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Art “Chat Daddy” Sims joins Raw Talk with Ida Byther-Smith on Soul 106.3 FM Chicago

Relationship advice columnist Art “Chat Daddy” Sims joins noted Author and HIV/AIDS advocate/activist,  Ida Byther-Smith as a celebrity co-host of “Raw  Talk” on Sundays 3-4pm CST 106.3 FM Chicago or http://www.soul1063radio.com. Listener’s line is (773)928-9230.

Art “Chat Daddy” Sims will have “Real Talk” with listeners every Sunday. I will also feature noted authors, and celebrity guests. 

Ida W. Byther-Smith, Founder and Executive Director, Jo-Ray House Inc. Jo-Ray House, Inc. is based in Chicago and is a non-profit 501 c(3) whose mission is to fight social and economic prejudices and injustices by providing a safe place for underserved individuals to heal, while empowering them to reclaim their lives for themselves, their families, and their communities.- Ms. Byther-Smith speaks at different churches and organizations to educate people on the issue of HIV/AIDS. Her focus is on showing people that attaching stigma to people living with this disease.

 At age 41, she tested positive for HIV, and her life completely changed.  Ida found out she was positive after getting tested for HIV as part of a standard procedure for interest in a different medical career position. The only possible way she thought she could have gotten HIV was from a patient sneezing on her because she had never been unfaithful to her husband or gotten infected before marriage.

Eventually, her and her husband had separated. She could only be in denial for so long, before a conversation with her husband's secret lover. "The doctor told you that you are HIV-positive. I know because I told your husband I was positive when we got involved, and he told me it didn't matter." Her husband denied everything. She has done numerous TV interviews and has also written or appeared in articles in Ebony Magazine, POZ Magazine, The Tribune, Sun Times, and Chicago Defender.  She speaks as an advocate for those living with HIV with the compassion that only comes through personal experience.

I am looking forward to us bringing topics and issues that need to be addressed within our community with feature noted authors, everyday people and celebrity guests.

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