Who We Are

Our Mission

Voices Of Community Activists & Leaders (VOCAL-NY) is a statewide grassroots membership organization that builds power among low-income people affected by HIV/AIDS, the drug war, mass incarceration, and homelessness in order to create healthy and just communities. We accomplish this through community organizing, leadership development, advocacy, direct services, participatory research and direct action.

Our Vision

VOCAL-NY is building a movement of low-income people dedicated to ending the AIDS epidemic, the war on drugs, mass incarceration, and homelessness. We fight for systemic change rooted in justice, compassion, and love. We approach this work with a firm belief in reducing harm and ending stigma, and the knowledge that the issues impacting our communities are driven by institutional oppression, not personal failings. Our campaigns have saved or improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers across the state.

Our Model

Our model of movement building draws inspiration from three traditions:

Traditional community-based organizing

Direct-action AIDS activism

Black-led social movements for racial justice

Our History

1999

NYC AIDS Housing Network (NYCAHN) is founded by Joe Bostic, Joe Capestany, and Jennifer Flynn. Our first campaigns included housing and support for those living with HIV/AIDS, Expanded Syringe Access Program (ESAP) legislation, and the “Parolee Human Rights Project.” NYCAHN would later become VOCAL-NY.

1999

2003

Joe Capestany, one of the three founders of the organization, dies at the age of 48 after fighting AIDS for years.

JEN & JOE C. AT POWER ACADEMY GRADUATION, 2001

2003

2004

Joe Bostic, one of the three founders of the organization, dies at the age of 51 after fighting AIDS and hepatitis C for years.

2004

2008

VOCAL-NY Users Union was a project started by Louie Jones to organize drug users. Louie, a long-time leader and former staff of NYCAHN, brings VOCAL-NY Users Union to NYCAHN.

2008

2009

NYCAHN transitions from an Expanded Syringe Access Program (ESAP) to official Syringe Exchange Program (SEP)

2009

2010

NYCAHN changes name and becomes VOCAL-NY.

2010

2014

VOCAL-NY continues to grow — more staff are hired, including a civil rights organizer and political director. We also launched our 501c4 VOCAL Action Fund, allowing us to become more involved in state and local elections.

2014

2016

VOCAL-NY launches our Homeless Union and hires our first Care Coordinator to connect people living with Hep C with the treatment they need.

2016

2017

VOCAL-NY hires its first upstate campaigner, opening the door for the development of our Buffalo, Syracuse, and Rochester chapters.

2017

2019

VOCAL-NY hires our first full time staff member in Albany, opening the door for the Albany, Hudson Valley, and Westchester chapters to develop. VOCAL-NY also partners with Mount Sinai on the Hep C program to lay groundwork for medical services.

2019

2021

Amid the pandemic, VOCAL-NY has its most successful legislative session yet. Each union sees at least one policy priority passed and enacted in the state of New York.

2021

2022

VOCAL-KY launches! Based out of Louisville, VOCAL-KY will bring the first for care, compassion, and justice to all 120 counties across Kentucky.

2022

2023

VOCAL-TX launches! Building off the power of the Texas Harm Reduction Alliance, VOCAL-TX begins organizing in Austin.

2023

community spotlights

Malik Mills

GROW Organizer

Meet Malik Mills - a longstanding organizer with VOCAL-NY’s GROW team!

Tracie Adams

Positive Leaders Union Leader

Meet Tracie Adams – a leader with VOCAL-NY’s Positive Leaders Union based in Rochester, New York. 

Miguel

Participant

Miguel is a participant receiving services at VOCAL-NY’s drop-in center.

Our Team

Board

Pedro Benitez
Board Member
Marilyn Reyes
Board Member
Jovada Senhouse
Board Member
Wayne Starks
Board Member
Hiawatha Collins
Board Member
Reginald Brown
Chairperson

In The News

Associated Press: NY governor vetoes bill that would make it easier for people to challenge convictionsAssociated Press:

Common Dreams: NY Governor Hochul Vetoes Wrongful Conviction, Immigrant Rights Bills

Capitol Pressroom: Utilizing ‘drug checking’ services to prevent overdoses

Filter: New York Post’s Latest Attack on Harm Reduction “a Disgrace”

Buffalo News Editorial Board: The Editorial Board: Law would help New York by helping the wrongfully convicted

NY1: Family, friends denounce lack of disciplinary action against police officers who killed Kawaski Trawick

PIX11: Officers in Kawaski Trawick’s death may not be disciplined: report

The Appeal: NEW YORK CAN STAND UP FOR THE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED—AND AGAINST CLARENCE THOMAS

Amsterdam News: Vocal-NY rallies for International Overdose Awareness Day

City & State: Poll: New Yorkers support Wrongful Convictions Act

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