January 30th, 2009

Representative Jake Wheatley, Jr. of the Pittsburgh area will be introducing a resolution to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives recognizing February 7^th as National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in the Commonwealth.  As a part of the introduction Representative Wheatley will be holding a press conference in the Rotunda of the Capital on Wednesday, February 3^rd at 3PM.  AIDS Community Alliance and other local organizations will be participating in the press conference that day.  To raise awareness of this important day we are hoping that many of you (and your friends and co-workers) may be able to join us that afternoon.

 The AIDS Epidemic is far from over.  Awareness activities such as this press conference and National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day are of great importance.  African-Americans continue to be disproportionately impacted by HIV and AIDS both nationally and in our local community.  In every county served by AIDS Community Alliance the percentage of African-Americans accessing our programs far outpace the community’s representation within the general population.  In Dauphin County, African-Americans now account for almost half of the individuals enrolled in our care and supportive services program and in Cumberland County where African-Americans represent only 3% of the general population members of the community are 34% of individuals actively accessing our program.