The Palms Residential Care Facility, the only facility in South Central Los Angeles that houses hundreds of homeless, HIV positive men and women, opened its doors to the entire community. Under the theme "We are One" the Palms, National Counsel of Negro Women, Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP, SCLC, WomenAlive, Phi Beta Sigma, Delta Sigma Theta, the Los Angeles Sentinel Newspaper, Minority AIDS Project, AIDS Project Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Health Department, Planned Parenthood, 93.5 The BEAT FM, Los Angeles Links, New Frontier Democratic Club and many more participated in this worthwhile event.

Also present showing their full support, were a number of elected officials that included the following, just to name a few; Congresswoman Maxine Waters, State Senator Roderick “Rod” Wright, State Senator Curren Price, Assemblyman Mike Davis, Los Angeles City Councilman Bernard Parks, Los Angeles City AIDS Coordinator Steve Simons, Los Angeles Unified School Board Member District 1 Marguerite Poindexter Lamotte, City of Carson Councilman Mike Gibson and Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. “With all the budget cuts and the uncertainty, it is clear that funding is necessary for us to continue to provide services to our community.  We, the African American community, decided that we would all come together as one and network together, serving as a resource for one another. We decided to come together with the understanding, that we are one, and what effects one of us affects all of us so today and from this day forward, We are One!” said Tony Wafford, National Director of Health and Wellness for National Action Network and Project Coordinator for the AAALI.

The “We are One” event was deemed a tremendous success, testing over 198 people for HIV/AIDS and other STD’s.  Hundreds received information not only about HIV/AIDS, but other health issues confronting the African American community.
 

The National Action Network, Memphis Chapter, also got involved on National HIV Testing Day in Memphis, TN to deliver the AAALI message in their community.  The Memphis Chapter was interviewed on FOX13 News and then they saturated several communities with information on available testing sites and the importance of knowing your status.  As members of the Memphis Chapter talked to several individuals in the community, they also asked that they, themselves get involved and spread the word about this deadly disease!!  They were encouraged to get educated, to get tested, to get treatment and to get into care.  This community saturation to spread the word was a huge success!!

The month of June was a very busy and productive month for NAN.  They also delivered the ACT! Against AIDS message in Orangeburg, SC at the First Annual Inaugural Women’s and Children’s Symposium, “The Art of Living Well” hosted by Monnie Singleton, MD, George Copper, Ph.D., South Carolina State University, Congressman James Clyburn, Former Governor David Beasley and Felicity C. Myers, Ph.D., Deputy Director South Carolina Health and Human Services.         

We also joined the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation in New York City at York College for their, “Real Men Talk About AIDS” community forum. Rev. Sharpton delivered a very positive and inspiring video taped message and the panel discussion was very spirited and informative.
 

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