Dear Friends,

Bob Bowers' work in Madison high schools to raise awareness about HIV has been very important to our community. Bob puts a human face on the issue and he inspires all of us to think about how this challenge can be overcome, not how it might overcome us.  And I have no doubt that by raising awareness he has saved lives.  I'm so impressed with this work that I proudly hang the winners of his annual What if it were you? poster contest in my office to remind me of this issue every day. 

Madison Mayor
Dave Cieslewicz

***********

""Bob Bowers is a passionate activist and educator. As someone who has lived with AIDS for over 20 years, Bob is not just a survivor. He works passionately to fight complacency and improve the lives of those around him. His commitment to teaching young people about the importance of healthy choices in their lives, and his advocacy of quality health care for those living with AIDS, are just two examples of his numerous good works."

United States Congresswoman
Tammy Baldwin

***********

Dear Friends,

If you haven't met Bob Bowers or heard him speak, you have missed an inspirational man with a profound message for life. At opening ceremonies of AIDS Walk Wisconsin his remarks have energized thousands of people to increase their commitment to the fight against AIDS. He is a wonderful educator and a powerful advocate who exemplifies the new reality that people with HIV disease have the opportunity to live long, healthy and productive lives. I commend Bob to you as a man of the highest integrity whose dedication and leadership are making a big difference in this epic battle against AIDS.

Sincerely,
Doug Nelson
President and CEO
AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin

***********

Edgewood High School has had the privilege of having Bob Bowers come and speak to numerous classes over the last few years. He is an inspiration to the students and is able to relate to the teenage audience in a way that few speakers can. To know the impact that Bob has on his audience, it is best to read what a few of my students wrote after Bob spoke to them recently: "Bob Bowers is such a powerful speaker...he opened my eyes to this horrible disease and made me want to get involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS. It worked on me...I am doing the AIDS Walk!" Another wrote: "He taught me so many important messages, one being that even though I don't have AIDS, we can't forget about it. He let me know that I can make a difference in the fight against AIDS." And finally one student simply said: "...he really talks from the heart!" Without a doubt my high school is blessed to have a resource like Bob Bowers.

Wade DallaGrana
Edgewood High School

***********

As an art teacher at James Madison Memorial High School I try to challenge my art students with fun, exciting and new art projects.  I strive to make the work real, thought provoking and community connected.  Working with Bob Bowers and HIVictorious brought everything together for my students.  Most of my students used cutting edge technology, Adobe Illustrator, to create posters for the “What if it Were You?” HIV/AIDS poster contest, but most all media was available to them.  Having Bob come in to speak to my classes about real world problems; HIV, AIDS, and the related stigma that goes with those world health issues, laid the foundation for the project.  Students then had to take time to answer the question thoughtfully and artistically.  Students brought not only skills learned from my illustration class to the table but their own ideas and history.  The result was amazing.  Students finished feeling truly challenged.

Teri Parris Ford, Art Teacher
James Madison Memorial High School

***********

We had the pleasure of having Bob speak for three sessions during our bloodborne pathogen training this year. Bob shed a clear, real and caring light on what it means to live with HIV. Our law enforcement personnel found his presentation to be very enlightening and open. Bob also put a face to what has always been the "what if" for our officers. One of the most important pieces of our training this year was learning the importance of not judging/evaluating a person and their health status by the way they look. On a personal note, I am blessed to have met Bob. He is an inspiration to me and a teacher of some of life's most important lessons.

Marsha Present
DNR Safety Manager
Safety & Risk Management
Human Resources
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

***********

Dear Friends:

There are no words to describe the impact that Bob Bowers has had on my students and me. He is a very courageous man with an extremely powerful life or death message. I have invited him to come and talk to our freshman class for the past two years and will continue to have him back in the future. I could easily go on and on about the importance of having a person of his caliber come and talk to your school or group, however I feel hearing it from the students makes it more relevant. After his presentation, the students are asked to write a reflection on what they thought of Bob’s message.
Here is what some of them said:

“Bob was an amazing speaker. He is doing one of the greatest things possible. He is sharing a story to help fight a pandemic. He made me not only realize to be a fighter for my own battles, but to use my own struggles and experiences to help others.”

“His story not only informed me on what the effects of HIV/AIDS can do to a person physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well. His speech was enlightening and it showed me the importance of keeping the quality of life as high as possible in addition to informing me about HIV/AIDS and other STIs.”

“I was very inspired by Bob Bowers and what he has gone through. I thought he was a great speaker and really connected on every human level. He was not just giving facts but really how it changes every aspect of your life when you get HIV. “

“He wasn’t just informative, he was real. He was very straightforward with the information and his problem. He didn’t sugarcoat anything. It was refreshing that he didn’t try to hide his emotions in front of the group. This was probably one of the best presentations I have seen.”

As you can tell from the statements above, Bob has left lasting impressions on my students. He has multiplied the value of our unit on HIV/AIDS by sharing his personal experiences in a way that reaches each and EVERY student. As Bob states, he is a man with a gift to share, and it is my hope that all people will continue to allow Bob to share his gift. It is with great respect and honor that I recommend Bob Bowers as one of the top educators for HIV/AIDS.

Respectfully,

Mekel Wiederholt Meier
Edgewood High School
Madison, Wisconsin

***********

To Whom it May Concern,

I write this letter of commendation for Mr. Bob Bowers who is an excellent speaker on HIV/AIDS prevention to both teenagers and adults. Bob shares his personal testimony of living with HIV/AIDS with a genuine concern to help protect youth from the risk-taking behaviors associated with HIV transmission. For more than 3 years, Bob was the most requested speaker for the Peer Education Program of Los Angeles (PEP/LA). PEP/LA is a program of multi-cultural teens that have been trained as peer educators to talk openly, honestly and accurately to diverse populations of youth in probation centers, group homes, drug rehabilitation facilities, high schools, religious organizations and shelters for homeless and runaway teens. Regardless of the socio-economic or cultural background of the targeted youth, Bob appropriately responds to their specific needs and concerns. His altruistic sensitivity to our friends living with HIV/AIDS has clearly elevated the teens’ compassion, respect and hope for people living with HIV/AIDS. Whenever PEP/LA was invited to a youth organization or college, it was always Bob Bowers that they wanted as the “friend with HIV/AIDS”. There is no doubt that he has helped to protect literally thousands of teens from an HIV infection.

In addition to his message about resisting peer pressure to engage in drugs, alcohol and sexual activity, Bob instills high values and morality when he speaks. The youth understand that heightened self-esteem and respect for others are two key components for healthy psychological and emotional welfare. He provides realistic alternatives to risk-taking behaviors as he encourages specific age-appropriate strategies for negotiation and sound decision-making skills. Teens learn about positive sexuality and the advantages of making the right choices to promote individual and interpersonal relationships.

PEP/LA has missed Bob Bowers’ contribution to our educational outreach and bi-monthly meetings with peer educators and volunteers. We were so very sorry that he moved from Los Angeles but our loss will be the gain of other organizations promoting the healthy welfare of youth.

Sincerely,

Wendy Arnold, M.P.H.
President
Peer Education Program of Los Angeles

***********

Bob is a powerful and motivating public speaker on HIV/AIDS. Students are asked to nominate the best panel of the semester, and consistently Bob is voted the ‘best’ by students. Students listen and he is able to sustain their attention throughout the presentation. Mr. Bowers is very knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS and presents accurate information. In addition, he is warm and earns the respect of students.

Sincerely,
Patricia A. Tackett, Ph.D.
San Diego State University

***********

"When Bowers speaks and looks at his listeners through his black plastic, rectangular frame glasses, there is a realness and honesty that draw his listeners in. He doesn’t have the smooth finesse of a professional speaker or educator, and he admits it. But it doesn’t matter, because he easily establishes a rapport with his listeners by being generous and at ease with himself and his story. And listening to Bowers speak, you believe him – without a doubt."

--Uyenthi Tran of The Madison Times

***********