Friends-
Grammy Award-winning artist and advocate Alicia Keys together with me and other leaders will host a community conversation at Harlem Hospital at 11AM on Thursday, August 22 about the high rates of HIV/AIDS facing the community and what can be done to address it. The event is open to the public.
In Harlem, as nationally, people of color have been disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. The large majority of people living with HIV in Harlem are Black or Hispanic. In 2011, the most current year data is available, the rate of HIV diagnosis per 100,000 population was 4 to 5 times higher in Harlem as compared to the nation overall.
Presented with EMPOWERED – a campaign launched earlier this year by Ms. Keys with Greater Than AIDS to reach women in the U.S. about HIV/AIDS – the event aims to bring the residents of Harlem together for an open and honest conversation that confronts the stigma that often surrounds the disease. EMPOWERED highlights the role of all persons, whether positive or negative, in helping to stem the spread of the disease. This event is presented in partnership with several community organizations, including the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, Iris House, VOCAL NY, Violence Intervention Program, and ASPIRA of New York, among others.
In conjunction with the community forum, Harlem Hospital will offer free HIV testing on site from 10 am to 2 pm.
WHO: The community conversation will lead off with a panel discussion, including:
Alicia Keys, Grammy Award-winning artist, Keep a Child Alive Co-founder and Global Ambassador
Congressman Charlie Rangel (D-NY)
Vin Baker, Minister at Abyssinian Baptist Church, former NBA all-star
Helene Gayle, MD, President and CEO of CARE USA
Stephanie Brown, EMPOWERED ambassador, HIV+ artist
Denise Soares, Executive Director of Harlem Hospital Center
Moderated by Jeannine Amber, Senior Writer at ESSENCE Magazine
WHEN: Thursday, August 22, 2013
Community Forum: 11:00am (doors open at 10:30am)
WHERE: Harlem Hospital Herbert Cave Auditorium 506 Lenox Ave. New York, NY 10037