{"id":1795,"date":"2020-08-27T17:17:13","date_gmt":"2020-08-27T17:17:13","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2021-08-03T16:33:38","modified_gmt":"2021-08-03T16:33:38","slug":"the-champs-of-summer-2020-kajuan-hill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/the-champs-of-summer-2020-kajuan-hill\/","title":{"rendered":"The Champs of Summer 2020: Ka’Juan Hill"},"content":{"rendered":"

Earlier this year, Detroit native Ka\u2019Juan Hill faced such a conundrum. The group that he had planned with friend and fellow activist Kendell Jones and the Detroit Recovery Project was meant to create a safe space for safe sex and mental health conversations\u2014and no one could share space anymore.<\/span><\/p>\n

But Hill comes from a long background of advocacy and activism. As a community outreach specialist with Unified HIV Health and Beyond and a Stop HIV Ambassador for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, the obstacles and challenges COVID-19 posed were no match for his organizing knowledge and deep-rooted desire to help his communities. Hill saw his experience as an opportunity to step up, asking, \u201cWhat can I do?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He quickly pivoted to a different kind of outreach. Hill and Jones took inspiration from other organizations like the Detroit chapter of the Trans Sistas of Color Project<\/a>. They put together care packages of food, essentials, and safe sex education and supplies to pass out to those in need, trying to help as many people as they could. It started small at first, financed out of Hill and Jones\u2019 own pockets. But with more and more support behind them, Hill and Jones were able to increase their reach with each round. They hope to continue with even more support\u2014and everyone is invited to participate.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s financial assistance, volunteer drivers, or donations, Hill says that anything helps. You can contact him on Facebook or Instagram at KhaosTalks, or email him at kajuandhill@gmail.com <\/span>to find out how to contribute.<\/span><\/p>\n

When asked what inspires hope and optimism in him right now, Hill pointed to his own Champ, Liliana Reyes. The Executive Director of Detroit\u2019s Trans Sistas of Color Project acted as their advisor and shoulder to lean on throughout the process. \u201cWhen we first started, we just asked over and over, how? How? How do we do this?\u201d He laughs. \u201cWe were able to call and lean on her.\u201d Ka\u2019Juan wants to use his spotlight to encourage everyone to check out and support the Trans Sistas of Color Project – Detroit<\/a> and Unified HIV Health and Beyond<\/a>. Hill has also been approved for a sponsorship with Allied Media Projects. AMP is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting documentary projects that fight for social change by revealing social disparities in marginalized communities\u2014you can donate here<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since the beginning of the pandemic, it\u2019s been said that the world has come to a halt. But for many\u2014and especially for marginalized communities\u2014the difficulties and challenges they face on the daily haven\u2019t. \u201cThe world didn\u2019t stop,\u201d Hill says. \u201cWe come from a background of outreach, so we see people still need information\u2026People are still having sex, people still need to eat. So how do we help with that?\u201d It\u2019s a simple question, but it\u2019s behind everything Hill does. And as he and Jones have proved, there are many different answers\u2014the important thing is that we act<\/em>. That\u2019s why we\u2019re honored to call Ka\u2019Juan Hill a Champ of 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n

This interview is part of a series highlighting everyday Americans who have risen extraordinarily to the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic\u2014the Champs of Summer 2020. As a thank-you to the essential workers on the front line, we\u2019re building our limited-edition Champ Detrola as a gift of gratitude. Proceeds go to the Healthcare Workers Fund in partnership with the Community Foundation for Southwest Michigan. Learn more about the Champ and how you can help <\/em>here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Earlier this year, Detroit native Ka\u2019Juan Hill faced such a conundrum. The group that he had planned with friend and fellow activist Kendell Jones and the Detroit Recovery Project was meant to create a safe space for safe sex and mental health conversations\u2014and no one could share space anymore. But Hill comes from a long […]<\/p>\n

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