Hartford has the highest rate of new HIV infections and the highest number of people living with AIDS of any city in the state, according to the Connecticut Department of Public Health. As rates among Blacks, Latinos, women, and young people in Hartford continue to climb, The Institute for Community Research (ICR), the CT AIDS Resource Coalition (CARC), and the Hispanic Health Council are joining forces with several community agencies to organize three events for World AIDS Day in Hartford. “We need to make noise,” says Evelyn Baez, a researcher at ICR who chairs the Hartford World AIDS Day Committee. “We need to let people know that AIDS is still with us.”

The World AIDS Day events are designed around the international theme of Leadership. Organizers emphasize that even though fighting AIDS is a global challenge, education, prevention, and advocacy depend on action at the grassroots level. An opening for the art exhibit “Celebration of Life,” will be held on Friday night, November 30, 2007, from 4:30-8:00 pm at the Jean J. Schensul Community Gallery at ICR. Donated work will be available for silent auction and the exhibit will be on display until December 21, 2007. On World AIDS Day, Saturday, December 1, 2007, ICR and the Hispanic Health Council will host bilingual panel discussions from 10 am – 2 pm. Topics will cover HIV/AIDS risk, research, advocacy, treatment, funding, services, and prevention. HIV testing will also be available throughout the day. Starting at 6 pm on Saturday night, local salsa, jazz, gospel, acoustic, and spoken word artists will perform at a free community concert at Trinity College’s Vernon Social Center, 114 Vernon St. in Hartford.

Organizers hope to educate, entertain, and inspire by bringing the community together for the gallery exhibit, the panel discussions, and the concert. “The call for leadership is more important than ever,” says Shawn Lang, Director of Public Policy at CARC. Lang regrets that while HIV cases continue to rise, there has been no significant funding increase for HIV prevention in Connecticut in over a decade. “While it’s important for everyone to know their HIV status, it’s critical that we re-focus our efforts on prevention,” she says. “We will make the strongest impact by putting all our efforts together,” says Evelyn Baez, Chairperson of the Hartford World AIDS Day Committee and a researcher at ICR. “We are hoping not only to raise awareness in the community, but also to let people know what they can do to fight AIDS - on World AIDS Day and beyond.” Transportation is available; for more information, please contact Evelyn Baez at 860-278-2044 x255 or evelyn.baez@icrweb.org.

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Hartford’s World AIDS Day events are presented by The Institute for Community Research, CT AIDS Resource Coalition, Hispanic Health Council, AIDS Project Hartford, True Colors, Inc., City of Hartford, and Trinity College, with support from Abbott Laboratories, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Borinquen Bakery, Community Renewal Team, Inc., FedEx Kinko’s, Latino Community Services, and Pfizer Inc.

Rise [Up] Lift: Hartford’s World AIDS Day

November 30, 2007 and December 1, 2007

Celebration of Life: Affirmation, Remembrance, Activism.

November 30 - December 21, 2007. Opening reception: Friday, November 30, 2007, from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Free & open to the public; refreshments will be served.

A multi media exhibit featuring work from anyone infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. Work will be available for silent auction. For more details, please contact Colleen Coleman, ICR Artistic Director, at 860-278-2044 x310. Jean J. Schensul Community Gallery, ICR, 2 Hartford Square West, 146 Wyllys St, Ste. 100, Hartford, CT 06106.

World AIDS Day Leadership Panels

Saturday, December 1, 2007, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Registration begins at 9 am. The sessions are free and open to the public; breakfast and lunch will be served.

Panels on Trans Populations & HIV Risk, and Women & HIV Risk will take place at the Hispanic Health Council, 175 Main St, Hartford, CT 06106. Panels on Prisons, Recidivism & HIV Risk; Youth & HIV Risk; Faith, Spirituality, & HIV Risk in Communities of Color; and Injection Drug Use & HIV Risk; and the State of AIDS in CT will take place at ICR, 2 Hartford Square West Ste. 100, 146 Wyllys St, Hartford. Please call 860-278-2044 or visit www.incommunityresearch.org for more information.

Celebration of Life Concert

Saturday, December 1, 2007, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Free & open to the public.

This free community concert, featuring the group Combo Loco, will also include performances by gospel, jazz, and drumming groups. The music will be interspersed with testimonials and spoken word performances, featuring youth artists. The concert will take place at the Vernon Social Center at Trinity College, 114 Vernon St., Hartford, CT.