Chicago's Puerto Rican community in West Town had a unique reaction to the spread of AIDS within its limits. They created their own institutions and tackled the epidemic themselves. In its infancy, Vida/SIDA, which translates as Life/AIDS, was solely an alternative health clinic for people with AIDS. Free of charge, it provided services such as acupuncture, massage therapy, chiropractic care, nutritional counselling, and even t'ai chi. Its venue was The West Town Law Office. Attorney Melinda Power allowed her first floor offices to be taken over during evening hours and included the heat, electricity, and telephone services -pro bono. This article describes Vida/Sida, the only organic, HIV/AIDS education, prevention, and treatment programme in the area. The author discusses his role as a bilingual outreach educator and activist with the Vida/SIDA collective.