BY TERRENCE CHAPPELL
HIV/AIDS outreach and prevention, healthcare and education were just a few of the hot-button topics explored at the Chicagoland Youth Against AIDS (CYAA) ninth annual youth conference, entitled "As Raw As it Gets."
Youths ages 13-24 were equipped with information packages for the daylong conference that included special guest presenters, workshops and discussion groups. Community activist and renowned motivational speaker Marbelyn Brown served as the special morning keynote speaker. Brown learned she was HIV—positive at the age of 19. Now, at 26, Brown has not only shared her story and insight around the nation at different universities and institutions but has also received numerous awards for her humanitarian work, including an Emmy Award for Outstanding National PSA in 2007 and being named a Modern Day Black History Month hero by BET.
Youth conference emcee and conference co-chair Julian Perkins related to the conference and the issues addressed on a much deeper level. Growing up on the city's West Side, Perkins saw his peers go down the wrong path, but opted to take a different and better one for himself. "I hope I can do this forever. I use to just want to play basketball. But, I want to help out. Playing basketball is all about yourself," he said.
After the morning kick-off, youths participated in a series of workshops and forums that focused on major issues and dilemmas faced by today's youth. Fourteen-year-old Brianna Christman came out to the conference to support a family friend, David Robertson, a presenter who is HIV—positive. Christman recalled having an emotional reaction to hearing Robertson's talk.
"It was really getting to me, but I had to remember where I was at, and why I was here. The best thing that I took from his [Robertson] talk was how he went through all of that and kept going with his life. He didn't give up," said Christman.
Other workshops included "This is What HIV Looks Like." where a panel dispelled stereotypes and notions associated with HIV and the communities affected by the virus. In another workshop, "Turn Your Hustle Into a Career," youths were given advice on how to make their passion and craft into a fruitful career. Presenter Ra Perre Shelton co-hosted the "Writing My Life Positive" workshop, where youth were taught how writing can be used as a therapeutic means of managing feelings, organizing thoughts and prioritizing goals. Shelton's mission behind the workshop was to encourage young people to think critically and to remind them that "they [youth] have the power to dictate who and how they are in a social setting."
"I wanted them to know that based on what they say and what they write; they have the power to reinterpret society," Shelton said.
Dr. Margo Bell was the driving force behind the conference. In addition to Bell', the Chicago HIV/AIDS Risk Reduction Project For Youth (CHRRPY), which specializes in addressing the major barriers youth face when accessing services according to its website; Stroger Hospital-Division of Adolescent Medicine; and POW-WOW, Inc. all came on board to bring the conference to life. Natasha Smith and Perkins were the co-chairs for the conference and are also CYAA committee members. C.C. Carter—founder of POW-WOW Inc., an organization designed to speak to the social justices issues concerning women, in particular, women of color—worked closely with Bell on advising and facilitating the vision for the youth conference. As a teacher for 25 years, Carter is no stranger to working with youth and still finds her work rewarding.
"I believe that if nothing else, the youth will be armed with ammunition of information from this conference. They will not have to rely on some adult to tell them or even get miseducated from someone. This conference will help them to empower themselves," said Carter.
