Speak Out and Help Develop a U.S. HIV/AIDS Strategy

How can you be part of creating the first-ever U.S. national HIV/AIDS strategy? The White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) has almost completed its series of HIV/AIDS Community Discussions throughout the U.S.

ONAP is asking for input, comments and testimonials from a broad range of HIV/AIDS community members, so find the discussion nearest you and plan to have your voice heard!

Speakers at the discussions won't have more than about one minute to speak, so HIV activists with the HIV Prevention Justice Alliance have created tools for speakers to use to help them gather their thoughts before the meeting, and to make the most of their time at the microphone. Activists at Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP) are also available to share their knowledge with groups organizing around their local ONAP community discussions.

Interested in Joining a Discussion?

Mark your calendar with the date of the meeting nearest you.
Check back to the ONAP Web site and keep your eye on TheBody.com for the latest details on your regional meeting.
A few days before the meeting, register online to attend -- and tell your friends, clients, patients and/or other community members to do the same.
Check out this tool that speakers at community discussions can use to keep their comments as powerful, and as brief, as possible.

Check out the list below for the tentative date of the discussion nearest you:

October Meetings

Minneapolis, Minn.: October 2

Albuquerque, N.M.: October 9

Houston, Texas: October 10

San Francisco, Calif.: October 16

Los Angeles, Calif.: October 18

Columbia, S.C.: October 26

November Meetings

Oakland/East Bay, Calif.

: November 1

View a video of the Oakland, Calif., discussion about HIV/AIDS. All discussions are being videotaped.

St. Thomas and St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

: November 9

Jackson, Miss.: November 16

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.: November 20

December Meetings

New York, N.Y.

: December 4

Caguas, Puerto Rico: December 14 (see below for details)

Community discussions will be held in the evening, and event organizers are trying to choose times and locations that will make attending the meetings convenient to working people, according to a White House spokesperson.

Details About Upcoming Meeting

Caguas, Puerto Rico
Date and Time:
Monday, December 14, 2009, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Location:
Centro de Bellas Artes Ángel O. Berríos
Avenida José Mercado
In front of the Catalinas Mall
Caguas, Puerto Rico

Meeting Room:
Carmita Jiménez Salón C

You can register for this meeting here. Registration begins at 6 p.m. The discussion begins at 6:30 p.m.

En Español

Fecha y hora:
Lunes, 14 de diciembre 2009 de 6:30 p.m. a 8:30 p.m.

Lugar de Encuentro:
Centro de Bellas Artes Ángel O. Berríos
Avenida José Mercado
Frente al centro comercial de Las Catalinas
Caguas, Puerto Rico

Sala de Reunión:
Carmita Jiménez Salón C

Inscripción:
Las personas interesadas en participar en el debate de la Comunidad puede RSVP en línea en: https://www.cmpinc.net/ONAP. La inscripción comienza a las 6 p.m. La reunión comienza a las 6:30 p.m.