Baltimore:

Rev. Yeargin

On Wednesday, December 9, 2009, the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS (NBLCA) sponsored a Legislative Breakfast at Johns Hopkins University in partnership with Sisters Together And Reaching, Inc. (STAR), Johns Hopkins Urban Health Institute and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; funding support from the federal Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health.

At this event, public policy experts, community and religious leaders met to discuss key issues that will assist in guiding a policy agenda based on city-specific needs in the ongoing battle against HIV/AIDS. The breakfast included discussions on teen pregnancy and strategies for passage of HR 1964, the National Black Clergy for the Elimination of HIV/AIDS Act of 2009.

Local participants included William Honablew, Infectious Disease and Environmental Health Administration; Rev.  Dr. Grady A.Yeargin Jr., Pastor, City Temple of Baltimore Baptist Church; Rev. Dr. Donte’ L.  Hickman Sr., Pastor, Southern Baptist Church; Dr William Blattner, Chair, Baltimore City Commission on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment; Dr. Patricia Palluzi, President and CEO, Health Teen Network; Steven Dashiell, Health Program Administrator, Baltimore City Health Department; Carmi Washington-Flood, Chief, Faith Based and Community Partnership, Infectious Disease; Environmental Health Administration and Rev. Debra Hickman, President and CEO, STAR

Detroit:

Rev. Sheffield

On Monday, December 14, 2009, the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS (NBLCA) sponsored a Legislative Breakfast at Labor Local 1191 Union Hall in Detroit with funding support from Pfizer, Inc, and the federal Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health

More than 5,500 people in Detroit were living with HIV or AIDS in 2007, according to the Michigan Department of Community Health. The city has the greatest concentration of AIDS cases in the state but does not have commensurate resources.

Public policy experts, community and religious leaders and government officials discussed key issues that will assist in guiding a policy agenda based on city-specific needs in the ongoing battle against HIV/AIDS. The breakfast also included discussions on strategies for passage of HR 1964, the National Black Clergy for the Elimination of HIV/AIDS Act of 2009.

Local participants included Dr. Calvin Trent, General Manager Special Populations, Detroit Department of Health and Wellness; Dr. William Revely, Pastor, Holy Hope Heritage Church; Hon. Bert Johnson, State Representative, 5^th District; Hon. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, Congresswoman, 14^th District; Ms. Robbye Weir, Vice-chair, BLCA of Detroit; and Rev. Horace Sheffield III, Chair, BLCA of Detroit.