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Special Events
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FEB. 26 SYMPOSIUM AIMS TO RAISE AWARENESS
OF HIV/AIDS, FEATURES KAISER PERMANENTE PLAY, FREE HIV
TESTING
LOS ANGELES - (February 14, 2005) - "People perish for lack
of knowledge," wrote the Old Testament prophet Hosea. It
follows then, that fewer African American men and women will
die of HIV/AIDS if they are properly educated on ways to
prevent its spread.
That's the premise of the Feb. 26 Community Symposium
entitled, "No Secrets: The Truth and Facts about HIV/AIDS,"
at Grant A.M.E. Church in Watts. The event is sponsored by
the Bishop Vashti M. McKenzie unit of the Willie B.Webster
Women's Missionary Society.
The nominal cost includes breakfast and a play by the Kaiser
Permanente
Foundation dramatizing real-life examples of the effects of
the disease.
Kaiser representatives will lead a discussion and answer
questions. Los
Angeles' King/Drew University Mobile Testing Unit will also
be onsite to
provide free HIV testing.
"We want to dispel the myths and clear any misconceptions or
misunderstandings about HIV/AIDS," explained event
co-coordinator Kenya
Francis, 24. "This disease is devastating the Black
community in alarming
numbers. It's taking away potential spouses, it's leaving
children without
parents and it's isolating a large segment of the Black
population. The time
to act is now!"
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that
AIDS is a
leading cause of death among black women aged 25-44 years
and among black men aged 25-54 years. Black men are nearly
nine times more likely than white men to have AIDS, and
Black women are 23 times more likely than white women to
have AIDS.
"We cannot turn our backs on our brothers and sisters who
have contracted
this disease," added co-coordinator Sharolyn Gailliard, 29.
"Nor can we sit
back and watch other members of our generation and members
of the family of God suffer needlessly. We're spreading the
word that HIV/AIDS is preventable and its continued effect
on our community is inexcusable."
The Feb. 26 Symposium is the latest in a string of
AIDS-related events
sponsored by or supported by Grant, noted Pastor Leslie R.
White.
On Feb. 9, for example, the Church hosted Southern
California's historically
Black Methodist denominations for Ash Wednesday worship. At
White's
suggestion, the $4,000 in proceeds benefited the African
American Women's
Health & Education Foundation, which sponsors the Southern
California
Regional 5K AIDS Walk for Women and Children.
Grant was the largest ecumenical contributor to the 2004
AIDS Walk, through sponsorships, pledges and participants,
according to U.S. Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA,
37th District). Likewise scores of people were educated and
tested during a AIDS awareness event last June.
Yet, as long as people are contracting and suffering from
the disease more
must be done, added committee member Ebony Malbry, 22.
"Regardless of whether or not you are sexually active,
HIV/AIDS effects
you," Malbry said. "If you don't know and you don't take the
proper
precautions, you can get infected. And that's exactly what
we are trying to
prevent."
Tickets are $10 per person and $15 at the door; sponsorship
opportunities
are available. For more information, contact the Church
Office at (323)
564-1151 or visit
www.GrantAMEChurch.org.
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