AIDS Memorial Quilt
We are proud to announce that the National AIDS Memorial Quilt will be displayed at this year’s Ending the Epidemic Summit and World AIDS Day events at the Albany Capital Center on December 10 and 11.
Individuals and groups create quilt panels to honor, remember, and celebrate the stories and lives of those ones lost to HIV/AIDS. Today, there are roughly 50,000 panels dedicated to more than 110,000 individuals in this epic 54-ton tapestry. Learn more about the history of the quilt here.
Special thanks to the National AIDS Memorial and to the Albany Damien Center’s NAMES Project for their work to ensure that the lives of people who died from AIDS are not forgotten and the story of AIDS is known by future generations - so that never again will a community be harmed because of fear, silence, discrimination, or stigma.
The Albany Damien Center’s NAMES Project is now accepting new panels for the National AIDS Memorial Quilt. Crafting a panel is a beautiful way to remember a friend or loved one. You do not need special sewing skills to make a panel! For more information, visit this tutorial on making a panel.
AIDS Memorial Quilt Blocks Display
Ending the Epidemic Summit and World AIDS Day Event
December 10-11, 2024
Albany Capital Center
The AIDS Memorial Quilt was created in 1985 by Cleve Jones, an activist deeply affected by the AIDS epidemic that was devastating communities across the United States. During a candlelight march in San Francisco, Jones invited participants to write the names of loved ones lost to AIDS-related causes on placards and tape them to the walls of the San Francisco Federal Building. The resulting display, which resembled a massive patchwork quilt, inspired Jones to create a lasting memorial for the thousands of lives taken by the disease. This idea grew into the Names Project, which officially launched in 1987 by Jones and a group of volunteers. Their mission was clear: to create a national memorial for people who had died from AIDS, offering a way for survivors to mourn and celebrate their loved ones, many of whom had been denied traditional funeral services due to stigma surrounding the disease.
Today, the AIDS Memorial Quilt remains a powerful and ongoing testament to the lives lost in the AIDS epidemic. As of 2022, it includes over 50,000 individual panels, each one representing a person who has died of AIDS-related causes. It continues to be displayed at special events, and it serves as an educational tool for younger generations who may not have experienced the early years of the epidemic. The Quilt has become more than just a memorial; it is a living artifact that tells the story of the AIDS pandemic and the ongoing fight for justice, care, and support for those affected. With its recent exhibitions and virtual presence, the Quilt ensures that the memories of those lost will continue to inspire advocacy, compassion, and awareness for years to come.
View the AIDS Quilt Map!
The below are the blocks of the AIDS Memorial Quilt showcased at the Albany Capital Center during the Ending the Epidemic Summit and World AIDS Day. Take a tour to learn the history and significance of the AIDS Quilt.
New York City Youthline is still being operated by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Department of Youth & Community Development under the name Community Connect. It now serves as a resource and referral service for communities and families in New York City. Community Connects aim is to increase awareness of opportunities and services available to New Yorkers. Visit the Department of Youth & Community Development’s website for more information.
Cornerstone Family Healthcare, previously named The Greater Hudson Valley Family Health Center, has been providing HIV care, prevention, and support services in the Hudson Valley for more than 30 years. They also offer STIs, HIV, and Hepatitis C education and information as well as condoms, rapid HIV testing, STI screening, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Visit their website for more information.