Fraternities and Sororities

Post date: Jan 16, 2015 11:42:05 PM

As an entity requiring members to go through an orientation process, fraternities and sororities like yours are known for bringing empowerment, enrichment, and education to Black people. For the crisis at hand, we are calling on you to help educate the nation. Do you know how bad HIV/AIDS is ravishing Black America? The statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are alarming and definitely a wake-up call.

When looking at HIV/AIDS by race and ethnicity, Blacks have more illness (Blacks represent approximately 14% of the U.S. population and account for 44% of all new HIV infections and 46% of people living with HIV disease); and more deaths (Blacks accounted for 57% of deaths due to HIV in 2006 and the survival time after an AIDS diagnosis is lower on average than it is for most other racial/ethnic groups).

February 7, 2015 marks the 15th commemoration of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD). NBHAAD is a national HIV testing and treatment community mobilization initiative designed to encourage Blacks across the United States and Territorial Areas to get educated, get tested, get involved, and get treated around HIV/AIDS, as it continues to devastate Black communities. NBHAAD is directed, planned and organized by a group known as the Strategic Leadership Committee, which partners with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to mobilize Black communities and address specific issues in regards to local epidemics and best practices that will influence the course of HIV in Black communities across the country.

Public figures such as President Barack H. Obama (during his time as Illinois Senator), Congressman Elijah E. Cummings; Tony Dungy; Idris Elba; Kimberly Elise; Lance Gross; Hill Harper; Taraji P. Henson; Tom Joyner; Congresswoman Barbara Lee; Chris Bridges (aka Ludacris); Percy Miller (aka Master P); Tangi Miller; Patrik-Ian Polk; General Colin Powell; Sheryl Lee Ralph; Gloria Reuben; Romeo; Rev. Edwin Sanders; Tavis Smiley; and

Congresswoman Maxine Waters have all contributed their advocacy as spokespersons to this effort.

For 2015, we are mobilizing communities to be the voice and face. The theme for 2015 is I Am My Brother/Sister’s Keeper: Fight HIV/AIDS! with the hopes that we challenge the mindset that Black people are disposable. We are asking Blacks all over to become the voice for change by submitting a mini-video through the website that is centered on one or all four of the objectives of NBHAAD – education, testing, involvement, and/or treatment. All people, regardless of lifestyle or HIV status, can and should get involved with spreading the HIV/AIDS message to their

families and communities.

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2015: Get educated! Get tested! Get involved! Get treated! For more information on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, visit: www.NationalBlackAIDSDay.org.

Sincerely,

Michele Reed

WOW

#GOMOJO