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Dear Friend,

Last week, we marked the 33rd annual World AIDS Day, a day to unite in the fight against HIV, show support for people living with HIV, and commemorate those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses. 

About 1.2 million people have HIV in the U.S., with an estimated 13% of them being unaware of it. The disease continues to disproportionately impact Black and Latinx people as well as gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.

While the number of people diagnosed with HIV has been steadily declining due to advancements in medicine and testing technology, we must not let our guard down. Fighting the stigma, encouraging higher-risk populations to get tested regularly, and funding research into HIV remain top priorities.

Learn more about World AIDS Day 2021, testing and PrEP services and more at HIV.gov. You can also find local services and support through the Puerto Rican Cultural Center.

See below for information on COVID-19 vaccines, jobs and more. You can also reach out to my office by calling 773-278-2020, sending a text message to 773-207-7838, or sending us a note at www.senatorpacionezayas.com/contact-us to set up an appointment in our district office at 3140 W. Montrose Ave.

Sincerely,

State Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas | 20^th District

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Community-minded equity lens guides her approach to policymaking

By MARIA GARDNER
For Capitol News Illinois

State Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas’ friends tease her for changing the meaning of words. “Solution” becomes a verb when she says “I’m about solutioning.” 

Pacione-Zayas, 43, D-Chicago, has been actively “solutioning” since she took office in December when then-state Sen. Iris Martinez stepped down to become Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Representing the 20th district on Chicago’s Northwest side, Pacione-Zayas has flexed her expertise in education and leaned on her community-minded equity lens to guide her approach to policymaking.

Raised as an only child, her community played a huge part in her life. She grew up in Logan Square and, from a young age, her parents took her to board meetings and community events, instilling in her the importance of social responsibility and collective action. Those experiences “really helped shape what I bring to the table in terms of a legislator,” she said.

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