🧵 A visit to the Gateway Arch! In September, two members of MACA’s team traveled to St. Louis to give presentations at the CityMatCH Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Leadership Conference 2025. 🩺 1/7

The full recording of yesterday's panel of medical experts with Governor Pritzker, including our own Dr. Lynn Yee, is now available on YouTube.

News alert: Our own Dr. Lynn Yee will be appearing with @govpritzker.illinois.gov today at 1 pm CDT on a panel of medical professionals “addressing recent medical misinformation from the Trump Administration.” Watch live on the State of IL website: gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com/daily-public...

October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (#SIDS) Awareness Month. At MACA, we provide the moms in our program with Pack’n’Plays to help make sure their babies have a safe place to sleep. Find out more and help spread the word about how to create safe sleep spaces: safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov

We did it! Our team turned out in bright green style for #AIDSRunWalkChicago 2025 this weekend. We were blessed with a glorious sunny Saturday morning, and Team MACA made the most of it. Here are a handful of pics from the event (more to come).

At the table for Mother and Child Alliance, with a couple of my teammates.

I love this view of the skyline along the route.

Two of my teammates with another sign I like ...

Some of my fellow team members from @motherchild.bsky.social (Mother and Child Alliance), starting the walk in a festive mood.

The big weekend is here! The 2025 edition of #AIDSRunWalkChicago takes place on Saturday, Sept. 27 — and Team MACA is pumped up and ready to roll, rain or shine. Donate to sponsor our team here: action.aidschicago.org/team/662345

Top 5 reasons to sponsor our team for #AIDSRunWalkChicago this weekend ...

We’re counting down the last few days till AIDS Run & Walk Chicago, and we need your support this year more than ever. Can you help us cross the finish line? Every donation helps, no matter how small. Chip in here: action.aidschicago.org/team/662345

We are excited to celebrate the success of 24 Hours to Save AIDS Research by announcing that the entire program is now available on YouTube. 1/ www.youtube.com/@HIVAIDSarou...

🧵 September is Newborn Screening Awareness month! Every year, millions of babies in the US receive routine screening — and thousands of babies who are born with serious but treatable conditions get the extra care and attention they need so they can grow up healthy. 1/4

🧵 A new article coauthored by members of our Perinatal Syphilis Warmline team, along with other distinguished colleagues, has been published in the Sept issue of Pregnancy, the journal of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. 1/4 🩺 Read online for free: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

The "24 Hours to Save AIDS Research" livestream starts today at 11 am EDT/10 am CDT! Join more than 70 scientists, researchers & advocates from around the world as they describe what has been achieved through decades of federal investments and what we stand to lose. Full info: saveaidsresearch.org

If you’re thinking about joining our squad for this year’s #AIDSRunWalkChicago, the perfect time to sign up is NOW! This week only, you can get a $10 discount. Registration is only $20 if you sign up by Friday, Sept. 19! Join or donate to Team MACA here: action.aidschicago.org/team/662345

Digging out my lime-green T-shirt because I'll once again be on the team raising funds for @motherchild.bsky.social (Mother and Child Alliance) at this year's #AIDSRunWalkChicago, which takes place Sept. 27. If you'd like to sponsor me, you can chip in here: action.aidschicago.org/DaveAwl25

🧵 Huge thanks again to Lily Be, our master storyteller who performed at our 25th Anniversary Celebration in August. Lily shared an interactive presentation where she used prompts to guide the audience through the process of connecting with their truth to tell a powerful story. 1/3

Wow — there’s just a little over two weeks left till this year’s #AIDSRunWalkChicago, and we’re racing against the clock to meet our fundraising goal! Can you help us cross the finish line? Chip in to support Team MACA here: action.aidschicago.org/team/662345

Friends of MACA at the friendly confines! One more big congrats to longtime MACA supporter Joe Bavone, who won Cubs tickets as the grand prize from the paddle drop at our 25th Anniversary Celebration. Joe (fourth from left) attended the game this past Saturday with friends Brett, Jeff and Anne.

We’re sending a shout-out to the folks at Logan Square’s award-winning Lula Cafe, who provided elegant refreshments at our 25th Anniversary Celebration in August! 1/2

That autumn chill we’ve noticed in the air lately means we’re getting close to this year's #AIDSRunWalkChicago, on Saturday, September 27 at Soldier Field. We’re digging out our lime-green MACA shirts and getting pumped up for the big event! 1/2

This year’s #ChicagoTriathlon may be in the rear-view mirror, but our exec director Anne Statton isn’t slowing down! This weekend Anne did #BikeTheDrive with family members, and a training swim with her friend Jo Willis to gear up for next weekend’s Big Shoulders Open Water Swim Classic! 1/2

🧵 One of the biggest highlights of our 25th Anniversary Celebration was a moving tribute to Dr. Pat Garcia, who was presented with an award inscribed with the words “Extraordinary and Visionary Founder.” 1/8

🧵 We’re just one month away from this year’s edition of AIDS Run & Walk Chicago. Want to join our squad? Team MACA is looking for 30 wonderful people to come walk, roll, or run with us. And this week (through 8/29) you can get a 20% discount off your registration using the code RENEW. 1/2

This year’s #ChicagoTriathlon in the books! Our exec director Anne Statton conquered the Olympic race on Sunday to raise funds for MACA, alongside her teammates from TEAM TO END AIDS (T2 CHICAGO). 1/3

🧵 In addition to her role with MACA, our program director Denise Alcauter is also financial director for Casa Humilde Cervecería, a local business she’s helped build with family members. Denise is pictured at center, meeting with MACA team members at Casa Humilde prior to our 25th Anniversary. 1/4

🧵 Earlier this year, MACA received awards totaling $4,500 from the students in the Future Philanthropists Program (FPP) of the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation. We're so grateful for the talents and generosity of these incredible students and their mentors! 1/4

🧵 It’s time to announce the winners of the prizes from our 25th Anniversary Celebration at The Arbory in Chicago! Big congrats to all four of these lucky MACA supporters. 1/4

Come walk, roll, or run with us! We’re lacing up for the 2025 AIDS Run & Walk Chicago, and we’re looking for 30 wonderful people to join our squad. This year's event will take place on Saturday, September 27 at Soldier Field. To find out more: action.aidschicago.org/team/662345

A few more favorite pics from our 25th Anniversary Celebration last week!

What a night to remember! Our 25th Anniversary Celebration at The Arbory in Chicago last week was an evening of high spirits and joyful hearts — with stories and tributes, delicious food and drinks, and even some funky dancing to cap the festivities off! 1/4

Had an absitively smashtacular time at the 25th Anniversary Celebration for Mother and Child Alliance, aka @motherchild.bsky.social! There were fancy hors d'oeuvres. There were stories & tributes. There was dancing. And most important, there were funds raised for a righteously worthy cause.

Our executive director Anne Statton is continuing to train hard for the #ChicagoTriathlon later this month. Last weekend she competed in the Naperville Sprint Triathlon with family and friends!

🧵 LAST CALL! We’ve still got a few tickets left for our 25th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday, August 7, and we’d love to have you join us. Read on for a few reasons why. 1/6

Don’t ever let anyone tell you that there aren’t really any heroes in the world. Lori Cannon was the real deal. She saw people who needed taking care of, and she spent her life taking care of them. And she did all it with an unstoppable joy & humor. The world is a better place because she was in it.

🧵 There are just a few days left till our 25th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday, August 7, but there’s still time to grab your tickets! In addition to the amazing entertainment and refreshments, we’ll once again be doing a paddle drop with a chance to win some exciting prizes! Read on ... 1/5

🧵 As we count down the remaining days till our 25th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday, August 7, we’d like to take a moment to focus on the delicious refreshments we’ll be serving to help make the evening special — in addition to the entertainment and other excitement. 1/5

We’re just one week away from our 25th Anniversary Celebration, but there’s still time to grab your tickets! Join us on August 7 at The Arbory in Chicago for an unforgettable evening with performances by master storytellers Lily Be & Binkey, plus delicious hors d’oeuvres, desserts & libations. 1/3

This past weekend, our executive director Anne Statton participated in the Stan’s Donut Run, along with various family members and friends, and we “donut” think it would be possible to come up with a more fun set of photos to share with you today! 1/2

THIS IS HUGE! The FIRST 100% effective HIV PrEP drug, Lenacapavir, is APPROVED AND GOING GLOBAL. The makers are providing AFFORDABLE access to the drug in the United States AND beyond, signing ROYALTY-FREE licensing agreements with SIX generic manufacturers to produce AND supply it. 🧪🧵⬇️

Saturday, July 26 is Aunt and Uncle's Day! In honor of the occasion, MACA’s perinatal analyst Evelyn Hermoza shared these beautiful photos of her spending quality time with three different aunts and one uncle — capturing the close bond that so many of us feel for our own aunts and uncles. 1/2

Don’t miss out! There are just two weeks left till our fabulous 25th Anniversary Celebration on August 7 at The Arbory in Chicago, so the time to grab your tickets is now. Tickets and more info: secure.qgiv.com/event/maca25/ 1/2

Our executive director Anne Statton is continuing to train hard for the #ChicagoTriathlon, which Anne will participate in later this summer as part of TEAM TO END AIDS (T2 CHICAGO)! Anne has a busy weekend coming up ... 1/4

July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month! We’re joining @mhanational.org in honoring the memory of Bebe Moore Campbell, an author, journalist, and mental health advocate who worked to shed light on the mental health needs of the Black community and other underrepresented communities. 1/4

Via @egpaf.bsky.social: "Eliminating $400 million from PEPFAR means the lives of children & families with HIV/AIDS are at risk. America’s global standing will be damaged, and trust will be lost. Call on Congress to reject the 9.4 billion rescissions package and protect lifesaving health programs."

The success of our work to help keep moms and their kids healthy depends on our dedicated partners — like the amazing folks at @idph.bsky.social, aka Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), who have been by MACA's side throughout our 25-year history. 1/3

🧵 One of the highlights of our 25th Anniversary Celebration on August 7 will be a special tribute to our founder, Dr. Pat Garcia, whose vision and leadership have shaped MACA’s journey from the very beginning. We’re thrilled to have the chance to honor her as she transitions toward retirement. 1/4

We’d like to congratulate our friends at Chicago Foundation for Women (CFW) on celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. That’s 4 amazing decades of impact on behalf of women & girls — improving health & wellness, advancing freedom from violence, expanding economic security, and much more. 1/3