More than Marketing

More than Marketing

Insights into AHF’s communication and events wing

GUEST BIO:

Kevin Makdivichit is the Director of Marketing for AHF in the United States. 

Ebonni Chrispin is the Director of Legislative Affairs and Community Engagement for AHF.

Max Alvarez is AHF’s Director of Events and Community Engagement. 

CORE TOPICS + DETAILS:

[2:18] - AHF as Event Host

Why AHF is taking an active role in in-person events

International Condom Day. World AIDS Day. Marches, protests, and more. AHF is more active in life, in-person events than ever.

Why? Because it’s important for people to engage. They say that birds flock, fish school, and people tribe. AHF is committed to using our tribe mentality to connect on potentially sticky subjects like STIs, AIDs, and safe sex. When we gather to openly discuss these issues in public, we remove the power of silence to keep us complacent and uncomfortable and we make these topics something that can be addressed openly and effectively.

[4:56] - Starting with Greatest Need

How AHF chooses events and locations

How does AHF choose which events to host or participate in? It all starts with statistics. For example, the efforts surrounding International Condom Day centered around data about where STI rates were off the charts. All planning focused on using those numbers to go where public conversation and education was most needed. 

[7:10] - The Next Phase: Finding Partners

Ebonni shares the importance of partnerships for events

AHF isn’t an island. In every event, Ebonni stresses the importance of considering small nonprofits, community leaders, and even local, statewide, and federal elected officials to become potential partners. In order for people to become advocates, they need to have a reason to believe in the cause. That starts with bringing them onboard and making people and organizations of all sizes and backgrounds feel that they’re a part of something historically significant and vital.

[14:57] - Keeping Events Free

Why AHF makes their events free to the public

Kevin relates how the “why” of AHF’s free events is more important than the “how.” Every event, show, protest, and gathering is all about a specific cause or message. It’s about getting more people in seats so they have the opportunity to learn something. The fewer barriers there are to people attending, the more opportunities there are for that learning and transformation to take place.

RESOURCES:

• [2:18] About International Condom Day
• [2:18] About World AIDS Day
• [20:20] AHF Events

FOLLOW:

• Follow Lauren Hogan: LinkedIn
• Follow AHFter Hours: Instagram

ABOUT AFTER HOURS:

AIDS Healthcare Foundation is the world’s largest HIV/AIDS service organization, operating in 45 countries globally. The mission? Providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy for everyone, regardless of ability to pay.

The After Hours podcast is an official podcast of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, in which host Lauren Hogan is joined by experts in a range of fields to educate, inform, and inspire listeners on topics that go far beyond medical information to cover leadership, creativity, and success. 

Learn more at: https://www.aidshealth.org

ABOUT THE HOST:

Lauren Hogan is the Associate Director of Communications for AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and has been working in a series of roles with