Cities Across the Country Gear Up to Recognize World AIDS Day
The Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report has compiled the following list of events taking place in recognition of World AIDS Day around the United States:
- Ann Arbor, Mich.: Organizers of AIDS Awareness Week at the University of Michigan will hold several AIDS-related forums, workshops and discussions this week and next. Events will include a film and discussion, "Dealing with Homophobia in the Black and Brown Communities," a forum titled, "AIDS in Black and Brown: The Impact of HIV/AIDS in the African-American and Latino Communities," and a prevention workshop called, "Let's Get it On? The Politics of Sex With Your Man or Woman" (Ann Arbor News, 11/29).
- Atlanta, Ga.: The Interdenominational Theological Center on the Morehouse College campus will host a breakfast and oral HIV testing on Friday morning. At the event AID Atlanta plans to announce the commencement of its HIV Negative campaign. At 9 a.m., the not-for-profit agency Positive Impact will host "Gratitude and Remembrance Day" at 159 Ralph McGill Blvd., Suite 605. For more information on these and other Atlanta events, see http://www.accessatlanta.com/partners/ajc/epaper/editions/tuesday/features_a332c4ec278690a40001.html (Staples, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 11/28).
- Baltimore, Md.: The Baltimore County Department of Health will sponsor a candlelight vigil and speeches by Dr. Bhashua Jordan of the Hope Alive Ministry and Dr. Anna Marie of WMAR-TV at the Harry C. Ruhl National Guard Armory on Dec. 1 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. (Baltimore Sun, 11/27). The STAR TRACK program, or Special Teens at Risk Together Reaching Access Care and Knowledge, of the University of Maryland Hospital for Children, is sponsoring a musical to be performed by Dunbar High School students tomorrow. Titled "Sex and Life 101," the musical will focus on HIV awareness. For more information on the Star Track program, call (410) 706-6000 (Ascribe News, 11/3).
- Boston, Mass.: Today, 36 "provocative and graphic" works of art from a collection titled "Art Works for AIDS" will be auctioned off at the Harvard Club of Boston. This collection of works by well-known Southern African artists had previously been on display at the Carpenter Center for Visual Arts as part of Harvard University AIDS Institute's observance of AIDS Awareness Week. Proceeds from the auction will go to the AIDS Institute's newly opened Botswana lab, which is working to both prevent vertical transmission and develop a vaccine for the virus. Enter http://www.thecrimson.com/news/article.asp?ref=1002 into your Web browser for more information (Yuan, Harvard Crimson, 11/27).
- Charlotte, N.C.: Les Kooyman, founder of the Metrolina AIDS Project, will host an evening observance on Friday featuring music, discussion and a candlelight vigil. The event is sponsored by the World AIDS Day Coalition. Also on Friday, panels from the national and a local AIDS quilt will be on display at the Bank of America Corporate Center. See http://www.charlotte.com/health/docs/checkup1127.htm" for details (Garloch, Charlotte Observer, 11/27).
- Chicago, Ill.: The Chicago Cultural Center at 78 E. Washington St. will present a musical at 1 p.m. tomorrow focusing on "strength and hope as well as loss," and at 7 p.m., will show two videos, "Soft Smoke: AIDS in the Rural West" and "The New Face of AIDS." In addition, the Museum of Modern Art at 220 E. Chicago Ave will feature a reading of excerpts from "Close to the Knives: A Memoir of Disintegration." AIDS-related exhibits will also be on display. For more information, see http://chicagotribune.com/news/metro/chicago/article/0,2669,SAV-0011260277,FF.html (Chicago Tribune, 11/26). Also in Chicago, the First Congressional United Church of Christ at 320 Grand Ave. will hold its ninth annual World AIDS Day commemoration today with an interfaith service and a candlelight walk. The walk will begin at 7 p.m. at Alexian Brothers the Harbor at 826 North Ave. For more information, call the Church of Christ at (847) 336-5368 (Grusich, Chicago Daily Herald, 11/20).
- Columbus, Ohio: Various locations in the city will be exhibiting pieces of the AIDS Memorial Quilt in honor of World AIDS Day, including the Columbus Museum of Art, the Wexner Center for the Arts and Rhodes Tower, where there will also be a reading of the names of people who have died of AIDS in central Ohio from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. A candlelight vigil will be held Friday at 5:30 p.m. at the Main Library. See http://libpub.dispatch.com/cgi-bin/documentv1?DBLIST=cd00&DOCNUM=38014&TERMV=230:4:234:3:5388:4:5392:3:67407:4:67411:3: for more information (Mayr, Columbus Dispatch, 11/28). The Ohio Department of Health HIV/STD Prevention Program will hold a two day conference, Dec. 4 and 5, at the Fawcett Center on the campus of Ohio State University. For more information, call (216) 781-2944, ext. 440 (Ohio Department of Health release, 11/27).
- Denver, Colo.: Steve McCeney, a Denver psychologist with AIDS, will speak at Park Hill United Methodist Church on Friday, Dec. 1 as part of an AIDS Day observance. The event will run from 9:30 a.m. to noon. For more information, see http://www.denverpost.com/news/news1129j.htm (Denver Post, 11/29).
- Fall River, Mass.: Bristol Community College will hold a screening of "Rock the Boat," a film documenting a crew of men with AIDS in a sailboat race across the Pacific Ocean. A member of the crew will speak on campus. Contact the college at 508-678-2811 for details (Providence Journal, 11/13).
- Knoxville, Tenn.: The city will hold an AIDS Day observation on Dec. 1 at Austin-East High School. It will begin with a reception from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and a 90-minute program featuring music, dance and drama will follow. For more information, see http://www.knoxnews.com/archives/browserecent/11272000/archives/19161.shtml (Knoxville News-Sentinel, 11/27).
- Laguna Beach, Calif.: City officials in Laguna Beach will adorn City Hall public artwork with black stickers on Friday in observance of "A Day Without Art," which is held in conjunction with World AIDS Day. Galleries throughout the city will place posters in their front windows to publicize the event. For more information, enter http://www.latimes.com/editions/orange/ocnews/20001127/t000113889.html into your Web browser (Nagy, Los Angeles Times, 11/27).
- Los Angeles, Calif.: The 7th annual Noche de las Memorias (Night of Memories) will be held on Dec. 1 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The evening will include a ground-blessing of THE WALL-Las Memorias, the first AIDS memorial wall in a Latino community. For more information, call (310) 552-6922, ext. 184. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation is hosting a two-week, three-city tour for several South African AIDS activists. The group hopes to pressure the South African government to approve a drug treatment to reduce vertical transmission. On Friday the group will hold several events as a part of AIDS Day "Call to Action," beginning with a rally outside the South African Consulate at 10:30 a.m. On Sunday at 7 p.m., the group will sponsor a concert in Oakland, Calif. For more information, call (323) 860-5225 (AIDS Healthcare Foundation release, 11/27).
- New York, N.Y.: St. Marks United Methodist Church in Harlem will hold satellite simulcast religious services with St. Matthew's Anglican Church in Soweto, South Africa, at 9:30 a.m. EST Friday in honor of World AIDS Day. The program, titled "From Harlem to Soweto: The Black Church Speaks Out on AIDS!" and sponsored by The Balm in Gilead, is designed to "raise international awareness of the role churches must play in addressing HIV/AIDS." For more information, please call 212-736-0404 or 212-730-7381 (The Balm in Gilead release, 11/29). From Dec. 1-9, the Guggenheim Museum will be showing screenings of "Fever in the Archive: AIDS Activist Videotapes from the Royal S. Marks Collection." The videos, assembled by the Estate Project for Artists with AIDS, focus on the cultural impact of the epidemic. See http://www.guggenheim.org/programs/index.html for more information (Smith, New York Times, 11/29).
- Oakland, Calif.: Planned Parenthood Golden Gate will offer free HIV antibody testing and counseling between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the MacArthur Health Center at 482 West MacArthur Boulevard. HIV tests will be provided by Calypte Biomedical. Contact Jana Cunningham at Planned Parenthood Golden Gate at (800)773-7741 ext. 7265 for more information (Planned Parenthood release, 11/21).
- Pasadena, Calif.: The AIDS Service Center will sponsor several events on Dec. 1 in commemoration of AIDS Day. They include a "progressive human billboard," a viewing of the AIDS quilt and a candlelight walk. For more information, see http://www.latimes.com/print/health/20001127/t000113698.html (Los Angeles Times, 11/27).
- Philadelphia, Penn.: Today, ACT UP/Philadelphia will hold a rally and march in honor of World AIDS Day. The march will begin at 5 p.m. at 1 Franklin Plaza and proceed to either the Republican or Democratic Committee offices. On Dec. 1, Blacks Educating Blacks About Sexual Health Issues will mark its 15th anniversary of "Protecting Our Future" with a gala fundraiser and awards dinner featuring keynote speaker House Rep. Chaka Fattah (D). Also on Dec. 1, award-winning poet Mark Doty will be the keynote speaker at an event at the University of Pennsylvania's Arts, Research and Culture House. An acoustic concert in Lancaster featuring singer Jill Sobule will benefit the AIDS Community Alliance. Enter http://www.epgn.com/PGN_News/pgn_news.html into your Web browser for more information (Philadelphia Gay News, 11/24). In addition, an HIV/AIDS workshop and free and confidential HIV counseling and testing will be given at the Women's Christian Alliance in Philadelphia. The efforts are sponsored by the Healthy Living Project, Maternity Care Coalition's MOMobile Program, the Women's Christian Alliance and HOPE Worldwide. See http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/11-29-2000/0001375623&EDATE= for more info (HOPE Worldwide release, 11/29).
- Pittsburgh, Penn.: The Pitt Men's Study will hold a World AIDS Day Commemoration this evening, after which panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt will be on display. On Friday, UPMC Health System will offer free walk-in HIV testing and counseling and a variety of educational information about the virus at the Falk Clinic. Enter href="http://www.post-gazette.com/healthscience/20001128haids5.asp into your Web browser for more information. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 11/28). In addition, the local TV station PCNC will broadcast "Coming to Life -- Stories of Hope, Healing and Coping with AIDS," a half-hour show profiling African-American men and women with HIV/AIDS, at 7 p.m. on Friday. The show is part of an outreach effort of the NAACP (Owen, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 11/29).
- Portland, Maine: The University of Southern Maine will hold an AIDS Project charity ball starting at 8 p.m. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the organization. The dance will be held on campus in the Woodbury Campus Center. For more information contact 207-780-4090 or 207-780-5470 (Portland Press Herald, 11/27).
- Prince George's County, Md.: Prince George's Community College will host "Partnering for Change," a summit on HIV/AIDS, on Nov. 30. The summit will bring together local and regional health experts, public school teachers, students, faith community leaders, civic leaders, activists and journalists to examine local HIV/AIDS strategies in the context of current global efforts and concerns. The keynote speaker will be Washington Post special projects reporter Barton Gellman. Prince George's County currently has the second highest AIDS rate in Maryland (Prince George's Community College release, 11/29).
- Queens, N.Y.: The Independent Arts Gallery will display artwork from artists living with AIDS. The exhibit, titled "New Beginnings," will open with a reception at 6:30 p.m. in the gallery located at the Queens Independent Living Center. The display runs through Dec. 29 (Newsday, 11/17).
- Raleigh, N.C.: Under One Roof, a place for people with HIV, will celebrate its opening at 23 Sunnybrook Road, Suite 191. For more information, contact Sharon Brown at 919-212-9371 (Associated Press, 11/22).
- Rehobeth, Del.: Sussex County AIDS Committee Inc. will hold a silent candlelight march through the city. See http://www.epgn.com/PGN_News/pgn_news.html for more information (Philadelphia Gay News, 11/24).
- Roane County, Tenn.: The county's observance, "A Service of Remembrance and Hope," will be held on Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. at Kingston United Methodist Church. For more information, see http://www.knoxnews.com/archives/browserecent/11272000/archives/19161.shtml (Knoxville News-Sentinel, 11/27).
- San Francisco, Calif.: Teen AIDS workshops: Health Initiatives for Youth will host AIDS workshops for teens in schools, juvenile hall, youth groups and community organizations for $25. In addition, HIYA will provide training programs for youth health care providers on non-judgmental communication and understanding a minor's rights. The programs cost between $50 and $100. For more information, go to http://www.hify.com/ or call (415) 487-5777 (Bohan, Oakland Tribune, 11/27).
- Washington, D.C.: U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher will honor Dr. Beny Primm, chair of the National Minority AIDS Council, who "has dedicated his life" to battling HIV/AIDS in minority communities, with a lifetime achievement award on Nov. 30 at the National Press Club. The event, titled "Tribute," keeps with the World AIDS Day 2000 theme "Men Make a Difference." See http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/11-29-2000/0001375598&EDATE= for more information (National Minority AIDS Council release, 11/29). Wilson High School's "Tigers Against AIDS," artist Xavier Cortada, USAID HIV/AIDS Division Chief Paul DeLay and Carlos Colfield, D.C. Public Schools HIV/AIDS education director, will dedicate a World AIDS Day mural, followed by an assembly, at 3950 Chesapeake St. NW. For more information, call Frank Maisano at (202) 466-7391 (Wilson Senior High release, 11/29).
Television and Internet Programs
Television networks and Internet sites also are planning the following events: - Lifetime, BET, CNN, Bravo, Cinemax, Comedy Central, HBO and other networks will broadcast a 30-second spot about HIV prevention which features Judd Winnick of MTV's "The Real World" series. Winnick is a member of the show's San Francisco cast, which also included Pedro Zamora, who died of AIDS (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 11/29).
- The Planned Parenthood Federation of America will post articles about HIV/AIDS prevention on its Web site to promote "HIV Get Tested Week," Dec. 1-9. PPFA will also show the short film, "Nightmare on AIDS Street" on Dec. 4 on its teenwire Web site in cooperation with Scenarios USA. Enter http://www.plannedparenthood.org/About/PRESSRELEASES/112900gettested.html into your Web browser for more information (PPFA release, 11/30).
- In conjunction with Cable Positive, the "cable and communications AIDS action organization," the cable industry is arranging a public service announcement "roadblock" to assure that more that 70 million households across the country will receive information about HIV and AIDS. The PSA messages will target younger viewers, women, and specific ethnic groups, each with information on HIV testing and education, and concluding with local and national hotline numbers. Information on Cable Positive and World AIDS Day can be found on its Web site at www.cablepositive.org (Poirot, Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, 11/29).
- Discoveryhealth.com has added "The Changing Face of AIDS," a "convergent special" that explores the importance of educating women on risk factors, symptoms, treatment and care of HIV/AIDS, to its Web site. Additionally, the Discovery Health Channel will be showing a two-hour presentation titled, "AIDS: Answers and Breakthroughs," on Dec. 1 from 7-9 p.m. (Discovery Health release, 11/29).
- "Trackers," a television show that is part of Oxygen Media's 24-hour cable network, will host a one-hour special taking a "hard look at the realities of sex, AIDS and HIV in the U.S. and in South Africa," in observance of World AIDS Day. The program, "Trackers Connects: Talking Sex," will air on Oxygen, Dec. 1 at 8 p.m. For more information on the program and Oxygen, check out the network's Web site at www.oxygen.com (Oxygen Media release, 11/29).
- Phase one of the new World AIDS Day website has been launched by the Web development company Reading Room, in conjunction with the U.K.'s National AIDS Trust. The Web site contains information on HIV/AIDS, the World AIDS Day campaign, and volunteer opportunities for the day of the event. Log onto the Web site at www.worldaidsday.org (Reading Room release, 11/29).