A 501(c)3 Non Profit Health & Human Services/AIDS Service Organization “Think Globally, Act Locally” - One World - Two Logos - Many Reasons ABOUT JAMES James M. Leggat, Jr. - james@james-house.org Having spent a career of networking, sales, promotion & fund raising for many diverse, varied projects & causes, including Political Candidates, Entertainment Venues, Religious Institutions & other Charitable Non Profit Causes (chiefly among them those raising education, awareness and providing varied services for those infected & affected with/by HIV/AIDS, Cancer, Heart Disease, Diabetes, etc.), James spent the last two years building a rather impressive network of persons from across the nation & around the globe with one common purpose: to “Think Globally & Act Locally” as we approach how best to deal with this ongoing HIV/AIDS Pandemic on a Grassroots Level but with a National Focus. ”James’ House” is one meaningful answer. James’ career has included a lifetime of sales, promotion & serving as a fundraiser for political (both parties), religious (various denominations), professional charitable & arts organizations (both for profit & not for profit). James is an artist himself, a trained actor, singer, published writer & CDC Certified Testing & Counseling Specialists with emphasis on HIV/AIDS, MSM & At Risk Youth. Additionally, James has excelled in working for/with sales & promotional professional & community based service organizations, reaching out to those many considered untouchable or inaccessible. His resourcefulness & tenacity has served him, & those for & with whom he worked, well. For those who do not know James, or his work over the last thirty years, the following is provided below. An Oglethorpe University Alumni (Poli-Sci), James is a Chi Phi (Rho Delta Chapter), a member of Kiwanis, worked several years at Aid Atlanta & worked in the Entertainment Industry – (with his own companies in Los Angeles: RUBICON Entertainment Inc. & RUBICON Talent Management, as well as for others: Georgia Ensemble Theatre & The Alliance Theatre Company (doing all manner of sales and fund raising at each), The Los Angeles International Dream Center (an inner city homeless & at risk shelter, food kitchen, literacy & job skills training, multiple outreach facility housed in the old Queen of Angels Hospital off the 101 at 18th St. & Alvarado – External Fundraising Director), Malibu Vineyard, Trinity Foods For Life, The Essence of Being & more. James’ HIV/AIDS & other STDs (& more) educational experience is as follows: Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center – attended classes in HIV/AIDS Awareness & Prevention Aid Atlanta – attended then taught and/or participated in AIDS 101, Life Guard (a 6 week intensive for MSM on HIV/AIDS & all other STDs, Lifestyle choices, Awareness, Prevention & the Importance of Knowing Your Status - taught for 2 years), w/Fulton County Health Dept. Mobile Van - Hepatitis A/B vaccines & Statistical Gathering, Member of the GA Statewide Speakers Bureau (1 man presentations to progressive High Schools & Colleges on “Living With AIDS” or HIV/AIDS & other STDs Awareness & Prevention. Certified CDC Testing & Counseling for HIV/AIDS using both OraQuick & OraSure Tests (including Administering the tests as well as delivering & Counseling with the results). South East Regional Gay Men’s Health Summit - 2 yrs as facilitator & presenter - JAX & Destin, FL. Positive Impact - Various classes for HIV/AIDS Instructors including the THRIVE Weekend. As a participant, to learn & to grow, James has also participated in Lymphoma, Breast Cancer, & Diabetes & Heart Disease CME & ongoing Educational programs. James’ present exclusive primary focus these days is all things ”James’ House”. However, James is unashamedly & unabashedly candid in presenting the more personal aspects of himself and his life, despite the fact that they bear little or no impact on the recruitment of staff, board or the consideration of James’ House Clients. Be that as it may, for those who feel thy must know more of the man behind the concept, the following is respectfully submitted: James is Gay, HIV+ Christian, & a Moderate. James cares about this planet & its many inhabitants & all of the life therein. Two parts Scot, one part Irish and one part German, James is the atypical textbook Leo; always big picture driven. He is an adoptive Parent/Guardian. “I have a great family, every bit as crazy (especially my Father) & eccentric as I am. I love History & the lessons it teaches. I still believe in ‘Truth, Justice & the American Way’ (love all things Superman – his challenges with kryptonite, mine with this thing call HIV/AIDS). I believe we are all citizens of the Earth despite our respective nationalities & that mutual respect for all persons, regardless of race, color creed, religion or lifestyle, economic status, fame or anonymity, is essential if we are to move forward in Love and harmony. I love Music & the Arts (particularly film). I believe the future can be a positive place for us all & heartily embrace Gene Roddenberry’s visionary portrayal of a future wherein racial, cultural and all other differences are embraced, where hunger, war, oppression & most other negative things are aberrations as opposed to the expected norm. I am an eternal optimist with a realistic (if not at times sardonic) twist. James’ House, and all it stands for, from its Mission Statement, to our non-judgmental stance(s) & more, on through to our embrace of the simple but powerful ‘Ordinary Miracles’ & the ‘Paying it Forward’ concepts, is dedicated to the enduring spirit of my Mother, Margaret “Peggy” Rogers Leggat. She was a Survivor though Cancer (Lymphoma) took her. She was a Parent & a serious disciplinarian when it was not even less fashionable, an idealist in a world of conformists. She was a force to be reckoned with and yet she had the capacity to be as gentle as a springtime breeze. She taught my siblings and I to be free, self- thinkers, to reach out & to spread our wings as she watched over, ever so protectively, from the sidelines. More liberal than she’d care to admit or like me to say, & yet a true conservative without a hidden agenda, she taught us to respect all people & cultures & all life on this planet. She loved the written word in nearly all forms & supported us even when we were obviously headed off in the wrong directions. Strict but fair, stern & stoic, dark & bright, she was an artist & a free spirit, yet ever a Lady (perhaps the contemporary version of a Steel Magnolia). Most of all, she was my best friend.” “I have worn” (wear) “many shoes. My Momma always said you can tell a great deal about a person by their shoes. They tell where they” (you’ve) “been”. – Forrest Gump “I believe a stranger is simply a friend one has yet to meet” - James M. Leggat, Jr. Be safe & be well - Love, James - james@james-house.org - JAMES HOUSE LTD (404) 667-7367