Time : Saturday, March 19, 9:30am - 2:00pm
Location: Arturo Velasquez Institute, 2800 S. Western Ave., Chicago, IL
Created ByAffinity Community Services
We invite you to join us for this citywide convening of individuals and organizations to build our collective understanding of the many factors that have led to the STI and HIV/AIDS crises on the south and southwest sides of Chicago. The following activities will be included in this discussion.
Concurrent workshops: Spiritual Oppression ( Johari Jabir, PhD ) Critical Thinking & Inquiry as Radical Acts ( Kelly Saulsberry ) Sex & Stigma ( Black Women for Reproductive Justice )
A showing of "Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?"
Updating the power mapping analysis and grassroots strategies developed by nearly 30 individuals in 2009.
Artivisim by Patience Rowe & Regine Rouseau.
Sexually transmitted infections ( STI ) and HIV/AIDS are silently decimating communities of color in Chicago. According to the STI/HIV Chicago Surveillance Report published last fall by the Chicago Department of Public Health, there may be as many as 26,000 people living with HIV in Chicago, 21% of whom may not know their status. Furthermore, non Hispanic Blacks continue to be disproportionately affected by by AIDS, accounting for 66% of AIDS diagnosis in 2008.
As if that weren't enough, the south and southwest sides of the city show an overwhelming concentration of HIV diagnoses rates with 8 of 13 community areas having rates of 60 to 112.9 per 100,000 residents, the highest concentration category in the report. A look at the STI rates is also discouraging.
We cannot afford for these trends to continue. In 2009, Affinity began working with other organizations, programs, researchers, community activists, and others who were concerned about the growing epidemic in our communities. We are re-engaging in this work through the Critical Justice Alliance ( CJA ) .
We do not have to feel defenseless in the wake of this epidemic. It takes many villages to solve this problem and we need your help. Come out to this important discussion and help us create community-led strategies for changing the trajectory of our communities.
Free parking available and light refreshments. This is a FREE event and ALL are welcome.