By Dina Wilcox Windows of Opportunity (WOO)—a little not-for-profit with a huge heart and commitment to teens—sponsored its 9th annual DREAM OUT LOUD conference at St. John’s University on March 1st. I was honored to be the first speaker of the day. As always, the young people were amazing, so responsive, so kind, and so present. As I have many times in the past 20 years, I told my story of falling in love and getting caught in the AIDS epidemic. Along the way, I injected some brain science to show how powerful we are, and what’s really going on with our feelings and emotions. As I always...


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By Hal S. Eisenberg, L.M.S.W. There was no doubt in my mind that I was an emotional wreck over this trip. I haven’t felt this way since I was 8 years old and my parents dropped me off at sleep away camp for the first time ever. I spent the first 48 hours of that camp experience crying. All these years later I feel the same apprehension and fear of the unknown. Will I come back? Will the plane crash? Will I be kidnapped? These are the stereotypes that my friends and colleagues are innocently and jokingly planting in my mind, not knowing the effect it is having on me. There is so much to do in New York...


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By Hal Eisenburg, L.M.S.W. A few weeks ago, I was standing on the corner of East 68th Street and 1st Avenue. As I closed my eyes I felt the cool wind of a spring night circulate around my body. I was completely in tune to all the amazing and eclectic sounds of the city night. I could hear each one as their very own distinct sound, just as a conductor must hear when steering his orchestra. I became totally present and in the moment to how powerful our world is. A revelation to how each one of us plays such an intricate role and together we create our own music. There was this sense of hustle...


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I have what is called Neurocardiogenic Syncope (a.k.a. vasovagal syncope) ...brought on by many years of malnutrition caused by an eating disorder called anorexia nervosa, with which I struggled with since I was a teen. Basically, syncope means “to faint” unexpectedly. There is no real danger in it except that if I don’t catch the symptoms in time and sit myself on the floor the fall from a standing position may result in my hitting my head. That has happened twice to me, once causing me to be rushed to the hospital.  I don’t feel good a lot of times… I get dizzy easily and short...


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By: Olivia Mignone For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to model. The glamorous life of traveling the world, wearing designer clothing, meeting thousands of people and having your face plastered on billboards and magazines – sounds exciting, right? I believe most of the world has thought about this career choice at least once in their life, but for many, like myself, it becomes a passion. Yet years ago, I learned more about this world and industry, and why I couldn’t be a part of it. And now let me tell you – it’s not really as glamorous as it seems at first glance. In order to model,...


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by Hal Eisenberg C.S.W. It turned out not to be your ordinary Thursday afternoon. We were all there for a reason, yet if nothing else were true, the reasons would intensify by the end of today’s group. No one was sure what was going to happen; yet there was anticipation in the air. As the hands of the clock moved closer to 3:30, I glanced out the window of Cardozo High at the hardened rain, reflecting on the irony between the persistent rain and our persistent struggle to fight this epidemic we call HIV and AIDS. The room fills with voices of formerly trained peer leaders, consumed with their...


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by Hal Eisenberg, C.S.W. When one sees staggering statistics such as 50% of all new HIV infections are amongst youth under the age of 25, (CDC National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, 2003), it becomes imperative and obvious that organizations must collaborate to address the overwhelming needs of adolescents in our community, in a way that is innovative, empowering, rewarding, and well received. Living Beyond Belief (LBB) and Windows of Opportunity (WOO) comprehends the critical importance of this issue and is proud to announce the beginning stages of our new HIV/AIDS...


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By Hal Eisenberg Young people of today have the skills and the smarts to handle the world they inherit. But they don’t have the essential confidence in their vision and potential. Without empowerment, they cannot do their best work. This means it’s time to change our schools, change our communities and change our minds. Youth are the Leaders of today...not tomorrow! Let’s get one thing straight. Youth can make a difference and I have been watching and empowering youth do so for the past 15 years. The problem we have is that this simple fact is not universally adopted; therefore my opinion...


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