BREAKING STIGMA AND FEAR EDUCATION
BREAKING STIGMA AND FEAR EDUCATION
PASTORS, FIRSTLADIES, FAITH-BASED & OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO ARE PARTNERING WITH US TO END THE HIV EPIDEMIC IN OUR COMMUNITIES
BSAFE stands for Breaking Stigma And Fear Education. We are breaking the stigma and fear with education concerning the HIV epidemic in our community. The mission of the BSAFE INITIATIVE is to save lives through education, conversation, and distribution of information about HIV/AIDS and prevention. We will focus on the toll that HIV/AIDS, and other STIs are taking on men and women of color, specifically targeting the faith-based community and the prevailing fear of being further stigmatized and discriminated against because of cultural and religious beliefs that continue to paralyze individuals from taking control of their sexual health and wellness. Our scriptural basis is 3 John 1:2 ”Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in good health, even as your soul prospers”.
BSAFE COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS
BSAFE INITIATIVE
Breaking Stigma And Fear Education
Community Outreach Activities and Events for the month of December 2022 #1 - Friday. December 2 -
WORLD HIV AWARENESS DAY WITH UCF @
The Lake Clare Recreation Center, 12491 Gemini Blvd N, Orlando FL.
BSAFE with HOPE & HELP attended a multi-organization event hosted by UCF student Brook Bethune who is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Brook is also a descendant of the Late, Mary McCloud Bethune. We distributed 35 Home-Test at the event, and I was able to speak to the students and attendants about the importance of HIV testing in our communities of color and the need to educate and break stigmas that continue to perpetuate fear of testing and knowing your HIV status.
#2 – Saturday, December 3, 2022,
JEREMIAH’S HOPE, 1700 Edgewater Drive, Orlando FL.
Judah Kingdom Life Ministries (BSAFE INITIATIVE) distributed IN-HOME HIV Tests and members of the outreach team (B.A.M. Dance Ministry) performed in dance. I was able to talk about the importance of knowing your HIV status and breaking the stigmas that perpetuate fear in our community. The highlight of this event for us was an older female who was there with 2 of her sons, and after she heard the statistics of the new cases of HIV in the black community among heterosexuals, she decided to take the test and then convinced her 2 sons to take the tests as well.
#3 – Saturday, December 17, 2022
A Close Encounter Woman’s Conference 2022
Judah Kingdom Life Ministries (BSAFE INITIATIVE) Invited Pastor’s Wives and Leading Ladies of the community to join with BSAFE in educating our Faith-based communities on the importance of HIV Testing, Prevention, and Treatment. Our guest speakers included Charlene Tolbert and Ida Starks. Ida Starks is a community leader who is living with HIV. She shared how 2 months prior to BSAFE’s event, she was to be the guest speaker at another HIV awareness conference where 101 local pastors were invited to attend- and to her dismay and our shock, Ida stated that not 1 pastor showed up, including her own pastor. We will continue to do our part to help end the HIV epidemic in our community. We invited 80 women. 30 women registered. In total, there were 40 in attendance which included 14 men who served in several capacities that included ushering, sound and video techs, serving, and performing. We distributed 6 IN-HOME HIV Tests on December 17.
