Aunt Imelda's Journey

AUNT IMELDA'S STORY begins in 1981 at the edge of a great chasm.  Now, 25 years after the first AIDS case was diagnosed, we are still in danger of being swallowed by the chasm that is AIDS.  The ever-widening gap has become a virtually impassable obstacle.  As terrible as AIDS is, the isolation and segregation caused by fear and ignorance is worse. In order to end the AIDS pandemic, we must bridge that chasm with understanding and compassion.

We have made some amazing medical breakthroughs in the fight against AIDS, but messages and information about the disease have lagged.   Observing the immense need for educational resources, John Lipp and Kevin Woodson have teamed up to create Aunt Imelda, the lovable spokesperson for Aunt Imelda’s Dinosaur Stew and Other Things AIDS Doesn’t Stand For.  This picture book is designed to demystify AIDS and bridge the fear and doubts children feel about this disease.

Maternal, compassionate, humorous and marching to the beat of her own drummer, Aunt Imelda is the magical aunt who cooks for dinosaurs and changes the world in the process; she is the aunt we all wished for as children.

Setting out on her journey, Aunt Imelda knows that with the right message, she can accomplish her mission: A new generation will embrace those impacted by the global AIDS pandemic with compassion, understanding and hope.

Currently Aunt Imelda’s Dinosaur Stew is an unpublished manuscript, professionally presented in a package including a dummy, and full-color sample illustrations.  Aunt Imelda is on a journey to meet allies- AIDS activists, educators, parents, writers, artists, editors, foundations - so she can share her ideas, get feedback and find an appropriate publisher quickly.

Aunt Imelda, with her dinosaur friends, is a unique and unforgettable brand. Like Carmen Sandiego, Smokey Bear, and Woodsey the Owl, Aunt Imelda has the potential to become an iconic childhood character that people will identify with long after that have grown up.

After publication, John and Kevin are committed to investing profits from the book in developing resources and curriculum materials to support the book.

Aunt Imelda’s Future
To Aunt Imelda, her publisher, and her ally’s delight, there is a huge potential market to welcome her book. Because this book is a first, it will be an instant winner with the media, and people speaking publicly about AIDS.  Schools, parents, children’s hospitals, and places throughout the community will all welcome a book they can use to begin conversations.  State-sponsored reading programs will benefit from adding this book to their reading lists.  Online resources and an interactive web site will provide for instant sharing.

Internationally, Imelda thinks her story would be better transliterated.  John and Kevin, both experienced facilitators, are looking forward to working with local artists to create similar books around the world.  Organizations already working with international communities  have a strong need for appealing, branded material to support their work in the field.

The Aunt Imelda Foundation
Aunt Imelda is a compelling story with a generative outreach model:  Profits from the sale of her book will be used to set up the Aunt Imelda Foundation, focused on eradicating AIDS through knowledge, volunteerism, and partnerships. 

Aunt Imelda will reach out to partners in film, television, video games, political and business leaders, and AIDS organizations to continue to create materials to reach more people with her life-affirming message.  Together, we’ll continue to develop curriculums, fundraise, reach out to educators and parents, and secure more resources and commitments in the fight against AIDS.  The new compassion generated by the success of the book will not only build a bridge over the chasm that is AIDS, but could actually bring us closer to the day when HIV/AIDS is a disease of the past.

Together with a publisher, funders, AIDS organizations, and her many allies , Imelda will achieve her vision: To cease the transmission of HIV and ensure that those currently living with the disease are able to enjoy long and healthy lives and be treated with respect and compassion