SAVE SILOAM

Forgotten Crew: Siloam Stories Vol. 1 A docuseries giving a platform for the voiceless to be heard. Vol 1 tells the story of Siloam, a place where people living with HIV/AIDS go to to heal. Due to lack of funding Siloam will close. Hear raw and inspiring stories from it’s founder Sr. Bernadette and the members of Siloam. World Premiere @ qFLIX Philadelphia Film Festival March 31, 2019 8pm followed by a celebration at CAMBRIA HOTEL hosted by qFLIX proceeds will go to keeping the doors of Siloam open.

A lost cause is the only one worth fighting for. -Winston Churchill

MISSION

To enrich the well-being of people impacted by HIV/AIDS by providing a broad range of integrative mind, body, and soul services that empower our clients to develop skills and personal strengths leading to more meaningful lives.

VISION

A vibrant safe and empowered HIV/AIDS community, free from stigma, through:

MIND

One-on-one counseling, weekly support sessions with those living with HIV, as well as support sessions for caregivers.

Benefits:

• Increased self-esteem

• Greater adherence to medical, nutritional and mental health protocols

• Acquisition of problem solving, communication, and coping skills addressing issues of disclosure, stigma and negotiating complex systems of care and support

• Decreased feelings of isolation and depression

BODY

Massage, Tai Chi, Reiki, Chi Kung, Yoga, Meditation, Reflexology and Healthy Cooking.

Benefits:

• Muscle relaxation

• Increased circulation

• Released tension

• Increased energy flow

• Improved balance and focus

• Decreased cramping

• Decreased edema

SOUL

Individual spiritual counseling with a trained spiritual director.

Benefits:

• Improved relationships

• Increased self-esteem

• Reduction of stress levels

Spirituality

All of us, by nature, are spiritual.  It is innate in each of us, regardless of our age, race, religion or non-religion.

Spirituality was in existence since the beginning of creation.  Religion came much later, seeking to nurture and celebrate spirituality.  Sometimes it does, and sometimes it does not.

Spirituality means relating in ways that are mutually life giving.  It embodies and celebrates our inter-connectedness, not only with others, but also with nature, with our very self, with higher power….however one knows that to be, and with those who have gone before us, and those who will come after us.

Spirituality is a lived experience, a conscious involvement in the project of life integration via self-transcendence toward the ultimate value one perceives.

Spirituality’s ultimate purpose is integration, ever in ways that are mutually life-giving.

History

Founded in August of 1995 by Sister Bernadette Kinniry and Father Don Reilly, Siloam was born out of a conviction that achieving health requires a holistic approach: to successfully beat illness, one must invest in comprehensive wellness. Through a collaborative planning process involving over sixty community members and stakeholders, Siloam has emerged as a truly unique provider of mind/body/soul to support to those living with HIV/AIDS in the Philadelphia area by addressing the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being, as well as the soul of persons living with and or affected by the disease. We believe that each person has a right to their own beliefs and that, to best help them, we must support their unique search for meaning.

About

Siloam provides comprehensive wellness programs to improve the mental, physical, and spiritual health of individuals living with or impacted by HIV/AIDS. Our programs include free support groups, individual counseling, fitness classes, bodywork therapies (such as massages, reflexology, and reiki), spiritual counseling, educational workshops, community building retreats, 3 day retreats, and social activities. Siloam is the only comprehensive HIV/AIDS wellness center in the entire region, and our life-changing programs improve the health and quality of life of hundreds of people each year! Our innovative programs empower individuals with the tools to live healthy, meaningful lives. For over 23 years, Siloam has been a leader of HIV/AIDS wellness programs that support the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. Today, individuals living with HIV/AIDS continue to face stigma, discrimination and declining health. Thus, Siloam's programs are important for the over 30,000 residents in our region living with HIV/AIDS.