Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1997. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
The Miami Herald, Inc.; Sunday, December 8, 1991
Olympia Duhart, Herald Staff Writer
It was a day of food and fun, but organizers say they were trying to relay a serious message.
"Our goal was to let people know that there are people in the community with AIDS," said Charles Tuck, a health educator for Project Impact. "We all need to look at what is happening and how we can deal with it."
Opa-locka Mayor Robert Ingram delivered the keynote address at Thursday's program. He spoke about the disproportionate number of blacks affected by AIDS, and the need to step-up research efforts.
"We must find a cure," he said. For two years, Project Impact has been spreading its message of HIV/AIDS education and prevention in North Dade. Funded by the state department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, Project Impact is one of 12 programs under the Lock Towns Community Mental Health Center umbrella.
Project Impact received a $65,000 grant this year to operate in Opa-locka, North Miami Beach, Carol City, Lake Lucerne and unincorporated North Dade. The group also received a $50,000 grant last year. The health educators use the money to provide an array of services aimed at reducing the spread of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases.
Mark Knobel of Lock Towns said Project Impact's wide-sweeping efforts have set the pace for similar prevention programs throughout the state.
"They are really doing a great job," Knobel said. "These people are extremely dedicated to their programs."
In its first two years of operation, the staff of Project Impact conducted more than 250 educational workshops. The workshops took place in a range of locations -- from public housing projects and clinics to colleges and boarding homes.
The staff also distributed more than 38,000 pieces of literature, gave out more than 50,000 condoms and referred 90 people to drug treatment programs in Dade County.
"This is what we need in the community if we're going to win the war," said Bruce Edgerly, senior human services programs specialist for HRS.
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