Stories are produced from interviews given by participants who willingly share their experiences with HIV. The interviews are conducted by GMHP staff, and usually last anywhere between thirty minutes to an hour. All interviews are taped to insure accuracy. Using these tapes as a guide, GMHP staff then pull key elements from the interview to draft a short but meaningful story representing the participants’ life experiences with regard to HIV.

After editing, the stories are sent to the state level for approval. A Materials Review Committee, headed by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), through whom GMHP is funded, reviews the stories to ensure that they meet the criteria necessary to be sure they are faithful to the original Community Promise model.

Finally, having passed through ADHS, the stories are taken back to the person whose interview inspired them for review and approval. Only with this blessing is the story be made available to the public on printed materials and via the GMHP website. Any story with less than 100% approval is re-written, and the process begins anew. This process ensures that not only the words, but also the intent and spirit of the participants’ experience are relayed accurately to the community.