"Phenomenal" Women Raise HIV/AIDS Awareness

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Phenomenal Mepresented by KeeP'n it Real was an event to raise awareness and to create the

conversation about HIV/AIDS in the African American Community by joining together community and entertainment. Over 340 students attended on March 10, 2009, at the W.E.B. Dubois Academy (1135 N. Cleaver Rd). Phenomenal Me was a family and community-oriented event with emphasis placed on educating women and girls of color.

Diane Beasley hosted the event and guest speakers Marilyn McBride, HIV Health Educator and Case Manager and Yaa Simpson, Community Epidemiologist on health with the Chicago Department of Public

Health (CDPH) spoke to the teens about the seriousness of HIV/AIDS among young women and the truth about the disease. Nationally renowned comedian Kellye Howard, Poet Ra and Magician David Shareef all entertained the guests. This event also provided educational supplies, giveaways, free HIV Testing, lunch, The FACES of AIDS and an endless array of education. The Illinois Department of Public

Health presented an Avatar presentation to teach girls and women how to conduct themselves while

on dates. Reverend Green of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, and Doris Turner of the Illinois Department Public Health both served as Honorary Chair members of this event.

We cannot keep our mouths shut and stand by as this disease strips our little girls of their youth. I

created this event as my contribution to my community, says George. Transportation was coordinated for females from transitional correctional facilities, domestic abuse shelters, recovery homes, alternative schools and homeless shelters. It is important that our audience is able to connect

to real life individuals who can and have walked in their shoes. We had an HIV positive female who spoke about living with HIV.

According to a 2008 study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) one in four (26%) female adolescents (aged 14-19) in the United States has at least one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. The study goes on to say African American teenage girls had the highest prevalence. In Chicago, these statistics are mirrored wherein HIV/AIDS incidences are considerably higher among Black females. Our community is dying. As individuals, we are learning

more about this epidemic that is affecting everyone in our society, explains Lisa George, of LFC &

Associates, event creator.

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