News 2014
In This Issue
If you wanted to create the perfect activist to become the new voice in the fight against HIV/AIDS, you would want the person to be smart. You would want the person to be passionate. It wouldn't hurt if they were drop-dead gorgeous. And wouldn't it be amazing if they were also extremely talented? Well, you would want that person to be Jamar Rogers.
Jamar Rogers: A Hero Using His Voice to Fight Stigma
When Jamar Rogers auditioned for the NBC television show The Voice in 2012, he naturally hoped that his appearance would catapult his career to the heights of the entertainment industry. But Rogers took his platform a step further when he decided to use his voice not just to sing but also to educate the world about the realities of living with HIV/AIDS.
Read more: Jamar Rogers: A Hero Using His Voice to Fight Stigma
Conversation with Douglas Brooks, New Director of ONAP
He had only been on the job for a week, but when Mr. Douglas Brooks stopped by HHS last week to attend the launch of the updated Viral Hepatitis Action Plan, we sat down with him for a brief conversation. Click here to watch it. President Obama appointed Mr. Brooks to serve as Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) on March 24.
Read more: Conversation with Douglas Brooks, New Director of ONAP
Black Voices: Youth are Reigniting the Flame
The Young Black Gay Men's Leadership Initiative (YBGLI) seeks to change the status quo surrounding the issues that disproportionately affect young Black gay men of color. On April 2-4, 2014 the Initiative held its second Policy & Advocacy Summit (PAS), planned and facilitated by the Organizing Committee (OC) comprised of nine young Black gay men under 30. I am humbled to be amongst them as I currently serve as the Vice-Chair and Communications Chair.
Medicaid Programs Drowning in Backlog
With open enrollment over for private health insurance claims, states are struggling to process hundreds of thousands of Medicaid applications.