WANDA HERNANDEZ

My vision for the future:
A place where there is no racism, no bias based on color, creed, gender, sexual orientation--anything. My poems express my vision for the movement to end stigma, racism and greed.

I've chosen my poems to be my contribution to the time capsule. They are more than just my own legacy. I think of them as being the voice of the people, a way of immortalizing our place in history.

I've worked for corporate America for a very long time. I'm educated and have a bachelor's degree in business management. And I have HIV. Even though I invested in a safety net that's supposed to protect people who become disabled, I'm paying more than 70% of my income for rent. When your income is Social Security Disability, like mine is, you have very little left over for the other necessities, such as food, clothing, and medical expenses.

So three years ago I got involved with the community organizing efforts of VOCAL New York. VOCAL's mission is to build power among people affected by HIV/AIDS, drug use and mass incarceration to create healthy and just communities.

Since joining VOCAL, I've become an outspoken person in New York City. (I just love to challenge the system.) My main focus is the 30% Rent Cap and Affordable Housing Bill. That would help me out a lot personally, along with over 10,000 people served by the New York City's HIV/AIDS Services Administration-HASA for short.

Without North Star Fund, we wouldn't be where we are today. It's up to the people to continue the fight. North Star Fund gives us resources to do that.