Why work to halt the spread of HIV?

Many people have asked me why am I speaking out about HIV and AIDS. From this moment forward, I don't want to see the promise of multiple generations of people eclipsed by this preventable disease. HIV forces me to take a look at my own humanity and the difficulty in living as a full and complete self no matter your station in life. Through my work with The Silence Is Broken, we are raising money to create awareness of this disease and we are raising money to give away to community based organizations throughout the United States that provide care and services to those affected. Though HIV and AIDS affects all people on the planet, our focus is on bringing awareness to communities of color in the United States. Specifically, black women whose new infection rate in 2007 was at 64%. Like other communities, African Americans face a number of risk factors that contribute to the high rates of HIV infection: • Sexual risk factors • Injection drug use • Sexually transmitted diseases • Lack of awareness of HIV Status • Stigma • Socioeconomic Issues. Healing, eradicating, halting the spread, and curing HIV and AIDS intersect at health policy, public policy, poverty, race, stigma, civil rights, and human rights. I want to revel in the promise of the world. We cannot allow a new generation of people to become infected with this preventable disease. Join us at www.thesilenceisbroken.com and help us break the silence. Patrick