Local World AIDS Day Event Focuses on Youth and Vaccine Research

WASHINGTON, DC (November 28, 2001) - "1 in 56 young people in the district is living with HIV. We can't afford to be silent!" - Ebony Johnson, Children's Hospital Adolescent Advocate

The Capital Area Vaccine Effort (CAVE), along with Student Global AIDS Campaign at George Washington University, and Youth Pride Alliance, is hosting a Town Hall event entitled 'Hidden Epidemic: The Continuing HIV/AIDS Crisis in the Youth Community', on Wednesday, November 28th, 2001. The event will feature School Board President Peggy Cooper Cafritz, Ebony Johnson, an adolescent advocate at the children's hospital, and Dr. Barney Graham, from the NIH Vaccine Research Center.

Worlds AIDS Day in the United States this year focuses on youth because:

· Young people under age 25 represent half of all new HIV infection cases*

· Ten million people ages 15-24 are living with HIV/AIDS*

· Every minute, five young people are infected with HIV*

The purpose of this event is to educate the community on the complicated issues surrounding young people and HIV. "We need education and advocacy, but more importantly we need to give young people the tools and the power to make responsible decisions for their future" said David Grossman, President of the Youth Pride Alliance. "We want all young people in the city to know that they are valued and respected, and to provide safe, healthy outlets for young people to learn and grow."

An important part of the event will be an update on HIV Vaccine Research from Dr. Barney Graham of the Vaccine Research Center (VRC). One of the sponsoring organizations of the event, Capital Area Vaccine Effort (www.aidsvaccine.org), works closely with the VRC and other HIV Vaccine researchers in our community. Capital Area Vaccine Effort is organized to assist and advise AIDS vaccine trials in the metropolitan DC area. 

"The scientific consensus is that an AIDS Vaccine is possible" said David Mariner of CAVE, "and researchers like Dr. Graham are working to make that dream a reality. He is joined by the hundreds of DC residents who have stepped up to the plate and participate in HIV Vaccine trials. Clearly, however, more volunteers will be needed, and young people have a vital role to play in this process."

This event, although hosted at a university, is a community event. Unifying the community under the topic of HIV/AIDS, this event hopes to dispel any myths and misconceptions of the disease and raise awareness to the whole community on this epidemic's impact. 

The event will take place at the Media and Public Affairs Building at George Washington University, 805 21st Street NW (corner of 21st and H Streets) on Wednesday, November 28th, at 7pm.

* American Association for World Health World AIDS Day Resource Booklet.

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