Frequently Asked Questions
Why did you start Corporate Responsibility Partners (CRP)?
I started CRP along with my partners Rich Tafel and Robert Kabel as a response to request from companies we worked with while
creating CONAES and JaBCHA, the first business councils on HIV/AIDS in Mexico and Jamaica respectively. While meeting with
large and small companies to educate them about HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination in the workplace, company representatives
would often ask us to help them to “deal with other chronic diseases that impact their employee’s health, and increase health-care
cost for their companies”.
CRP’s Workplace Wellness Institute will respond to this need by providing companies operating in Mexico with a forum to develop,
implement and evaluate cutting edge workplace wellness programs that target the major causes of poor health and rising health-
care cost in the region, including diabetes, obesity, smoking, hypertension and HIV.
Why have you changed your focus from HIV/AIDS to chronic disease?
My focus has expanded to include other chronic diseases, but I remain committed to the effort to fight HIV. In fact, in countries like
Mexico and Jamaica where we have an organized effort by the business community to take a leadership role in the fight against
HIV, CRP will work with those organizations to ensure that HIV is included in any corporate workplace wellness strategy.
I should also note that as we continue to get more and more HIV positive people into drug treatment, HIV is also becoming a
“chronic” disease, with HIV positive people living otherwise long and productive lives.
Why did you start AIDS Responsibility Project (ARP)?
In 2002, after I was appointed to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA), I became much more aware of the threat
HIV posed to the countries hardest hit by the epidemic. At the same time, I came to realize how important it was that the US
government steps up its efforts to help poor countries who were otherwise not able to mount a significant effort to fight new
infections and help those already infected. In short, I felt US leadership in the global fight against HIV was essential. I created ARP
because I felt there was a need for non-governmental organizations (NGO) capable of working with government and the private
sector to educate key policy makers about the needs of those infected and affected by HIV. I am proud that over the past 6 years,
ARP has become a respected policy advocate, and a trusted bridge between the public and private sectors.
ARP has pioneered public-private partnerships in Mexico and Jamaica while creating sustainable organizations –CONAES and
JaBCHA – which now provide a platform for the business community in these countries to take a leadership role in the fight
HIV/AIDS related stigma and discrimination.
Why have you focused on working with the private sector?
During an ARP organized congressional staff delegation (CODEL) to review US government funded HIV/AIDS programs in Mexico,
Jamaica, and Brazil in 2004, we held focus groups in each country with people living with HIV. These HIV positive people shared
with us heart breaking stories about the stigmatization and discrimination that had experienced. For example, some had been
repeatedly beat up and school and forced to drop out, some had been abandoned by their spouses, some have been rejected by
their families and their friends, and one woman had been beaten by her neighbors and forced to leave her home. In addition to
these stories, most of the HIV positive people we met with in all three countries had been fired from their jobs, or harassed to the
point where they were unwilling or afraid to return to their job. And to a person, they made it clear to us that of all the discrimination
they experienced, it was the loss of their job that had the most negative impact. As one person said “being kicked out of your
family, your church, your school or your neighborhood is bad enough, but when you lose your job and you ability to provide for
yourself and your family – nothing is worse”.
I decided to work with the private sector because I realized how important the workplace is to the effort to reduce HIV/AIDS stigma
and discrimination, which itself is essential to the fight against HIV. If people are afraid they will lose their job if they have HIV, or
are thought to have HIV, they will not come forward to be tested and they will hide their HIV status, both of which undermine our
prevention efforts.
Are you available for public speaking engagements?
Yes. I frequently speak to business groups and health-care groups. Topics have included - Building Success Public-Private
Partnerships, Better Health through Workplace Wellness, Sustainable Partnerships, and US Leadership in the Fight Against HIV.
Why has most of your work been outside of the United States?
After our initial visits to Mexico and Jamaica, we were able to quickly establish strong relationships with the government in each
country, with local NGOs, with partner organizations, with the companies who joined our business councils, and with our major
funder, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). At the urging of USAID, our work in Latin America
expanded beyond our initial expectations.
Why did you produce the film, “Stepping Up – America Responds to Global AIDS”?
One of ARP’s very first projects was to organize a 2003 congressional staff delegation (CODEL) to South Africa, Botswana, and
Uganda to review HIV/AIDS programs in those countries as a way of education key congressional staffers about the need for US
action against AIDS in Africa. Since I could only take a limited number of congressional staffers to Africa, I decided to take along a
film crew to create a documentary film that could be used to build support on Capitol Hill for AIDS funding in Africa.
In 2004, the resulting film, “Stepping Up – America Responds to Global AIDS”, was premiered in Washington, DC, and during the
2004 World AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand. ARP also hosted a special screening in the US Capital for congressional staff.
Why did you produce the music CD “What Are We Living For”?
When ARP’s Documentary film was almost complete, I thought it would be helpful to have an original theme song done for the film.
I had earlier met a young music producer, Donald “XL” Robertson who I asked to preview the film and produce a theme song. To
my surprise, over the next 10 days, XL put together a group of talented young artist who donated their time to produce 12 original
songs which ultimately became the ARP produced CD “What Are We Living For”.
How did you get appointed to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA)?
In 2002, I was working as Chief Policy Advisor for Massachusetts Governor Jane Swift and I got a call from the Bush White House
asking if I would be interested in serving on PACHA. I agreed, and shortly after I was appointed to PACHA, I was asked to serve as
Chairman of the International Subcommittee. The purpose of PACHA is to provide advice to the President, the Secretary of State
and the Secretary of Health and Human Services about actions the US Government can take to fight the AIDS epidemic here in the
US, and around the world.
Why did you start Corporate Responsibility Partners (CRP)?
I started CRP along with my partners Rich Tafel and Robert Kabel as a response to request from companies we worked with while
creating CONAES and JaBCHA, the first business councils on HIV/AIDS in Mexico and Jamaica respectively. While meeting with
large and small companies to educate them about HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination in the workplace, company representatives
would often ask us to help them to “deal with other chronic diseases that impact their employee’s health, and increase health-care
cost for their companies”.
CRP’s Workplace Wellness Institute will respond to this need by providing companies operating in Mexico with a forum to develop,
implement and evaluate cutting edge workplace wellness programs that target the major causes of poor health and rising health-
care cost in the region, including diabetes, obesity, smoking, hypertension and HIV.
Why have you changed your focus from HIV/AIDS to chronic disease?
My focus has expanded to include other chronic diseases, but I remain committed to the effort to fight HIV. In fact, in countries like
Mexico and Jamaica where we have an organized effort by the business community to take a leadership role in the fight against
HIV, CRP will work with those organizations to ensure that HIV is included in any corporate workplace wellness strategy.
I should also note that as we continue to get more and more HIV positive people into drug treatment, HIV is also becoming a
“chronic” disease, with HIV positive people living otherwise long and productive lives.
Why did you start AIDS Responsibility Project (ARP)?
In 2002, after I was appointed to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA), I became much more aware of the threat
HIV posed to the countries hardest hit by the epidemic. At the same time, I came to realize how important it was that the US
government steps up its efforts to help poor countries who were otherwise not able to mount a significant effort to fight new
infections and help those already infected. In short, I felt US leadership in the global fight against HIV was essential. I created ARP
because I felt there was a need for non-governmental organizations (NGO) capable of working with government and the private
sector to educate key policy makers about the needs of those infected and affected by HIV. I am proud that over the past 6 years,
ARP has become a respected policy advocate, and a trusted bridge between the public and private sectors.
ARP has pioneered public-private partnerships in Mexico and Jamaica while creating sustainable organizations –CONAES and
JaBCHA – which now provide a platform for the business community in these countries to take a leadership role in the fight
HIV/AIDS related stigma and discrimination.
Why have you focused on working with the private sector?
During an ARP organized congressional staff delegation (CODEL) to review US government funded HIV/AIDS programs in Mexico,
Jamaica, and Brazil in 2004, we held focus groups in each country with people living with HIV. These HIV positive people shared
with us heart breaking stories about the stigmatization and discrimination that had experienced. For example, some had been
repeatedly beat up and school and forced to drop out, some had been abandoned by their spouses, some have been rejected by
their families and their friends, and one woman had been beaten by her neighbors and forced to leave her home. In addition to
these stories, most of the HIV positive people we met with in all three countries had been fired from their jobs, or harassed to the
point where they were unwilling or afraid to return to their job. And to a person, they made it clear to us that of all the discrimination
they experienced, it was the loss of their job that had the most negative impact. As one person said “being kicked out of your
family, your church, your school or your neighborhood is bad enough, but when you lose your job and you ability to provide for
yourself and your family – nothing is worse”.
I decided to work with the private sector because I realized how important the workplace is to the effort to reduce HIV/AIDS stigma
and discrimination, which itself is essential to the fight against HIV. If people are afraid they will lose their job if they have HIV, or
are thought to have HIV, they will not come forward to be tested and they will hide their HIV status, both of which undermine our
prevention efforts.
Are you available for public speaking engagements?
Yes. I frequently speak to business groups and health-care groups. Topics have included - Building Success Public-Private
Partnerships, Better Health through Workplace Wellness, Sustainable Partnerships, and US Leadership in the Fight Against HIV.
Why has most of your work been outside of the United States?
After our initial visits to Mexico and Jamaica, we were able to quickly establish strong relationships with the government in each
country, with local NGOs, with partner organizations, with the companies who joined our business councils, and with our major
funder, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). At the urging of USAID, our work in Latin America
expanded beyond our initial expectations.
Why did you produce the film, “Stepping Up – America Responds to Global AIDS”?
One of ARP’s very first projects was to organize a 2003 congressional staff delegation (CODEL) to South Africa, Botswana, and
Uganda to review HIV/AIDS programs in those countries as a way of education key congressional staffers about the need for US
action against AIDS in Africa. Since I could only take a limited number of congressional staffers to Africa, I decided to take along a
film crew to create a documentary film that could be used to build support on Capitol Hill for AIDS funding in Africa.
In 2004, the resulting film, “Stepping Up – America Responds to Global AIDS”, was premiered in Washington, DC, and during the
2004 World AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand. ARP also hosted a special screening in the US Capital for congressional staff.
Why did you produce the music CD “What Are We Living For”?
When ARP’s Documentary film was almost complete, I thought it would be helpful to have an original theme song done for the film.
I had earlier met a young music producer, Donald “XL” Robertson who I asked to preview the film and produce a theme song. To
my surprise, over the next 10 days, XL put together a group of talented young artist who donated their time to produce 12 original
songs which ultimately became the ARP produced CD “What Are We Living For”.
How did you get appointed to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA)?
In 2002, I was working as Chief Policy Advisor for Massachusetts Governor Jane Swift and I got a call from the Bush White House
asking if I would be interested in serving on PACHA. I agreed, and shortly after I was appointed to PACHA, I was asked to serve as
Chairman of the International Subcommittee. The purpose of PACHA is to provide advice to the President, the Secretary of State
and the Secretary of Health and Human Services about actions the US Government can take to fight the AIDS epidemic here in the
US, and around the world.
Kiwanuka, his wife and three children in front
of their home in Tororo, Uganda with ARP
Executive Director Abner Mason and Donald
Tighe of USAID Legislative Affairs office.
Kiwanuka, a subsistance farmer, receives
antiretroviral drug therapy through the CDC
sponsored Home Based AIDS Care Program
in which drugs are delivered to patients by
motorcycle because they live in remote
areas without roads, electricity, or running
water.
of their home in Tororo, Uganda with ARP
Executive Director Abner Mason and Donald
Tighe of USAID Legislative Affairs office.
Kiwanuka, a subsistance farmer, receives
antiretroviral drug therapy through the CDC
sponsored Home Based AIDS Care Program
in which drugs are delivered to patients by
motorcycle because they live in remote
areas without roads, electricity, or running
water.
| AbnerMason.com Founder & CEO, Corporate Responsibility Partners, LLC "better health through workplace wellness" |
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ARP Executive Director Abner Mason
presents ARP"s Leadership Award to US
Senator Arlen Specter during ARP's
"Renew the Battle" Dinner in Washington
DC. Sen. Specter was the keynote
speaker for the evening.
presents ARP"s Leadership Award to US
Senator Arlen Specter during ARP's
"Renew the Battle" Dinner in Washington
DC. Sen. Specter was the keynote
speaker for the evening.
ARP Executive Director Abner Mason
presents the ARP Leadership Award to
Leslie Bassett, Deputy Chief of Mission, US
Embassy in Mexico during ARP's Corporate
Social Responsibility and HIV Leadership
Breakfast held in Mexico City in conjuction
with the 2008 World AIDS Conference.
presents the ARP Leadership Award to
Leslie Bassett, Deputy Chief of Mission, US
Embassy in Mexico during ARP's Corporate
Social Responsibility and HIV Leadership
Breakfast held in Mexico City in conjuction
with the 2008 World AIDS Conference.
ARP Executiev Director Abner Mason at
COK (City of Kingston) Credit Union with
COK President Brenda Cuthbert. Ms.
Cuthbert later became a member of the
Executive Committee for the Jamaica
Business Council on HIV/AIDS.
COK (City of Kingston) Credit Union with
COK President Brenda Cuthbert. Ms.
Cuthbert later became a member of the
Executive Committee for the Jamaica
Business Council on HIV/AIDS.