The Campaign to End AIDS is hitting the road again and this time our destination is Oxford MS – September 24-26, 2008 - the site of the first National Presidential Debate for the Stand Against AIDS. AIDS activists from around the country want to make sure that people living with HIV/AIDS voices are heard as part of this election process and are engaging in a year long campaign to ensure that this happens.

(Pictured: Civil Rights legend and Mississippi native James Meredith with C2EA Outreach Co-chair Larry Bryant.)

Nine caravans travel different routes across the country raising awareness on issues like access to care, research based on science – not ideology, increased funding for prevention tools and an end to stigma. Caravans will begin in California, Washington State, Texas, Minnesota, Maine, Virginia and Florida

As those of you who have been following C2EA, we believe that the AIDS epidemic is not just a public health issue, it’s a social justice issue. To that end we are very happy to announce our partnership with Mr. James Meredith, Civil Rights Activists, for this project. “This is really the same issue that Dr. King was dealing with when he got killed: poor people” says Meredith. “ If the Campaign to End AIDS is successful, it will change everything by focusing on the conditions and the circumstances of the poor. This will be a thousand times bigger than the right to an education.”

In 1966, James Meredith embarked alone on the March Against Fear, a 220 mile walk from Memphis Tennessee to Jackson Mississippi. The March was intended to encourage African-Americans to register to vote and make an impact on elections. Now 42 years later, Meredith lives in Jackson, MS and is lending his support to another Mississippi March, The Stand Against AIDS, organized by C2EA. In addition to eight caravans the caravans traveling across the country, in the ninth caravan AIDS Activists in Mississippi will reprise Meredith’s walk going from Jackson to Oxford, MS. Once arriving in Oxford, C2EA will host a town hall meeting on HIV/AIDS, have a Rally to End AIDS and visually depict the importance of addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic both domestically and globally.

One of C2EA’s main priorities is to demand that the United States develop a national strategy to end AIDS. The US requires that countries receiving PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) dollars have a strategy with measurable outcomes to address the epidemic in their country, yet the US does not have such a plan.

To get connected with a Stand Against AIDS caravan, or host an event along a caravan routes with Stand Against AIDS contact: Larry Bryant, 1-877-ENDAIDS, or bryant2@housingworks.org

To sponsor an AIDS activist on one of the caravans, make checks payable to Campaign to End AIDS and mail to Campaign to End AIDS c/o Housing Works, 727 15th St., NW, 2nd Flr, Washington DC 20005

There are young people across the country emerging from the fading cold and of winter and dusting off their fundraising kits. No, not the Girl Scouts... It's the C2EA Youth (scouts?)! The application process is in full swing for the 4th Youth Action Institute to be held on the campus of University of New Mexico in Albuquerque June 25 - 29, 2008.

This will be YAI's first gathering west of the Mississippi since its first in '05 on Colorado State University's Ft. Collins, Colorado campus. The following year was in Chicago and last year's was in Raleigh, North Carolina, at the North Carolina State University.

"New Mexico is a culturally rich and geographically beautiful state," says, New Mexico resident and member of the C2EA Youth Caucus, Kahlo Benevidez. "Native American and Hispanic culture pervade every city in the state in one form or another. Here, you will find a culturally diverse and friendly community willing to share its values, traditions and customs and a stunningly beautiful landscape. The beauty of New Mexico and the openness of its people
do justice to its nickname 'The Land of Enchantment.'"

Kahlo and the rest of the YAI staff and faculty will be welcoming this years group and sharing experiences and developing skills in grassroots organizing, public health, advocacy, anti-stigma, and direct action. In all, over 200 youth representing communities all over North America have shared ideas and succeeded in goals developed at YAI. This year will be no different.

Who Can Come?
Absolutely everyone (between the ages of 16 and 26) is encouraged to apply, regardless of past experience working on HIV and AIDS issues. If you’re passionate about working to end AIDS, then you qualify. C2EA especially encourages people living with HIV and AIDS, women, and people of color to apply.

How To Apply?
The attached application (below, in English and Spanish) must be received by 6:00pm
on March 15th. It can be faxed, mailed, or emailed to the number and address below:

CAMPAIGN TO END AIDS
YOUTH ACTION INSTITUTE 2007
c/o Charles Long
57 Willoughby Street 2nd Floor
Brooklyn, New York 11201
(347)473-7451 oce
(646)942-1934 cell
(347)473-7464 fax
long2@housingworks.org

You will be notified of your acceptance by April 1. Travel arrangements will be made by YAI staff after confirmation of acceptance.

YAI Application eng.

YAI Application esp.

C2EA activists rally at Myrtle Beach debate;
Edwards' daughter and U.S. Reps attend

C2EA-SC's Karen Bates listens to Edwards

On Martin Luther King Day in Myrtle Beach, S.C., politics was in the air, food and water—CNN pundits and campaign staffers seemed to outnumber locals in the lead up to Monday night's Democratic presidential debate. Candidates' supporters lined the streets heading to the Palace Theatre as they waited for their favorite candidates to arrive for the evening's bicker-fest. But Campaign to End AIDS (C2EA) activist Ron Crowder had a different agenda. He hadn't driven some 10 hours from Nashville just to cheerlead for a favorite Democratic candidate but to make sure that everyone on the podium made ending the AIDS epidemic a priority.

May 16 - 20, Arlington, Virginia; Voices brings together consumers and care providers to share information about what works. Voices participants discuss the latest advances in treatment, care, and prevention, as well as the most pressing policy concerns facing our community. Voices is the only national conference dedicated solely to AIDS and women, children, youth, and families. http://aids-alliance.org/education/

May 18; This awareness day is meant to provide a great opportunity to thank the thousands of people who are working to help find an HIV preventive vaccine—the clinical trial volunteers, nurses, community educators/recruiters, and the researchers. http://www.hhs.gov/aidsawarenessdays/days/vaccine/index.html

May 18 - 22, Austin, Texas; The Texas HIV/STD Conference is designed for HIV/STD health professionals serving Texans living with and affected by HIV and other STDs. The goal of the Texas HIV/STD Conference is to enhance the capacity of HIV/STD health professionals to effectively serve Texans living with and affected by HIV and other STDs. http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/hivstd/conference/2008/about.shtm

May 19; May 19 is the National Asian and Pacific Islander (API) HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This awareness day intends to raise awareness among Asians and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. about the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS. http://www.hhs.gov/aidsawarenessdays/days/asian/index.html