World AIDS Day 2011

The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day is “Getting to Zero.” Zero new HIV Infections. Zero Discrimination. Zero AIDS Related Deaths. The campaign, backed by the United Nations, runs through December 2015 and coincides with the recent launch of Secretary Hillary Clinton’s campaign for an AIDS Free Generation! For more information on this year’s theme, click here.

ASF participated in many World AIDS Day events leading up to, on the day of, and after World AIDS Day. Here’s a sampling of some of what our Health Education & Prevention Department did in the community.

• Wednesday, 11/30, California State University Fullerton, Students Housing Complex, 10 AM – 3 PM. Health Fair presented and HIV testing was conducted. More than 200 students attended.
• Thursday, 12/01, Laguna Beach WAD Event. This event took place at Cobblestone Park, from 4 PM – 6 PM. Resources, candlelight vigil, and HIV testing were provided at Health Fair.
• Thursday, 12/01. California State University Fullerton. HIV educational seminars were provided by Jorge Fondevillla, Ph. D, and Judy Fluor-Runels, Psy. D. An HIV-positive speaker provided her testimonial and the winning 2012 Mr. SOMOS Safer-Sex Video was showcased.
• Thursday, 12/01. California State University – Irvine Campus. An HIV educational presentation was provided along with informational booths.
• Thursday, 12/01. Golden West College. The evening started off with GWC President Wes Bryan giving an address to the audience. He was insightful and informed about the theme of this year’s World AIDS Day, bringing in statistics to pique the crowd’s interest. A drag show was performed by one student and two members of the community that was followed by a fashion show with students wearing futuristic textiles. The night continued with a speaker from ASF’s Positively Speaking program, who provided an insightful presentation and had a very interested audience as evidenced by the intense attention the speaker was given. The evening appropriately ended with a candlelight vigil and a moment of silence and prayer. More than 200 students attended the event.
• Saturday, 12/03. ASF’s World AIDS Day event took place at the Artist’s Village in downtown Santa Ana. This event was held from 6 PM – 9 PM. Pearl Jemison-Smith, 2011 AIDS Walk Orange County Honorary Chair and local AIDS activist, was our keynote speaker who eloquently addressed the theme of this year’s World AIDS Day. There was also a remembrance and honor ceremony, a candlelight vigil and information booths from partner agencies. MAC Cosmetics presented products from their VIVA Glam line, the proceeds from which are donated to local AIDS agencies. And face painting was provided by our friends at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Anaheim. Rapid HIV testing was conducted. This event was attended by over 100 participants.

In all, close to 200 individuals were tested for HIV at these events!