In This Issue

The past week has been an interesting, eclectic and exhausting week for the Black AIDS Institute. My week started off at the BTAN Chicago monthly meeting, where, among other things, we talked about a meningitis outbreak among Black gay and bisexual men. The health department is mobilizing and providing vaccines. Unfortunately, fewer MSM are being vaccinated than the department had hoped—or is needed to disrupt the outbreak. As we have said before: The messenger matters.

Matthew Rose, Black AIDS Institute Program Coordinator: 'I Wanted to Do Something About It'

Matthew Rose

Matthew Rose says he knew early on that he wanted to devote his life to being an advocate for those living with and at risk for acquiring HIV/AIDS.

Jai . . . With the Funny Name: Owning His Story

Manyonge Jarrett Makokha, more commonly known as Jai with the Funny Name

One in a series of articles profiling the courageous young Black MSM who are participating in #SpeakOutHIV, the Greater Than AIDS campaign engaging the LGBT community in confronting HIV/AIDS stigma and silence.

HIV Care Continuum: Controlling the Virus is Key

Jonathan Mermin, M.D., M.P.H., Director, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention.

The CDC has released a new Vital Signs Report on HIV. The data support the call-to-action to increase the number of people living with HIV who achieve viral suppression.

Save the Date: National HIV/AIDS Strategy: Updated to 2020 – Live Stream

Douglas M. Brooks, MSW, Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy

On Thursday, July 30, 2015, the White House and AIDS.gov will live stream the release of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy: Updated to 2020 during an event in Atlanta, Georgia. The Strategy has reinvigorated the collective national response to HIV. It has changed the way Americans talk about HIV, as well as the ways they plan and deliver services at the local level to prevent new infections and support those living with HIV to seek treatment and stay in care.