Long-term survivors of HIV/AIDS are gathering this weekend in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for the Thrive Weekend Summit and The Reunion Project South Florida Conference. The event offers workshops, panel discussions, lectures, networking opportunities and chances to share stories and strategies for thriving with the virus.

Special sections on Saturday include “HIV and Aging—Mindfulness for Thriving” by Brad Ogilve; “Long-Term Effects of Medication,” by Elie Schochet, MD; “Effectively Dealing With Isolation” by Nancy MacColl, LCSW; and “Resilience and Thriving” by David Fawcett, PhD, LCSW.

According to South Florida Gay News, the weekend includes the cabaret performance The Show Must Go On, directed and produced by Ed Sparan and featuring songs about surviving and thriving with HIV. Attendees will also have a chance to tour the World AIDS Museum and participate in a community forum on long-term survivors.

The summit is supported by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN).

Launched in 2015 by Matt Sharp and Jeff Berry, The Reunion Project has held summits across the country as a way for long-term survivors to share their stories and develop methods to enjoy life to its fullest.

To read the POZ Q&A with Sharp about The Reunion Project, click here. And to read about his white paper “The Unintended Consequences of AIDS Survival” click here.

You can also read about Sparan and the World AIDS Museum here and about Fawcett’s crystal-meth recovery book here.