Internationally December 1st is recognized as World AIDS Day to educate and prevent the deadly disease. In Chicago, high school students in collaboration with the Chicago Department of Public Health, and the marketing agency, Serve, are launching a provocative advertising and public education campaign, "Chicago Wears Condoms." The concept was developed by high school youth who want to reduce the high rates of STIs, HIV/AIDS and Teen pregnancy in Chicago.
Chicago youth rates of STIs are 2.5 times higher than the rest of the nation and the majority of STI diagnoses in Chicago are concentrated among adolescents and young adults. Those 13 to 24 years old accounted for 65% of gonorrhea cases and 70% of chlamydia cases: http://bit.ly/12Qlrd5
"Many efforts have targeted the problem of STI's," explains Heaven Johnson, a Senior at Linblom Math and Science High Academy, who was central to developing the concept. "Rarely are the solutions driven by the ideas and experiences of the young people whose behavior they want to change, Chicago Wears Condoms is our answer as Chicago youth push for positive change in our city."
The campaign plays on Chicago pride with the famous skyline draped in a condom using the colors of the Chicago flag and will be displayed on billboards and train stations across the city. For more information visit: www.chicagowearscondoms.com .
WHAT: Press Conference and Condom Distribution at Roosevelt CTA Entrance ( 1167 S. State )
WHEN: Tuesday, December 1st, 2015 at 8:30am
WHO: Chicago high school youth, the Chicago Department of Public Health and the marketing agency, Serve.
Additional media availability throughout the day:
Time: 4:30pm-6:00pm
Locations: 95th Red Line Entrance, Roosevelt CTA Entrance, Logan Square Blue Line Entrance, Belmont Red Line Entrance
Activity: Youth passing out condoms in condom outfits
Serve is the country's only all-volunteer, nonprofit advertising agency, whose mission is to give underserved charitable causes a stronger voice in the community. Since 2002, Serve volunteers have created behavior-changing public service campaigns for over 50 local and national nonprofit causes from Shaken Baby Syndrome, statutory rape and teen homelessness to foster care, gun violence and teen pregnancy. Most recently, Serve's work was honored by the White House for its role in helping reduce teen pregnancy in Milwaukee. For more information, go to servemarketing.org .
6,000 young people from 110 schools across Chicagoland participate in Mikva Challenge programs annually. Mikva Challenge is a non-partisan, nonprofit that develops youth to be informed, and active citizens and community leaders. We do this by engaging youth in action civics, an authentic and transformative learning process built on youth voice and youth expertise. www.mikvachallenge.org/ .