HIV/AIDS social service agency that provides testing, counseling, outreach, education, technical assistance, case management and subsidized housing for HIV-positive individuals living in NW Indiana.  The target population of BUB is African American and Latino men who identify as gay, bi-sexual or men who have sex with men.

Despite personal risks and community concerns, Mr. Gillespie established an agency that brings attention and resources to the issue of HIV/AIDS among gay African American and Latino men.  BUB is the only agency in northern Indiana and one of only three agencies in the state that provides services for this at-risk and under-served population.

Mr. Gillespie is also the founder of the HIV Planning Council of NW Indiana.  This council created a comprehensive resource directory for the region.  Through the council he also coordinated a region-wide needs assessment to identify the housing requirements of HIV-infected and affected community residents.

“Mr. Gillespie has lessened the double stigma of HIV/AIDS and being gay that has led many individuals in the community to hide their orientation or illness,” says Manoj Pardasani, PhD, ACSW, LCSW, assistant professor in the Division of Social Work at Indiana University Northwest.  “He embodies the spirit of social work and humanitarianism.”

To interview Mr. Gillespie, please contact NASW Communications at media@naswdc.org.  For more information about NASW, please visit www.socialworkers.org.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), in Washington, DC, is the largest membership organization of professional social workers with 150,000 members. It promotes, develops, and protects the practice of social work and social workers. NASW also seeks to enhance the well being of individuals, families, and communities through its advocacy.