Music with a Mission: Local National HIV Testing Day Committee Hosts Free Hip Hop Concert to Help Increase HIV Awareness with Youth
To commemorate National HIV Testing Day, Atlanta’s 2018 Testing Day Planning Committee will host a free Hip Hop Concert featuring several popular artists on June 18th at The Loft in Atlanta, Georgia. The concert will wrap up a two-month HIV testing and education event series for youth, ages 13-24. June is recognized as HIV/AIDS Awareness Month globally. Although there have been many advancements made, the virus has had a devastating impact for over three decades, and it continues to affect the lives of millions around the world. Here in the Atlanta area, there is a substantial need to address the HIV epidemic within the City of Atlanta and surrounding counties. Georgia has the highest demographic for those living with HIV in the United States and ranks number two in the nation for the highest rate of new HIV diagnosis annually. An estimated one fourth of those diagnosed with HIV in Georgia are attributed to youth and only half of them know they are positive. This is in part due to the lack of education and resources allocated for youth on the topic.
Atlanta’s 2018 Planning Committee--who has a combined experience of more than 100 years in advocacy, prevention education and HIV testing-- has set a goal of testing 550 youth, ages 13-24 from in and around the Atlanta area by June 15th.
The goal is to provide crucial linkage to care, re-engage people lost to care, test people who are unaware of their HIV status, and educate those who are at risk for HIV. This is an opportunity not to only provide lifesaving care and support, but to also support people who are at risk by offering PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylactics) – a pill that can be taken once a day to prevent becoming HIV positive. Another goal is to make HIV testing and linkage to care accessible to all. Providing free testing in exchange for a free concert ticket during nontraditional testing hours, in neighborhoods of high incidence is a win-win.
Anyone between the ages of 13-24 who is tested by June 15th at participating testing locations, will receive a free ticket to attend the free Hip Hop Concert on June 18th at the Loft, Atlanta, Ga. All testing must be done prior to the concert—there will be no tests administered on the day of the show. For more information and details on testing locations, dates and times, those interested should call 404-521-2410. (Ask for Kevin)
About the Hip Hop Concert: Seven Branding presents a free Hip Hop concert on June 18th at The Loft located at 1374 West Peachtree Street Atlanta, Ga. Doors open at 6pm. Artists featured: Headliner BHM, The Buckhead Boyz, The Sounds of DJ Scrilla, DJ Mic Master Morris Singletary, Allen Love, J-Tyler, Ally Kat and That Bad Azz Band.
About the Planning Committee: The Atlanta National HIV Testing Day 2018 Planning Committee consists of representatives from the Georgia Department of Public Health, The Region IV Regional Resource Network Program, Emory University HIV Clinical Trails Unit, WestCare (nonprofit AIDS Service Organization), Cobb County and Douglas Georgia Community Services Board, Atlanta Faith in Action Church, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Aniz Inc. (nonprofit AIDS Service Organization, Rolling Out Magazine, Gilead Pharmaceuticals, Walgreens Corporate, SisterLove, Inc., Porsha Foxx of 87.7FM and several community advocates who specialize in education, technical assistance, HIV testing, and outreach.
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Contact: Seven Jackson
Contact 770-885-7829
Email: Soulevolution7@aol.com