The Black Church & HIV initiative was established in 2013 by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to address HIV as a social justice issue.
Their national tour recently made its way to the Bay Area, for a half day conversation held at Oakland City Hall.
![NAACP Black Church & HIV Town Hall - Oakland](http://faithinthebay.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/BlackChurchHIVOAK-13-683x1024.jpg)
(Denisha DeLane/Faith in the Bay)
![](http://faithinthebay.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/BlackChurchHIVOAK-21-700x467.jpg)
Rev. William Francis facilitating the Black Church & HIV conversation (Denisha DeLane/Faith in the Bay)
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, greeted the days attendees which included clergy, providers, people living with HIV, and advocates – while also stressing the importance of partnerships and collaboration. She also shared her excitement for the upcoming 2020 International AIDS Conference being held in the Bay Area.
![](http://faithinthebay.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/BlackChurchHIVOAK-17-683x1024.jpg)
Mayor Libby Schaaf brings greetings during The Black Church & HIV Town Hall attendees – June 23, 2017 (Denisha DeLane / Faith in the Bay)
Forum topics included gaps in service, HIV & Aging, Stigma, and Linkage & Retention. The Bay Area is no stranger to faith based HIV/AIDS interventions. Since the outbreak of the epidemic, Bay Area faith leaders were early responders and navigators for many – creating models still duplicated today.
Current data for Alameda County was presented by the newly named Alameda County Office of HIV Prevention & Care (formerly known as the Alameda County Office of AIDS), along with a national overview of the Black Church & HIV framework by the NAACP National Health Department.
Since its launch, The Black Church & HIV initiative continues to produce and provide tools and resources for clergy, and congregations.
Congregations are invited to participate in the upcoming 2017 Day of Unity, July 23rd.
Sign Up & Download Tools: https://theblackchurchandhiv.org/day-of-unity/
No Comments