The Wall Las Memorias (TWLM), which provides health and wellness services to Latino, LGBTQ and other underserved populations, hosted a grand opening for its new Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA) Hub with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house.

 

The new office is the group’s third and its second in downtown Los Angeles. The nonprofit marks 30 years of service this year.

 

 

Serving LGBTQ people as well as low-income and harder-to-reach populations, TWLM offers various specialized services, including HIV testing and prevention, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) access, substance use prevention and mental health services.

 

In 2021, an estimated 50,466 people—about 4.6% of the HIV population in the country—were living with HIV in Los Angeles County, according to AIDSVu data.

 

TWLM opened its new office to better serve greater downtown LA. Dozens of political and community leaders, including California State Senator Lola Smallwood Cuevas and Mayor Karen Bass, attended the grand opening.

 

“Dreams come true with the opening of our downtown hub to better serve our LGBTQ+ and other underserved communities. With the new location and extended hours, we can provide HIV testing to our community members,” said Richard Zaldivar, TWLM executive director and founder, in a news release.

 

 

In 2004, the organization constructed The Wall Las Memorias AIDS Monument in LA’s Lincoln Park. The monument consists of eight wall panels depicting life with AIDS among Latinos and honors community members who lost their lives to AIDS. Today, it has over 1,600 names etched into it. 

 

The nonprofit aims to improve community health through free access to quality care, public education and more. It also offers support groups and safe spaces to promote personal growth and empowerment.

 

This year, TWLM launched “¡Ya Basta!” (“Stop!” or “Enough!” in Spanish), a grassroots effort to address HIV/AIDS-related stigma; social justice; promote democratic norms; and fight homophobia, transphobia and racism. The program empowers individuals through education, leadership development and community action.

 

For more information, contact info@thewalllasmemorias.org.

 

To read more, click #Prevention or #Access to Care. There, you’ll find headlines such as “Vivent Health/TPAN to Offer HIV Services at New Chicago Health Center,” “Immigration to the U.S., Women, and HIV: Facts and Resources” and “Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir PrEP Is 100% Effective for Women.”