Leaders of the nation's leading Black organizations met, once again, to discuss the AIDS/HIV epidemic facing African Americans.  This time the meeting focused more on the D.C metropolitan area specially.  On Monday, May 4, 2009, community leaders representing the 14 National Black organizations selected by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to assist in raising the awareness of AIDS/HIV in the African-American community convened to dialogue about the increase cases of HIV in the Washington, DC area.

 

 

The moderator for the meeting was Jeff Johnson of BET.  During the meeting Representative Donna M. Christensen (D-V.I.) addressed the group and stated, "We have an extraordinary opportunity to change the trajectory of the AIDS epidemic in our nation's capital, and we must be committed to this fight."  The meeting was organized by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) to seize the opportunity and create momentum for a mass Black mobilization against AIDS/HIV.

 

 

"This disease is destroying many African-American families in the District of Columbia," said Elsie L. Scott, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer for CBCF. "We cannot remain passive out of a sense of denial or complacency.  This is very serious and we must address it if we are to save lives," she said.

 

 

Joining forces with Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity in the fight against AIDS/HIV are the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, NAACP, National Urban League, National Council of Negro Women, National Action Network, American Urban Radio Networks, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, National Newspaper Publishers Association, National Organization of Black County Officials, National Medical Association, SCLC and the 100 Black Men of America.

 

 

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity is the only Greek-lettered organization participating in this national partnership with the CDC to raise the awareness of AIDS/HIV in the African-American community.
 

Every 9 ½ minutes, someone in the United States becomes infected with HIV.  With the alarming statics and the increasing number of African Americans impacted by HIV, Phi Beta Sigma has once again stepped up to the plate to champion a cause. Through our partnership with the Center for Disease Control, Sigma is raising the awareness across the country and across the age divide about this important issue.

 

During the last three months, our AIDS/HIV education and awareness campaign, Conversation Among Brothers Series (CABS), has unfolded in targeted communities around the nation in concert with our Regional Conferences.  From the Western Regional Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada to the Eastern Regional Conference in Washington, DC, a total of 1060 people were provided information and resources on the AIDS and HIV crisis currently facing the African-American community.

 

Realizing that there are more than 1 million people in the United States living with HIV and that each year more than 14,000 people die of AIDS, the work we are doing as it relates to AIDS and HIV education is mission critical.  Each opportunity we fail to engage in meaningful dialogue about this epidemic, may cause someone their life.  AIDS and HIV have no respect of person.  Regardless of a person's age, socioeconomic status or educational achievement, he or she is susceptible to the disease if he or she fails to take the necessary precautions.  The key to saving our people is to educate, provide resources and encourage everyone to know their status.

 

At four of the six Regional Conferences held this spring (Southwestern Region, Little Rock, Arkansas; Southern Region, Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Gulf Coast Region, Houston, Texas and the Eastern Region, Washington, District of Columbia), Phi Beta Sigma in connection with local health agencies provided onsite testing.  A total of 98 persons were tested ranging from age 18 to age 73.  The subject of AIDS and HIV is one that is intergenerational and crosses all ages.  The reality is that each person, regardless of their age, is responsible in some respect for helping to eradicate this epidemic that is adversely impacting the African-American community.  It was encouraging to see a 73-year old Sigma man step forward and take responsibility for our community by actively engaging in this campaign to raise awareness about AIDS and HIV.

 

We have the manpower as a Fraternity to get the word out and encourage people to know their status and become advocates in the fight against AIDS and HIV.  This is one issue that regardless of your age, you have a stake in; we all do.