May

National Action Network ACTS! Against AIDS during World Famous Memphis in May International Festival!

The National Action Network (NAN) in partnership with Memphis in May and FOX13 News, came together, not only to celebrate Memphis in May International Festival, but to ACT! Against AIDS!

NAN and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s ACT! Against AIDS Leadership Initiative is aiming to reduce HIV incidences in the United States.  The city of Memphis played host to one of the largest, month long events in the country; the Beale Street Music Festival, the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest and the AutoZone Sunset Symphony!  The Republic of Chile was the honored country for the 2009 Memphis in May International Festival. 

To the world, Memphis means great music. Music lovers from around the globe gathered at the Beale Street Music Festival to celebrate this vital heritage, this deep river of sound. Three magical days, four big stages, more than sixty top acts.  One outrageous weekend!  Blues, rock, gospel, R&B, alternative, and soul; a spine-tingling musical variety guaranteed to shake your soul. With a growing fan base and worldwide media coverage, this stellar event, held May 1-3, 2009, drew guests from all 50 states and a dozen or so foreign countries.

The Memphis Chapter of NAN took full advantage of this opportunity by dispatching its members to Beale Street to spread the word about HIV/AIDS and the need to get tested, educated and involved. Memphis in May is one of the largest street festivals in the world and there is no better place to reach a large and more diverse group of people than during this month long festival.  It is events like this that allows us to not only reach large numbers of people, but to show that even in the mist of having a good time, it’s also important to party with a purpose.

NAN signed up over 200 new members to its “I Choose Life” campaign.  The campaign is a partnership with social, civic, civil rights organizations and the medical community that addresses HIV/AIDS in the African American community.  NAN has developed a vital, inclusive and workable cooperative project between the African American community and a network of health providers, advocates, activists, community leaders and organizations, clergy, celebrities, governmental allies along with the persons directly affected, as well as those vulnerable to HIV/AIDS infection.  We believe that the African American community, given adequate information and assistance, will choose life-as expressed in measurable dignity-affirming, life-preserving and health-enhancing practices.

It is our goal at NAN and its partners is to improve the health of the African American community through addressing health disparities in HIV/AIDS and other interrelated areas. Drawing on its life-affirming cultural, values and internal resources, to enable the community to become effectively informed, organized and engaged in a cooperative health care and prevention project focused on choosing life and rejecting ideas and actions which lead to health deterioration and death.

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