REBUILD FOUNDATION TO USE $500,000 DONATION TO FIGHT HIV/AIDS

Rebuild Foundation will use the $500,000 it received from the RED campaign to fund its HIV/AIDS awareness.
The Stony Island Arts Bank, 6760 S. Stony Island, is one of the sites where Rebuild Foundation will host programs as part of a $500,000 donation it received for HIV/AIDS awareness. Photo courtesy of Rebuild Foundation.
The Stony Island Arts Bank, 6760 S. Stony Island, is one of the sites where Rebuild Foundation will host programs as part of a $500,000 donation it received for HIV/AIDS awareness. Photo courtesy of Rebuild Foundation.

Rebuild Foundation to use $500,000 donation to fight HIV/AIDS

BY TIA CAROL JONES

Rebuild Foundation will use the $500,000 it received from the RED campaign to fund its HIV/AIDS awareness.

Rebuild hosted a kick-off for the year-long HIV/AIDS awareness project at Stony Island Arts Bank on Sunday, Jan. 19, which would have been the 65th birthday for legendary house DJ Frankie Knuckles.

RED, which was founded in 2006, is an organization that partners with companies – like Apple and Beats by Dre -- to fight HIV/AIDS globally. To date, it has generated more than $600 million for the Global Fund fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

The money Rebuild Foundation received was from a collaboration between Rebuild’s founder and executive director Theaster Gates, RED and U2 Singer Bono. It was from an art auction that took place at Art Basel, in Miami, in 2018.

“It was such an honor to collaborate with Sir David Adjaye and Bono to raise critical funds to combat such a widespread disease that takes too many lives every day,” Gates said in a press release.” The (RED) Auction was not only a great way to explore the intersection of art and activism, but also to address how we can create longer lives for more people, and especially people of color, which the virus seems to be affecting the most.”

Tregg Duerson, chief operating officer of Rebuild, said the organization wanted to find out what are some opportunities it could provide domestically in Chicago to raise awareness. It came up with the idea to create thematic programming throughout the year with artists who have been partners with the organization. “There will be a lot of programming and activities. We’re going to make sure we have a very strategic focus,” he said.

There will be storytelling, workshops, discussions and community reflections centering around HIV/AIDS, as well as a dedicated resource center at Stony Island Arts Bank and Dorchester Art and Housing Collaborative. There will also be free HIV/AIDS testing on site throughout the year.

“It affects black and brown communities at higher rates. The programming is in line with what Rebuild does, we use arts and culture to address issues that impact the community. The Arts Bank is the perfect site for that,” he said.

Rebuild will partner with Chicago Dancemakers Forum, About Face Theater, Chicago Women’s AIDS Project, the Frankie Knuckles Foundation and the Center on Halsted. Duerson added Rebuild wants to provide the Center with housing support.

“We hope to use the proceeds to partner with organizations that have staff and expertise on the South Side of Chicago,” he said. “The Center on Halsted is looking to expand on the South Side.”

During the Jan. 19, event, DJ Duane Powell, Rebuild’s DJ in Residence, presented a special discussion about Knuckles and house music.

Duerson said it was fitting to have a kick-off for the project on Knuckles’ birthday.

“Frankie was the godfather of House Music. He created spaces and sanctuary for people who are marginalized and homosexual,” Duerson said. “We want to create a space for conversation, especially for people who are marginalized.”

For more information about Rebuild Foundation and its programs, visit www.rebuild-foundation.org.

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