Certifications & Bio

Damon Holzum
nomads2000@gmail.com
310.497.8988

Damon Holzum

Biography

I was born and raised in Montana and grew up in a fun, liberal, loving home. I attribute much of my confidence and demeanor to my wonderful parents whom have been married since 1968. I enjoyed my school years and I was the quintessential overachiever with good grades, a part time job, numerous extra curricular activities as well as sports and music.

At 19 years old I moved from Montana to Seattle to fully embrace some new-found freedom and self-realization and absolutely loved it. It was everything I had been searching for in Montana but had been unable to find based on the demographic and social constraints. In Seattle I grew more into my sexuality with the help of wonderful friends and family who were loving and supportive. This is also where I met my first HIV positive boy, a coworker, who was 19 like myself. It was an eye opening experience. Those were the first stirrings of wanting to save the world.

My corporate life brought me to San Francisco at the tender age of 24 and that's when I became involved in the Stop AIDS Project, SOMA Bare Chest Calendar and Positiver Resource Center. I did street team outreach and education to effectively educate youth on safe sex practices. At that time I further expanded my interest in the Alternative Sexual Practices arena by attaining two "leather titles" and embracing the leather community through fundraising and outreach sojurns from Palm Springs to Chicago as well as partaking in the lifestyle from a sexual standpoint as well. My philosophy has always been that if HIV is in the forefront of my mind, then I will in turn be more careful with myself and my partners as well as honoring those that live with HIV. San Francisco was an interesting city and on a lark I made my way to Los Angeles and instantly loved it. A city that is truly what you make of it.

I landed in the City of Angels at 27 and have lived here ever since. Along the way I have worked for, contributed too and patronized many outreach organizations. I graduated with an Associates in Psychology through West LA College in December 2009 and I'm currently enrolled at Ashford University and have enjoyed the journey immensely. Through my outreach, speaking and writing I have come to realize the unique challenges within our different communities to at once embrace our loves, our sexuality and adventurous spirits while keeping peace with our responsibility to ourselves and our partners. I am looking forward to a very long tenure helping people realize that goal.

Sincerely,
Damon Holzum

Certifications

Associate of Arts in Psychology, West Los Angeles College, December 2009. Graduated on Presidents list with 3.98 GPA.

Currently enrolled at Ashford University in Psychology. Graduation scheduled for Fall 2011. Current 4.0GPA.

California State Certified HIV Counselor since January 2005.

Successful Completions of Phlebotomy Technician Performance, January 2005.

Outreach and Assignments

Pleasure Chest Store, West Hollywood, CA.
Advanced Anal play and alternative sexual practices class.

August 17th, 2011 is my 3rd time presenting my Alternative Sexual Practices class, focusing on advanced anal play for The Pleasure Chest, West Hollywood. A fun, informative class for all walks of life, I cover everything from the basics of putting on a condom to fisting and double penetration for both sexes. My focus is on fun, safe, adventurous play in a sex-positive environment where you're free to ask anything and everything. I speak to gay, straight, couples and questioning. Those that simply want to learn how to play with butts better and everyone in between. Check this website or my facebook page (damon holzum sex educator) for event dates.

West Los Angeles College. HIV Education and Outreach speaker for Human Sexuality Class at the behest of Dr. Glenn White.

I was asked by Dr. White to tailor an easily understandable and accessible HIV Education engagement taking into consideration the needs of minority, "Down Low" and women in his Human Sexuality Class being taught at West Los Angeles College in November of 2008. I prepared an inclusive educational speach to address common misconceptions about HIV, risk factors, women and minorities and ensured that I addressed the class in a positive, engaging and real world manner. My successful goal was to empower the women and minorities of the class to be proactive about their sexuality to educate them on the nuances of enjoyable safer sex practices.

Phlebotomy Technician and HIV/STD Counselor AIM Healthcare, Van Nuys, CA.
I Joined the AIM Healthcare family in January of 2005 as a phlebotomist and HIV/STD counselor. Well versed in counseling and safe sex tactics. I counseled “talent” for the adult film industry as well as “civilians” for all STDs and HIV. Worked with County requirements for Syphilis and Hepatitis testing and counseling. I was able to effectively counsel a very diverse group of individuals and successfully diagnose symptoms. My duties also included office maintenance, check in, billing and running appointment books and calendars for standing appointments and walk-ins. AIM Healthcare Sherman Oaks would see up to 100+ people in one day and have to effectively and quickly counsel, test and engage with each individual to ensure their needs were being met.

I was highly regarded for my compassionate and real world approach to counseling. I continue to get my regular tests at AIM Healthcare and have a great relationship with all staff.

Title: Community Outreach Coordinator and HIV Counselor Common Ground, Santa Monica, CA
I worked at Common Ground in Santa Monica effectively developing outreach tactics to reach the under-served at risk people of West Los Angeles. I worked with neighborhood businesses and locations frequented by the LGBT and homeless populace to create prevention and outreach tactics and inform all individuals that Common Ground was available for outreach, testing and counseling.

I engaged in counseling practices and techniques as required by State and County ideals effectively counseling and collecting data to track infection and sexual behavior patterns. I administered oral HIV tests and counseled realistic safe sex practices to an underserved community consisting of many homeless youth and general minority individuals.

Weekend work was required and included outreach to transgender speaking engagements and low-income families that otherwise would not have access to STD testing and education.

Stop AIDS Project, San Francisco. Volunteer for Stop AIDS project in San Fancisco, CA. Street outreach team volunteer for at risk and homeless youth of San Francisco. Blanketed neighborhoods with a high concentration of homeless, sex for money and at risk youth to educate about condom use and distribute condoms and access to resources.