| Durell Knights
|
Born: New York
Currently resides: Newark, New Jersey
Volunteer: Since 1998
"I enjoy helping people, whether it's doing outreach or sitting
downstairs with someone for an hour and helping them sort
through their problems." |
Why did you choose to volunteer at GMHC?
It was my way of getting in touch with the community. I had just
recently gotten out of a drug program, and I needed to be around
people that were doing things with their lives, people that were
making an impact on the AIDS crisis. When I first came out in 1992–1993,
I didn't know about GMHC. And I was so insecure with myself, with
who I was or with who I felt I was, that I turned to drugs. That's
why, when I got out of the drug program, I came here. I wanted to
be around other people who were doing things, and people that were
secure with themselves as black gay or bisexual men. That's one
of the reasons why I stayed with Soul
Food — that's my way of giving back. All I can do is move
forward from my past.
What kind of work have you done as a volunteer here?
I started out volunteering for Soul
Food, and now I am also a peer educator with GMCE (Gay
Men's Counseling and Education). I do outreach at Mount Morris
bathhouse. I've facilitated discussion groups and workshops as a
volunteer. We discuss the coming out process, and a couple of months
ago we facilitated a group about 'why should I test?' I am also
here for drop-in counseling. People drop in to talk about whatever
is on their minds, usually regarding safer sex or relationships.
What do you like about volunteering?
In Soul Food, there's a certain group of us that are like brothers.
And outside the program we keep in touch with each other, making
sure everyone stays on point. Hopefully the relationships I've formed
here will be lasting ones, so that if I'm going through something
or a friend is going through something, they can pick up the phone
and call me anytime. Some of my most important volunteer experiences
are the ones when I share something with a discussion group and
somebody comes up to me afterward and says, 'thank you, I needed
that push' or 'that made me realize that I wasn't the only one going
through that particular situation.'
I also enjoy helping people, whether it's doing outreach, or sitting
downstairs with someone for an hour and helping them sort through
their problems.
June 10, 2003
© 2003 Gay Men's Health Crisis
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