Alicia Keys Encourages Women to Be Empowered

Fourteen-time Grammy Award-winning artist and HIV advocate Alicia Keys has teamed up with Greater Than AIDS to launch EMPOWERED, a new campaign to reach women in the U.S. about HIV/AIDS. EMPOWERED affirms the power of women -- as mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, partners and people living with HIV -- to change the course of the disease through everyday actions.

“When I became aware that women accounted for one in five new HIV infections occurring in the U.S. each year, it shook me to the core and I realized this is an issue we ALL need to pay attention to,” said Keys, who has dedicated her philanthropic work to increasing awareness of HIV/AIDS globally. “Whether HIV positive or negative, we all have the opportunity to educate ourselves and make a difference."

Approximately, 280,000 – or about one in four – people living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S. are women. Women of color have been especially hard hit, accounting for the majority of new infections occurring among women in the U.S. There has been some good news, however: a significant 21 percent decrease in new infections among American women in recent years.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Alicia Keys on this new Greater Than AIDS campaign to reach women about HIV,” said Drew Altman, president and CEO of the Kaiser Family Foundation. “As the backbone of so many families in this country, as well as a population affected by the disease, women are central to the fight against HIV.”

The cross-platform EMPOWER campaign includes public service ads (PSAs), social media promotions, informational materials, and more.  A half-hour video of Ms. Keys’ conversation with the women will be made available for community screenings and discussion.  Go here for more information.