Common Sensitivity is an all-volunteer non-profit 501(c) 3 HIV/AIDS organization effecting vital changes around the United States. It was created to advance the work of Barry Ansin in promoting HIV/AIDS awareness, understanding, compassion, prevention and emphasizing peoples' active, determined, productive and successful involvement with this vital issue. Common Sensitivity’s impacts involve and effect thousands of people and have made a significant difference within this issue for all people. Their efforts have helped to raise the awareness and understanding about this most serious public health issue. They continue to work together with committed people, organizations, and businesses wanting to make a real, significant and measurable difference through care and participation while helping to spread the message that this is everyone’s problem and everyone needs to play a part in this global effort. Below details some of their success:

 • "AIDS & the Issues" - ** 1^st place winner '98 NECTA awards ** Finalist Cable Positive '99 (National)

Beginning in 1993, this award winning national weekly educational television program was originally produced in partnership with Cablevision, and now airs before over 13,500,000 people across the United States by producing in local communities around the nation! In Massachusetts it can be seen in Marlboro, Worcester, Lancaster, Sterling, Bolton, Hudson, Maynard, Acton, Sudbury, Stow, Lowell and Haverhill. Nationally it airs in Honolulu, Long Island, San Diego, Chicago, Dallas, Washington D.C., Manhattan, Cincinnati, Nashville, Los Angeles, Austin, Buffalo, and Atlanta. Among the hundreds of guests appearing on the program have been US Congressional Members, talk show legend Mr. Phil Donahue, Jeanne White Ginder (Ryan White's mother), and Bishop Daniel P. Reilly. Each week HIV/AIDS related issues are discussed by people who are directly involved with this some part of this pandemic including health officials, educators, doctors, nurses, politicians, researchers, infected/affected family members, and many others.

• "AIDS & the Issues" Parade Float was chaired by Mr. Toney Marcus and was launched before over 10,000 people lining the 1999 Johnny Appleseed Parade in their hometown of Leominster and received 2^nd place among many creative and beautiful floats. This float has also appeared in Fitchburg, Massachusetts and again has received an award there. This float has involved over 100 people, stretched nearly a city block, was very well received and effectively & appropriately delivered vital awareness on this issue!

• "A Day for Courage" - This began in 1998 with WEIM & WGAW Radio. This annual 12-hour AIDS Radio-Thon creates awareness, reaches 400,000+ people, is highly regarded, raises over $25,000 each year!

• HOPE (Humanizing Our Prevention Education) program - This program was developed in partnership with Lawrence Academy in Groton, Massachusetts for their AIDS awareness week in 1997. It has been successfully implemented at Leominster & Fitchburg Public High Schools in Massachusetts in 2000. This program is very well received and includes hard data regarding the impact on the students through a brief, but effective survey of the students and participants involved. The impact of this program is due to the effective implementation of its many components. Among them is bringing over 24 people who have HIV/AIDS and bring the realities personally to small groups of students and teachers. Another integrated component of this program is having these groups view the AIDS Memorial Quilt after meeting with the HIV+ educators for 45 minutes. The 4 hour program begins with an assembly where one of the best sex/sexuality and HIV/AIDS educators in the United States, Ms. Marja Brandon opens up discussion and understanding on the issues surrounding this reality. The program also involves the Mayors, School Superintendents, Principals, Administrators, and teachers in each community it works with. There are also community representatives and parents who are directly involved with this program. The entire day is captured on the "AIDS & the Issues" national award winning television program, involving a live studio audience.

• The Piano (NEEDS A VOLUNTEER) - This ongoing effort began in 1990 when Barry Ansin was gifted a piano signed by many famous musicians after raising the greatest amount of money in the Boston AIDS walk. Common Sensitivity has more than doubled the number of signatures on this Piano which will continue to raise additional awareness and eventually be sold to benefit the cause. Here is a sampling of the over 35 signatures:

Elton John, Ringo Starr, Melissa Etheridge, James Taylor, Diana Ross, Luther Vandross, David Lee Roth, Elvis Costello, Carly Simon, Jon Secada, Sheryl Crow, Livingston Taylor, Peter Gabriel, Johnny Mathis, Tom Petty, The CURE, Jimmy Buffet, Barry White, Julio Iglesias, Bonnie Raitt, and many others

• "Youth at the Pops" Glow Stick & Balloon Sales – This effort began in 1996 and is now an annual effort that raises both funds and awareness before over 15,000 people attending this annual 4^th of July Pops concert in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Thanks to St. Bernard's Elementary School and the Thayer Symphony Orchestra, this collaborative effort financially benefits all three partners while raising the awareness on this vital issue and the efforts of this organization. Each year Common Sensitivity partners with other organizations to participate.

• "Where is Rotary" – This 26 minute program helps make Rotarians aware of, and involved with, this world wide health issue. Members of Rotary are business owners and managers who get together in fellowship to help others, while demonstrating integrity in the work place and living up to their standard of "Service above Self". They number over 1,200,000 in over 29,000 Rotary clubs around the world! This program receives incredible support from those who have been seen it, but most Rotary Clubs continue to be very slow to get involved, in most cases choosing to avoid this issue and/or not being completely forthrightful about this.

• "Musicians Fighting AIDS" - Was created by in 1997 by Ms. April Phinney, a local musician with "Prilly And The Purple Hairs", and who has opened for performing artist Livingston Taylor. There were over 20 musicians performing for over 20 hours during this benefit weekend. Thanks to the involvement from Partners’ Pub in Fitchburg, Massachusetts (who donated all money raised at the door and even part of the bar), this event raised thousands of dollars, created even more awareness and was well covered in the media.

• AIDS Memorial Quilt Display - Was chaired by Mr. John Brady in 1996 and was held as part of the week long Civic Days events marking the 4^th of July. This effort also included participation in the annual Civic Days Parade. This effort allowed people who had never seen and felt the reality of this issue to view the quilt, become touched by the issue and increase the awareness that they now have about this critical issue.

• "The Stepping Forward AIDS Benefit Walk" was chaired and developed by Common Sensitivity from ‘91-‘93. This pledge walk includes 26 cities and towns in North Central Massachusetts. During this time the effort grew from only 26 walkers raising $1,000 to over 500 walkers raising over $26,000! Additionally, the walk was moved off of the back roads and onto the main streets involving community leaders at center stage!