Unmasking the Epidemic in San Francisco
The National Minority AIDS Council hosted their annual United States Conference on AIDS last week in San Francisco, California. The conference informed and enlightened over 3,000 attendees with the theme “Unmasking the Epidemic”. The conference began with a pre-conference institute entitled Positive Futures: HIV, Employment and Vocational Rehabilitation in 2009. The National Working Positive Coalition and Positive Resource Center presented the Institute. It addressed critical counseling, benefits, training, public policy and employment issues of people with HIV/AIDS. The conference spiraled on with institutes covering topics such as Women & AIDS, Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), and HIV and the Black Church. NMAC presented a Media Institute to explain how non-profit organizations can use current social networking to promote events and stay in touch with their target populations. There were seminars on HIV and Rap Music, reaching at-risk Latino youth, and condom access for people in US jails and prisons.
Mornings and afternoons were bustlling with visitors from all over the country who work in the HIV community as well as activists, members of the medical community and pharmaceutical companies. A variety of round table discussions, exclusive seminars, plenary luncheons were held as well as a reception celebrating the icons and heroes of San Francisco. This reception recognized people who made history in leading the modern lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender movement, and paved the way for the city’s response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Saturday evening included a special Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) altar commemorating all those we have lost to HIV/AIDS. The conference ended with a closing plenary dinner which highlighted the State of HIV/AIDS – A Federal Perspective. NMAC continues to break ground and in the HIV community in DC and nationwide. To sign up for the 2010 USCA go to www.2010usca.org.
Get tested. Get care. Get a condom.
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great.
more accurate statistics
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