Illinois: Center on Halsted Receives $1.6 Million for HIV Prevention

Two Chicago organizations have each received a five-year CDC grant of more than $1.6 million to expand HIV prevention services to African-American and Latino men who have sex with men. The grants are part of a $55 million effort to boost HIV prevention among MSM and transgender youth of color, with 34 organizations receiving awards across the nation. The number of new HIV infections among young black MSM increased 48 percent between 2006 and 2009, CDC estimates.

The Center on Halsted will use its grant to launch the "Mpowerment Project," an intervention to reach young MSM. Local agencies partnering with the Center on the effort include Affinity Community Services, Chicago House, and the Chicago Black Gay Men's Caucus. The project will serve 1,400 MSM ages 13-29, said Brian Richardson, a Center spokesperson.

"United, we can help reach and empower more individuals, which will in turn save lives," the Rev. Stan Sloan, CEO of Chicago House, said in a statement.

CALOR, which provides HIV/AIDS services to Latino and Hispanic communities, will use its grant for a variety of interventions serving 3,000 transgender and MSM of color.

"This grant comes to CALOR at a time when the incidence of HIV and other [STDs] city-wide are on the rise among youth," Rosa E. Martínez Colón, CALOR's assistant director, said in a statement.

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