HIV/AIDS and the State of the Union, EGPAF-Style

Posted by Jane Coaston
Washington, D.C.
February 13, 2013

We captured the best tweets about
HIV/AIDS from President Obama's
State of the Union.

On Wednesday, President Barack Obama gave his State of the Union address, focusing on the challenges and opportunities facing the country both domestically and globally. In his speech, President Obama mentioned the need to protect children from preventable illnesses and create an “AIDS-free generation”. We followed the speech using Twitter and Storify to see what people were saying about the speech, HIV/AIDS, and how we can end the AIDS epidemic in our lifetimes.

Dancing Towards An HIV-Free Generation: Dance Marathon

Posted by Jane Coaston
Washington, D.C.
February 12, 2013

A screenshot from one of Nivedan’s YouTube
videos, in which he takes dance requests to
raise money for the EGPAF fundraiser Dance
Marathon.

Nivedan Nayak is a senior at UCLA, majoring in communications and minoring in film and television. Last year, he decided to participate in UCLA’s Dance Marathon for the first time. “I was afraid of having to raise so much money and stay on my feet for a whole 26 hours, but I ended up having the time of my life!” For this year’s Dance Marathon, he decided to come up with a unique way to raise money and awareness, using his love of dance and social media to get the word out about his fundraising goals.

AIDS in the Black Community: "Our People, Our Problem, Our Solution"

Posted by Jane Coaston
Washington, D.C.
February 11, 2013

Leisha McKinley-Beach, Director of Technical
Assistance and Stakeholder Engagement for
the Black AIDS Institute. (Photo: Leisha
McKinley-Beach)

As we celebrate Black History Month, we're honoring African-Americans who are taking part in the fight against HIV/AIDS. This week, we're talking to Leisha McKinley-Beach. Leisha McKinley-Beach currently serves as the Director of Technical Assistance and Stakeholder Engagement for the Black AIDS Institute. Prior to joining BAI, Leisha served as HIV Prevention Director for the Georgia Department of Community Health and an HIV Prevention Manager for the Florida Department of Health. Recently, I talked with her about HIV/AIDS in the Black community and the future of the pandemic.

What We’re Reading: African-Americans and HIV, The Psychology of HIV/AIDS, and Blood Transfusions

Posted by Jane Coaston
Washington, D.C.
February 8, 2013

Tennis champion Arthur Ashe with his family
in 1992. The first African-American man to win
Wimbledon, he was infected with HIV during
surgery in 1993. He became an advocate for
people living with HIV before dying of pneumonia
in 1993. Today, his family continues his work.
(Photo: Sports Illustrated) .

This week, we’re learning about National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, the psychological needs of children with HIV, and how men living with HIV can have HIV-negative children.

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day – Remember and Reflect

Posted by Jane Coaston
Washington, D.C.
February 7, 2013

Hydeia Broadbent and Magic Johnson at a
Nickelodeon television special on HIV/AIDS in
1992. (Photo: CNN)

Today is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in the United States, an opportunity for us to remember those we have lost to AIDS, and a chance to think about what we can do to welcome “the beginning of the end of AIDS.”

Foundation Recognized for Smart Charity Practices

Posted by Jane Coaston
Washington, D.C.
February 6, 2013

Each year, Charity Navigator, America’s largest and best charity evaluator, rates the country’s nonprofit organizations. And for the fifth consecutive year, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation has received a four-star rating – the highest possible ranking.