TheLoop21.com Teams up With the Magic Johnson Foundation and Hip Hop Sites to Launch a National AIDS Prevention Campaign on the Internet
Now the leading cause of death among black females age 25-34, TheLoop21.com leads the black online community to address the threat of AIDS to black families.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) June 16, 2009 -- Major Black websites and bloggers are coming together this summer to combat the AIDS epidemic that is devastating the black community. Organized by the TheLoop21.com www.theloop21.com and the Magic Johnson Foundation, representatives of BET.com, Essence.com, AllHipHop.com, and others kicked off the summer 2009 "Stop Black AIDS" internet prevention campaign with a panel discussion during New York's Internet Week. This campaign marks the first time that the black online community has come together to collectively tackle the AIDS issue.
Highlights of the summer 2009 campaign include two Internet AIDS Action weeks on June 21-27 and July 19-25 when bloggers, major web sites, and internet users all across the country will read, write, and comment on the Black AIDS epidemic in order to raise awareness. The campaign also features videos and celebrity PSA's that can be downloaded from TheLoop21.com for free use by radio stations, podcasts, and websites.
"The HIV/AIDS virus does not discriminate -- we do, and people need to fully understand that this disease is spreading among the young, old, and women and men regardless of sexual orientation within the Black Community," says Dr. Aletha Maybank, a participant in the June 3 panel discussion. "Everybody needs to know their HIV/AIDS status. It is vital that our community becomes involved with HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns that promote candid, frank conversations along with testing in order to help prevent the spread of this very preventable disease."
According to the organizers, the "Stop Black AIDS" internet campaign is a critical addition to broader, offline awareness and prevention efforts in the country, because young blacks are being disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS and the internet is the preferred media among 18-34 year olds, or Generation Y.
"A key strategic advantage of an internet prevention campaign is that it is interactive so we don't need to be a part of every conversation and we don't want to be. Our goal is to ignite thousands of conversations among friends across the web and all across the country about the causes and consequences AIDS in the black community," said Darrell L. Williams, a Ph.D. economist and founder of TheLoop21.com.
"AIDS has become a 'black' disease. Black Americans account for more new HIV infections, more AIDS cases, more people living with AIDS, and more HIV-related deaths than any other ethnic group," said Williams said. "For the Black community, AIDS is now much bigger than a public health issue. It threatens the social and economic progress of an entire generation."
About TheLoop21.com
Based in Los Angeles, Calif., TheLoop21.com www.theloop21.com is a digital news community devoted to leading the debate on social and economic progress for people of color. TheLoop21.com is the place for up-to-date information about current events and hot topics that the mainstream media won't touch, where you can share and publish your opinions about progress for people of color and learn to empower yourself economically.
About the Magic Johnson Foundation
The MAGICJOHNSON FOUNDATION was founded in December 1991 by Earvin "Magic" Johnson following his retirement from the Los Angeles Lakers. The mission of the foundation is to identify and support community-based organizations that address the educational, health, and social needs of children, young adults and inner-city communities throughout the nation. MJF also donates needed funds to organizations that provide HIV/AIDS prevention and healthcare education to the minority community.
Call to Action for all Media
Help us to raise awareness by doing the following:
Run the audio PSA's on your radio or internet properties
Encourage your audience to "raise the volume" of this discussion during June 21-27 internet AIDS Action week
Produce your own content--e.g., interview, story, or just a mention--during the June 21-27 AIDS Action week in order to help raise awareness
Media Contact:
Jasmin Barba (310) 300-2123 or jbarba at lecg dot com
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