Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PRNewswire - November 10, 2003
The health forum will address social issues affecting today's teens with a focus on the rise of HIV/AIDS in the African American community. BET's Joe Clair (host, MAAD SPORTS) and Gerard Henry (host, LIFT EVERY VOICE) will serve as forum moderators. Panel discussion participants include R&B singer Lil' Mo; Lamman Rucker from the CBS soap drama, As The World Turns; Michael K. Williams from HBO's The Wire; 2003 Stellar Award nominees The Righteous Riders; 11-year old hip hop artist Lil' Mama; AIDS activist Denise Stokes from BET's HIV-focused documentary, The Naked Truth II; author Alex Hairston; Dr. Pierre Vigilance, Baltimore City's Deputy Commissioner of Health; R&B singer Yazarah; 15-year old hip hop sensation Alashus, and 92Q radio personality Marc Clark among others. Following the forum there will be a concert for event attendees.
Disturbing statistics show that the state of Maryland ranks third in the total number of reported HIV/AIDS cases in the U.S. and African Americans make up 76.9 percent of Maryland's reported cases. "Traditionally HIV/AIDS in Baltimore City was attributed to those who were male homosexuals who shared needles in drug use," said the Honorable Sheila Dixon, President of the Baltimore City Council. "Today, the epidemic is looking at the face of heterosexual men and women, and the spread of the disease to children. This segment of our population represents entire generations who are not aware that they are involved in the crisis. This epidemic must be treated as any other life-threatening disease and prevention education is a possible solution."
Since its launch in November 1998, BET's Rap-It-Up Campaign has tested over 4,000 people nationwide for HIV infection; managed over 760,000 calls to the Rap-It-Up toll-free hotline; hosted community teen forums for over 2,300 youth; and reached millions of viewers via HIV-related programming on the BET Network, including award-winning news specials, documentaries and public service announcements.
The network's goal is to raise awareness to the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS in the African American community. "Half of all new HIV infections are occurring in young people under the age of 24 with young people of color being disproportionately affected", said Sonya Lockett, BET's Director of Public Affairs. "If we are to reduce the rates of HIV transmission, we must ensure that our young people have the information necessary to make healthy, safe choices."
Please email requests for media credentials by Thursday, November 20 to Lyntina.Townsend@bet.net
Media Opportunities:
Coverage of Rap-It-Up Health Forum & Concert Interview & Photo Opportunities with President Sheila Dixon, BET Talent, BET Rap-It-Up Representatives, Performing Talent, and Event Partners
RAP-IT-UP is BET's award-winning, multi-faceted national awareness and call-to-action campaign addressing HIV/AIDS. Through public service announcements, free HIV integrated programming on the BET network, school forums and events across the United States, HIV/AIDS testing, a toll-free health line (866-RAP-IT-UP), and an internet presence at http://www.rap-it-up.com, Rap-It-Up addresses the leading killer of African-Americans ages 25-44. National partners joining BET in the effort are the Magic Johnson Foundation, LIFEbeat, Kaiser Family Foundation, AIDS! Act Now, Cable Positive, Blackaids.org, and National Medical Association.
ABOUT BET
BET, a subsidiary of Viacom, Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation's leading television network providing quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs programming for the African-American audience. The BET Network reaches more than 77 million households according to Nielsen media research, and can be seen in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. BET is a dominant consumer brand in the urban marketplace with a diverse group of branded businesses: BET.com, the Number 1. Internet portal for African- Americans; BET Digital Networks -- BET Jazz, BET Gospel and BET Hip-Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Event Productions, specializing in a full range of event production services, including event management, venue selection, talent recruitment, sound, lighting and stage production; and BET Books, the nation's leading publisher of African-American themed romance novels under the Arabesque Books label, and publisher of new imprints Sepia and New Spirit.
SOURCE BET (Black Entertainment Television)
Web Site: http://www.rap-it-up.com http://www.bet.com
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