PRNewswire - Thursday November 16, 2000

"This campaign will bring gospel artists to the forefront in the United States and Africa to help address the HIV/AIDS epidemic with an emphasis on prevention, education, knowing your HIV status and dismantling fear," said Rev. Yvette Flunder, gospel music artist, campaign organizer and executive director of The Ark of Refuge.

The ONE VOICE Campaign is the gospel artists' call to action to address the horrendous problem of AIDS in the African American and Africa communities. The artists, U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher and members of the Congressional Black Caucus outlined the significance of this campaign at today's press conference, held on Capitol Hill at 1:30 p.m. in Washington, DC at the Rayburn House Office Building in Room 2168. Prior to today's press conference, Dr. David Satcher convened an HIV/AIDS Educational Roundtable with the artists and leaders yesterday.

The ONE VOICE Campaign will include a series of concerts in three major cities in 2001. The first concert is scheduled for March 2, 2001 in Chicago. Participating artists will perform at these concerts, which will serve as vehicles to provide AIDS education and encourage African Americans to get tested for HIV. Concert organizers will work in partnership with local HIV/AIDS service organizations in each city.

"Gospel music continues to speak to the minds and hearts of African Americans," says Johnson. "I am pleased to be a partner in the One Voice Campaign, which will educate African Americans about HIV/AIDS and encourage them to get tested."

The campaign is also supported by the Gospel Music Workshop of America and the Gospel Announcers Guild who will engage Gospel radio hosts to further involve and educate their listening audiences about HIV/AIDS prevention and control. The One Voice Campaign will kick-off the 12th Annual National Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS, the largest awareness program targeting Black America sponsored by The Balm In Gilead.

According to the Centers For Disease Control, from July 1999 through June 2000, 48% of reported AIDS cases were among Black adults and adolescents. And, of the estimated 40,000 new HIV infections each year, greater than 50% occur among African Americans.

"We are at a critical point in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the African American community. With an estimated 1 in 50 Black men and 1 in 160 Black women living with HIV, the time to act is now! We must get HIV positive individuals into care and work harder to prevent the further spread of this disease," said Dr. Eric Goosby, Director, Office of HIV/AIDS Policy.

The One Voice Campaign is a collaborative partnership of The Congressional Black Caucus, the Office of the US Surgeon General and the Office of HIV/AIDS Policy's Leadership Campaign on AIDS, The Ark of Refuge, The Balm In Gilead, The Magic Johnson Foundation, and Community Supportive Living Systems.

SOURCE: ONE VOICE: Gospel Artists Respond to AIDS

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