PRNewswire - October 12, 1999

More than 3,000 representatives from the nation's leading HIV/AIDS advocacy organizations, AIDS service providers, research institutions, policy- making and government bodies and corporations will participate in the five-day conference. The conference, sponsored by the National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC), in partnership with 23 national AIDS advocacy and governmental organizations, will take place Thursday, November 4 through Monday, November 8 at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Denver.

"As we approach the 21st century, the AIDS epidemic is not slowing, instead it continues to take its toll in more diverse communities," said Paul Kawata, executive director for the National Minority AIDS Council. "People of color continue to be disproportionally affected by the AIDS epidemic. This disease continues to be the number one cause of death for African Americans age 25-44 and the second leading cause of death for Latino men in the same age group." USCA is the only national or international AIDS meeting focused on bringing together AIDS educators and front-line workers to learn from each other and to translate the advances we have seen recently into practical solutions for our communities.

The Conference Program

The USCA program features daily plenary sessions. Plenary speakers at the 1999 USCA include: U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher; Assistant-Secretary General of the United Nations Dr. Peter Piot; President & Founder of Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr.; and acclaimed actress Sheryl Lee Ralph.

USCA will also focus on the global AIDS epidemic, with particular attention given to the current crisis in Africa where 5,500 people die from AIDS everyday. Mayors from Cote D'Ivoire, Uganda, Tanzania, Swaziland, and Zambia will be featured speakers at the "Voices from Africa" plenary session on Saturday, November 6.

Conference participants will also have the opportunity to choose from 150 workshops covering ten tracks. This year's tracks will address the following subjects: Care/Primary Care, Executive Director Leadership, Fundraising and Finance, Housing, International Issues, Nutrition, Prevention, Public Policy, Special Issues, and Treatment Research.

Additionally, attendees participate in full-day Institute sessions, offering in-depth exploration and discussion of today's most current HIV/AIDS- related issues as well as three-hour Seminars that will address issues related to HIV/AIDS in the following communities: Children/ Adolescent, Deaf Individuals, Drug Users, Heterosexuals, Prisoners, Lesbian/Gay/Transgender Individuals, People of Color, and Sex Workers. There will be a number of poster sessions and roundtables on issues pertaining to teens infected by HIV, using the internet to find reliable HIV/AIDS treatment information, HIV / AIDS and identity, and the AIDS epidemic in developing countries.

The conference will also include exhibits from more than 100 community- based organizations, public and private corporations, federal and state agencies, national organizations with AIDS-related programs, people living with AIDS coalitions, industry, religious organizations, and community retailers.

Special events at USCA will include "A Jazz and Country Evening" featuring award-winning singer-song writer Victoria Shaw along with Billy Holiday award- winner Nnenna Freelon and "An Ocean Journey" to the Denver Aquarium. Conference attendees will be able to display their artistic talents on the "Working Together" Graffiti Wall. Finally, USCA will feature a photographic exhibit entitled Women First.

USCA participants are case managers, care providers, executive directors, finance administrators, physicians, nurses, social workers, interfaith providers, health educators and health department workers, people living with AIDS, community activists, government officials, corporate and foundation funders, and other management and support staff representing more than 1,000 organizations. Last year's United States Conference on AIDS held in Dallas, attracted more than 2,500 participants representing more than 1,000 organizations. Participants came from 49 states, the District of Columbia, and 14 countries.

"The diversity of USCA's program, presenters, partners, exhibitors and attendees reflects the wide-range of communities that are impacted by the AIDS epidemic," said Paul Kawata of NMAC. "We expect this to be a powerful conference that will draw from these diverse experiences to influence the provision of AIDS services, care, and prevention for years to come."

Conference Partners

Joining the National Minority AIDS Council as Program Partners for the 1998 USCA is a diverse group of national organizations including: AIDS Action Council; AIDS, Medicine & Miracles; The AIDS Memorial Quilt; AIDS National Interfaith Network; The AIDS Nutrition Services Alliance; The Balm In Gilead; Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS; Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS; Elton John AIDS Foundation; LIFEbeat; Mothers' Voices; National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors; National Native American AIDS Prevention Center; and The Red Hot Organization. USCA's government partners include: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA); Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA); Housing and Urban Development (HUD); National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA); Office of AIDS Research (OAR); Office of Minority Health (OMH); Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); and the Veteran's Administration (VA).

About NMAC

The National Minority AIDS Council was formed in 1987 to develop leadership within communities of color to address the issues of HIV/AIDS. Its constituency is composed of more than 3,000 community- based organizations that deal with AIDS on the front lines -- in hospitals, clinics, shelters, schools, storefronts and the streets. Thousands of men and women of color rely on such organizations for outreach, care, education, housing and support services. NMAC's goals are to lend visibility, leadership, educational messages, and materials, comprehensive technical assistance and a powerful national voice to these front line workers.

To register for USCA and to obtain detailed information about all USCA speakers and programs, including Plenaries, Institutes, Seminars, Workshops, Roundtables, and Posters please call Peter Velasco at 202.483.6622, ext. 327, or e-mail pvelasco@nmac.org.

SOURCE National Minority AIDS Council

CONTACT: Peter Velasco of the National Minority AIDS Council, 202-483-6622, ext. 327, or Amber Rice, 202-944-5191, or Charles Hodges, 202-944-1934, both for the National Minority AIDS Council/
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