November 27, 2015
Bill Redmond-Palmer
World AIDS Day 2015
December 1, 2015 will mark the 28th annual international observance of World AIDS Day. This year a broad coalition of groups will be hosting events throughout the community under the “B’more Aware of HIV” banner to honor those living with HIV, and to remember those who have lost their lives while living with HIV / AIDS.
The day will kick off with a community press conference by the B’More Aware of HIV Committee, themed “Starting the Day to Light the Way,” from 10:30 to 11 a.m. at the Walgreens Pharmacy at 6 North Howard Street in Baltimore. Representatives of the Baltimore City Health Department, the Greater Baltimore HIV Health Services Planning Council and several community groups will take part in the event.
The B’More Aware of HIV Committee is coordinating a Citywide Candlelight Vigil to be held at nine sites throughout the city, all from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Many locations will hold other activities and events before and after the common vigil, but all will share the same experience during that time.
The nine Citywide Candlelight Vigil sites include: AIDS Interfaith Residential Services (AIRS); The Baltimore Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated; Baltimore City Health Department; the Celebration of Community at the Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church; Chase Brexton Health Care; Coppin State University College of Health Professions; Greater Baltimore Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church; Institute of Human Virology / Jacques Initiative; and the International Pharmaceutical Student Federation of Notre Dame of Maryland.
The Citywide Candlelight Vigil will include reading of names from “The Book of Life”, a permanent and growing collection of the names of friends, family, loved ones and leaders who lived with HIV/AIDS and who no longer grace our community and our lives, due to their untimely passage. The Book of Life has been read publicly and in its entirety every World AIDS Day since its establishment on December 1, 1996, by the People with AIDS / HIV Coalition of Baltimore. The book is held in trust and maintained by The Positive Voices of Baltimore, in partnership with Celebration of Community. While each site will be unable to read the entire book due to their time constraints, each will read an assigned portion of names, to ensure that the entire book is read by the community.
HIV testing will be offered throughout the city, at the following B’More Aware of HIV Committee affiliated sites: Jacques Initiative, Walgreens Pharmacy, 6 North Howard Street, Baltimore from 1 to 4 p.m.; Celebration of Community, Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, 10 East Mount Vernon Place, Baltimore from 3 to 7 p.m.; Baltimore Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Delta Community Center, 2501 Springhill Avenue, from 4 to 7 p.m.; Chase Brexton Health Services, 1111 North Charles Street, Baltimore, from 9 am to 7 p.m.; Chase Brexton Health Services Randallstown Center, 3510 Brenbrook Drive Randallstown, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Chase Brexton Health Services Columbia Center, 5500 Knoll North Drive, Suite 370, Columbia from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and testing will be hosted by the Baltimore City Health Department at Baltimore City Hall, 100 Holliday Street, Baltimore, from 5 to 8 p.m..
For information about any of the B’More Aware of HIV events, please search for “B’More Aware of HIV” on Facebook or email mgaynair@hopesprings.org.
The World AIDS Day Celebration of Community will take place at the Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, 10 East Mount Vernon Place, Baltimore, across from the Washington Monument. Services and vigils have been held at this location on World AIDS Day almost every year for over 20 years.
• From 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., there will be community health fair open to all at the site, and HIV testing vans will be adjacent to the church from 3 to 7 p.m.
• From 4 to 6:30 p.m., there will be a reading of the entire Book of Life. Community members are welcome to come and listen, and are invited to take the opportunity to read names from the book.
• From 6:30 to 7 p.m. as part of the B’More Aware of HIV Committee, Celebration of Community will host their portion of the Citywide Candlelight Vigil.
• At 7:15 p.m., the vigil will be followed by the World AIDS Day Interfaith Service, to honor both those living and those who have died with HIV / AIDS. The service will be followed by a reception.
To volunteer, sponsor or for more information about the World AIDS Day Celebration of Community events, please search for “Celebration of Community” on Facebook, or email celebrationofcommunity@gmail.com.
Another B’More Aware of HIV Committee affiliated group, the Baltimore Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will host “Getting to Zero” from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Delta Community Center at 2501 Springhill Avenue, Baltimore. The keynote speaker will be Baltimore City Health Department Commissioner, Dr. Leana Wen and will focus on youth, and will include free HIV testing, giveaways, and light refreshments. For more information contact Monica Watkins at 443-203-8118 or atphysicalmentalhealth@bacdst.org. The Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Tau Eta Zeta Chapter in association with Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Epsilon Nu Sigma Alumni Chapter will present “Pillow Talk: An Intimate Conversation on Sex, Love and Relationships” at the Forest Park Senior Center located at 4801 Liberty Heights Avenue, Baltimore beginning at 6:30 p.m. For more information contact LaShelle Tatum atLtatum@zphib-thz.org.
On Friday, December 4, the Morgan State University Student Government will host the Annual AIDS Lock-In in the Student Center on campus from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.. This year’s theme is #Project Update and will include services for HIV and STD testing. There will be educational exhibits and presentations throughout the event. The event is for Morgan State Students only. For more information please contact Emily Stiles at 410-837-2050 x1459, or Nkaya at msusqahealthdir@gmail.com.
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