Quilt hits the road in support of those living with HIV/AIDS

By Ted Nesi '07

A patchwork quilt made by Wheaton students to inspire, encourage and show solidarity with local HIV positive women of color is visiting a variety of local organizations this month.

The idea originated with Sarata Toriola '07, who contacted Shai Butler, the assistant director for intercultural learning, women and gender initiatives, at Wheaton's Marshall Multicultural Center, and pitched the idea of bringing a variety of campus organizations together to create the quilt to commemorate National Black/HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

"The idea behind the quilt was really to inspire or motivate women of color - to empower them, and send them messages of support, messages that will serve to strengthen them," Butler explained.

Butler worked with students to spread the word, and they brought together 29 women from across campus to participate.

"The response was great," said Butler. "There were 15 different campus organizations, from one academic department to three offices on campus, and the rest were student groups on campus."

One student who took part in creating the quilt was Amy Broderick '08. "I think that the HIV/AIDS quilt has traditionally served as an extremely powerful way to promote the education of AIDS while simultaneously serving as a memorial to those who have died from HIV/AIDS," she explained. "To be able to then take this provocative image and share it with as many people through something like a tour is very beneficial for all. Everyone can benefit from the quilt in some way or another."

The quilting session became the capstone event in a day of seminars and workshops on February 7 organized by Toriola and Valerie Tobia '07 to commemorate the Awareness Day. The day's events included a presentation on HIV/AIDS from a global perspective and an information session giving statistics about the disease on a national, statewide and local level.

The Wheaton HIV/AIDS quilt was a true cross-campus collaboration. Sue Lunetta, the college's payroll manager and an accomplished quilter, gave the participants guidance on how to make their quilt squares. Each student then created a unique square reflecting their feelings and their group's mission. Alice Viera, one of the college's housekeepers, put the final product together.

"I was impressed about the way women were able to come together, and very enthusiastically and creatively collaborate," Butler said. "While they may have worked on their own individual squares, there was definitely some cross-pollination and discussion between groups that normally may not have collaborated or come together."

Now the Wheaton HIV/AIDS Quilt is visiting four organizations around Massachusetts: the Roxbury Comprehensive Community Health Center, from April 2 to 6; the Women of Color AIDS Council, in Dorchester, from April 9 to 13; the Brockton Neighborhood Health Center, from April 16 to 20; and Attleboro Family Planning, from April 23 to 27. The Women of Color AIDS Council even hung the quilt in the window of their location on busy Blue Hill Avenue in Dorchester.

"Everybody's just been so pleased with how the quilt looks," Butler said. "They just thought it was a great idea."

The idea of sending the quilt out on tour, however, only came after it had been created.

"We had this great end product, and I'm thinking, well, we want to hang it up in Balfour Hood [Campus Center], but it's kind of too nice just to not be seen, and especially not be seen by the women it was meant to support," Butler explained. Sending it to local organizations served as a way to reinforce the college's community outreach, and connect Wheaton with women of color, she said.

The groups participating were the African Studies Program, AIDS Prevention Education Team (APET), Black Student Association (BSA), Center for Service, Spirituality & Social Responsibility Christian Fellowship, Distinguished Women of Color Collective (DWOCC), Eco Club, International Student Association (ISA), Latin Student Association (LSA), Marshall Multicultural Center, Office of Student Life, Renaissance House, Student Government Association (SGA) and Wheaton Organization for Women (WOW).