My name is A. Daniel Ramos and I am the Treatment and Care Retention Coordinator here at the Downtown Youth Clinic.
Whew, that’s quite a long title! But what does it mean?
You’ll soon find out.
I am a Native Texan. My family comes from Texas, parts of Northern México and Spain. I grew up in San Antonio, Tejaztlan. Early on, I discovered that I loved to perform. My abuelito/grandpa taught me how to sing rancheras (traditional Northern Mexican music) and we began to perform for family reunions. In my high school years, I got into a community theater group called Grupo Animo. I moved to Austin and began working with Queer People of Color groups and cultural arts organizations at the university and in the community: QPoC-UT, ALLGO, and Youth Liberation Network (an urban-youth media arts program). I was a volunteer-Men’s Health educator for a year and a half and did outreach in bars, clubs and events in Austin. I attended and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. There, I studied Cultural Anthropology and Spanish Linguistics.
I believe that by using the media arts, whether it be a pen and paper, a video camera, a paintbrush, a spray can, turntables, your voice or body, or a wall, we can learn about ourselves and the world we live in and teach others about what and how we feel.
I am here to build a sense of family and community with the youth clinic.
I will do workshops with you to develop real and useful life-skills.
I will work with you to develop your voice and vision for yourselves and your futures.
I am here to listen to you.
I am here to make your life healthier and easier.
I am here to make sure you are feeling well, and hopefully happy.
I will make sure you get the support you need.
I will charge you up with positive creative energy.
Life can be hard when you are young and HIV positive.
Life can be sad at times, too.
Let's work together.
Let’s make today the best day that we can and plan for a brighter tomorrow.
Through group support and workshops, we will build community.
“What is community building?”, you ask.
Community building is making friendships.
Community building is learning who you are.
Community building is understanding how you fit into your environment.
Community building is working to make things better for everyone.
Community building is knowing how you are different from others and how you are the same.
Community building is standing strong, united and undivided.
In lakesh/You the other me