Street Works Celebrates 30th Anniversary of World AIDS Day with Community Event Featuring Local Faith and Area Leaders

 ‘Champagne & Conversation’
Fundraiser to Highlight Ways the Nashville Community Can Change
Public Perception on Living with HIV/AIDS 

 

Nashville, Tenn. (Nov. 28, 2018) – Street Works, a non-profit organization providing education, prevention and care to those affected by HIV/AIDS and Hep C, is bringing together local faith-based and area leaders to mark the 30th Anniversary of World AIDS Day on December 1, 2018. The ‘Champagne and Conversation’ fundraiser, to be held at Nashville’s Bridge Building, will engage community members in a discussion on ways to change the perception of living with HIV/AIDS and highlight the achievements made in multiple local communities this year.

 

World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness. Founded in 1988, World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day, designed to raise money, increase AIDS awareness, fight prejudice and improve AIDS and HIV education around the world. The day’s ‘red ribbon’ is now the universal symbol of awareness and support for people living with HIV.

 

Street Work’s ‘Champagne and Conversation’ event will feature a panel of spiritual leaders, political advisors and medical professionals to discuss Progression in the Pulpit: Turning Negative Stigma to a Negative Status. Speakers include: Nancy VanReece, District 8 Council Member; Judge Rachel Bell, Davidson County General Sessions; Reverend Aaron X. Marble, Jefferson Street M.B. Church; Reverend Edwin Sanders II, Senior Servant and Founder, Metropolitan Interdenominational Church; and Dr. Aimalohi Ahonkhai, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Infections Disease, Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health.

 

“The entire community is invited to join us for this event, as we come together to celebrate World AIDS Day and the positive impact this global health event has had on the fight to end HIV/AIDS,” said Sharon W. Hurt, President and CEO, Street Works. “It is through community conversations like these that we can begin to make real change towards zero new transmissions of HIV and inspire those affected by the disease with hope, understanding and the ability to move towards self-sufficiency.”

 

For the last 20 years, Street Works has provided supportive services to persons living with HIV/AIDS in the middle Tennessee area and served as the leading community advocate by empowering and inspiring those infected with HIV towards self-sufficiency and hope through the increase of HIV awareness, compassion, and understanding of those not infected but still affected in the community.

 

Working to eliminate the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Street Works is committed to actively engaging with those in need on the streets of Nashville and throughout Middle Tennessee. Since 1997, Street Works has provided free, confidential HIV testing and supportive services to persons living with HIV/AIDS. On average, the program exchanges more than 15,000 syringes monthly.

 

To learn more and register to attend the event, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/champagne-and-conversation-tickets-51818260813?aff=ebdssbdestsearch or go to Eventbrite and search for Street Works.

 

To view the full press release, click here.