They say that the eyes are the window to the soul; that when you look into a person’s eyes, you can see their history, where they have been, what they have seen. There are eyes that have perceived suffering, abuse, and even death, yet those same eyes have witnessed happiness, love, and friendship. These events have shaped the very being of these people, creating a story within them that yearns to
be told. Diseases, tragedies, and loss all create these wonderful, yet awful, stories within these victims, burdening them with the weight of all they have experienced. The Imaginarium Chronicles specializes in relieving this burden by not only listening to these victims, but truly hearing what their stories hold, sympathizing with their anguish, helping them realize that they are no longer ignored. With these stories, the Imaginarium Chronicles works with a theater company to bring knowledge of those diseases, tragedies, and loss to the youth in various high schools across our state of Alabama in an innovative fashion. Join the Imaginarium Chronicles in their goal of hearing each untold story, because not everyone has a storybook ending, but everyone has a story worth telling. This year, the focus will be on those aggrieved with HIV/AIDS. Dr. Nichole Lariscy, Assistant Professor of English at UAB, and her students will gather the stories of members of Birmingham communities, particularly those associated with the 1917 Clinic. With these new stories, we hope to make known the trials that those with HIV/AIDS face, including social stigma, loss of status, and complete upheaval of normal life. "AIDS is no longer just a disease, it is a human rights issue. By all accounts, we are dealing with the greatest health crisis in human history. By all measures, we have failed in our quest to contain and treat this scourge." -Nelson Mandela
