Congressional Black Caucus sponsor AIDS forum at 42nd Annual Legislative Caucus
Black Leaders focus on ending AIDS in Black communities
Los Angeles California, Sept. 17, 2012—Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), and Rep. Donna M. Christiansen (D-VI), in partnership with the Black AIDS Institute, will sponsor a high level discussion on ending the AIDS epidemic in Black communities from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Thursday, Sept. 20, in room 144BC at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
The discussion entitled, “Leadership Matters: The Role of Black Leaders in Ending AIDS in America” is a moderated discussion of the role of Black leadership in ending the AIDS epidemic in Black America. This session will look at the scientific, social and political considerations involved in ending the AIDS epidemic in Black America.
“We are making tremendous progress in response to HIV/AIDS here at home and abroad. Now is the time to double down on our efforts,” Lee said. “Leadership Matters is an important opportunity to discuss the role of African American leaders in bringing about an AIDS free generation in our community.”
The members of congress will be joined by Rosalyn Brock, Chairman of the National Board of Directors of the NAACP, Dr. Avis Jones-DeWeever, Executive Director of the National Council of Negro Women, George E. Curry of National Newspaper Publishers Association, State Representative Barbara Ballard (D-KS) president of the National Caucus of Black State Legislators, and actress, author, and founder of the DIVA Foundation, Sheryl Lee Ralph.
The forum will be moderated by Phill Wilson, President and CEO of the Black AIDS Institute and include a panel on the State of AIDS in America with Dr. Victoria Cargill, director of minority research and clinical studies at the Office of AIDS Research at NIH, Janet Cleveland, deputy director of prevention programs at the division of HIV/AIDS prevention at the CDC, C. Virginia Fields, President and CEO of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, and Venton Jones, communications and education manager of the National Black Gay Men’s Advocacy Coalition.
On the heels of the first international AIDS conference to be held in the United States in 22 years, the panel will answer questions about what Black leaders need to do to end the epidemic and look at what traditional Black Institutions are doing to bring about an end to the AIDS epidemic in Black communities in a post-healthcare reform, post-National HIV/AIDS Strategy world.
The forum is open to the public. For more information about this session or HIV/AIDS in Black communities contact Tiffany Wright at