Higher Ground is a

501(c)3 A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of the 29 types of 50 ...

non-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

based in

Royal Oak The Royal Oak is the English oak tree within which the future King Charles II of England hid to escape the Roundheads following the Battle of Worcester in 1651. The tree was in Boscobel Wood, which was part of the park of Boscobel House. C ...

Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...

providing a support group for people living with

HIV/AIDS Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual ...

Metro Detroit The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is a major metropolitan area in the U.S. State of Michigan, consisting of the city of Detroit and its surrounding area. There are varied definitions of the area, including the ...

and

Southeast Michigan Southeast Michigan, also called southeastern Michigan, is a region in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan that is home to a majority of the state's businesses and industries as well as slightly over half of the state's population, most of whom are c ...

. The organization was founded by 2002 by Rick Henning, who received a " Spirit of Detroit Award" from the

Detroit City Council The Detroit City Council is the legislative body of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The full-time council is required to meet every business day for at least 10 months of the year, with at least eight of these meetings occurring at a location ...

in 2007, in part for his work on Higher Ground.

Support activities

The organization offers many support services to persons living with

HIV-AIDS Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual ma ...

Monday night discussion

This is the primary function of the organization. It opens with a

guided meditation Meditation is a practice in which an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm ...

, afterward everyone is encouraged to participate in discussion and to assist each other in the resolution of personal challenges. Topics of discussion often include new diagnosis, status disclosure, friends/family/workplace, doctor relationships, medication choices, dating/relationships, economic/insurance conflicts and long term challenges.

Guest speakers

Featured almost monthly they coincide with a member

potluck A potluck is a communal gathering where each guest or group contributes a different, often homemade, dish of food to be shared. Other names for a "potluck" include: potluck dinner, pitch-in, shared lunch, spread, faith supper, carry-in dinner, ...

dinner. Previous speaker topics focused on the spiritual and physical aspect of life with

and covering topics such as: * Accupunture *

Buddhist meditation Buddhist meditation is the practice of meditation in Buddhism. The closest words for meditation in the classical languages of Buddhism are '' bhāvanā'' ("mental development") and '' jhāna/dhyāna'' (mental training resulting in a calm and ...

by The Muddy Water Zen Center *

Financial planning In general usage, a financial plan is a comprehensive evaluation of an individual's current pay and future financial state by using current known variables to predict future income, asset values and withdrawal plans. This often includes a bu ...

by Advisor Reid Beyerlein *

Kabbalah Kabbalah ( he, קַבָּלָה ''Qabbālā'', literally "reception, tradition") is an esoteric method, discipline and Jewish theology, school of thought in Jewish mysticism. A traditional Kabbalist is called a Mekubbal ( ''Məqūbbāl'' "rece ...

Nutrition Nutrition is the biochemical and physiological process by which an organism uses food to support its life. It provides organisms with nutrients, which can be metabolized to create energy and chemical structures. Failure to obtain sufficient n ...

by Holistic Practitioner Stefan Brink * Legal issues by The Law Office of Kendra S. Kleber

Annual retreat

Occurs each spring or fall, depending on schedules. Previous retreats were held at Kettunen Center in 2006, Double JJ Ranch in 2007, Ronora Lodge in 2008, and Retreat Center in 2009. Members participate in activities with others also living with

and have previously included:

Annual blanket drive for AIDS

Higher Ground members are encouraged to give back to the community. Blankets are collected during the Holiday season by Higher Ground volunteers. About two dozens agencies have benefited including: *

Children's Hospital of Michigan Children's Hospital of Michigan (CHM) is a for-profit, pediatric acute care hospital located in Detroit, Michigan. The hospital has 227 beds and is affiliated with both the Wayne State University School of Medicine and the Michigan State Universit ...

Ruth Ellis Center The Ruth Ellis Center is a Detroit area social services agency that serves the needs of runaway, homeless and at-risk lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth. Among their services are a drop-in center, Street Outreach Program, fo ...

Movie night

Periodic selections are based on applications to living with

. Previous viewing among others have included: * Deepak Chopra's Body Mind And Soul * Girl Positive * Incredible Mrs. Ritchie *

The Secret (2006 film) ''The Secret'' is a 2006 Australian-American spirituality documentary consisting of a series of interviews designed to demonstrate the New Thought " law of attraction", the belief that everything one wants or needs can be satisfied by believi ...

* The 24th Day

Hatha yoga

Hatha yoga Haṭha yoga is a branch of yoga which uses physical techniques to try to preserve and channel the vital force or energy. The Sanskrit word हठ ''haṭha'' literally means "force", alluding to a system of physical techniques. Some haṭha ...

practice is held on Thursday evenings for persons with

Reiki

Reiki is a Japanese form of energy healing, a type of alternative medicine. Reiki practitioners use a technique called ''palm healing'' or ''hands-on healing'' through which a " universal energy" is said to be transferred through the palms of the ...

practice is occasionally held in conjunction with the Monday night support meeting.

References

Between The Lines Newspaper November 13th, 2008

Pride Source June Banquet 2007 Spirit Of Detroit Award recipients

WDET 101.9 FM Radio Events

Royal Oak Mirror News November 16th, 2008

City Of Detroit Health Department World AIDS Day Event Press Release November 25th, 2008

Soho Bar Fund Raiser Event Metro Times 2008

Detroit Free Press December 7th, 2008

93.9 FM The River Detroit Radio 2007 Blanket Drive support

World AIDS Day Campaign 2006

Red Ribbon Bowl To Throw A Strike For HIV/AIDS, Between The Lines, March 5th, 2009

FGI gundraiser, Hometown Life News November 12th, 2009

External links

Higher Ground Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Higher Ground HIV/AIDS organizations in the United States Non-profit organizations based in Michigan Support groups