Florida AIDS Action Changes Name to AIDS Institute

The HIV/AIDS advocacy group Florida AIDS Action on Sunday announced that it has changed its name to the AIDS Institute to "better reflect the agency's expanding national efforts," according to an AIDS Institute release. The group's board of directors at a meeting in Washington, D.C., changed its name based on an analysis of the group's development. The newly renamed group will also begin using the tagline "action for social change," according to the release. AIDS Institute Executive Director Dr. Gene Copello said, "Over the past four years, the organization has been enhancing its public policy research, advocacy and education programs. The name change is simply the culmination of years of work, as well as the impetus for our future activities on a federal and global level." He added, "The AIDS Institute will continue to help shape the way government responds to AIDS." The group plans to:

• Create the Center for Public Policy Research and Ethics in partnership with the division of infectious and tropical diseases at the University of South Florida College of Medicine;

• Develop the Center for Advocacy Training, which would assist regions of the United States heavily affected by HIV/AIDS through community mobilization and advocacy networks;
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• Implement the group's first education and advocacy program aimed at health care professionals;

• Open a Washington, D.C., office to focus on expanding federal policy initiatives; and

• Create the Center for Global Mobilization, which would focus on providing assistance to resource-poor nations (AIDS Institute release, 11/17).

Back to other news for November 18, 2003