Atlanta, GA is the scene set for an afternoon of shining an intense light on the increasing number of young people aged 13-24 who are becoming infected with the HIV virus. This is a major focus of an upcoming HIV/AIDS awareness walk that will be hosted in Atlanta.
The 9th Annual Youth AIDS Walk, which is being presented by The Grapevine AIDS Foundation, along with the Simply United Together Global, Incorporation team which will include a three (3) mile walk starting at Piedmont Park and ending at the steps of the Georgia Capitol. Then, there will be a rally featuring community speakers from the faith community, HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention organizations, dignitaries, as well as local performing artists.
“The theme of this event is “Advancing the Kingdom,” and our goal is to encourage people to spread the word and not the virus,” says Minister Kendal Richardson, founder of The Grapevine HIV/AIDS Foundation and Director of Simply United Together HIV/AIDS initiative. Richardson states, “The statistics that young people between 13 and 24 account for 31 percent of the new HIV/AIDS infection rates in the US are startling and we’ve got to do something about it.” “Those statistics in addition to high rates of women contracting sexually transmitted diseases in Fulton County alone are numbers people should be very concerned about and our event wants to bring awareness to these facts,” he said.
Richardson, 36, an ordained minister through World Outreach Ministries is passionate about the subject because he himself contracted the disease at 19. As a result, he has been on a mission around the country to get the faith community more involved in his quest to educate young people and African American women, who are also contracting HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases at alarming rates, about unprotected sexual activity and its deadly ramifications.
There will be HIV/AIDS and Syphilis testing by a Fulton County Health and Wellness Mobile Unit which will be onsite at the event from 12:00p.m. – 4:00p.m. The 9th Annual Youth AIDS Walk Event will be hosted by MJTV Network Owner and Producer, Mimi Johnson and the Triple Threat Live Band. Included in the day’s activities will be music by D. J. ROC Nyce from Baltimore on the 1 & 2’s, a fashion show, and refreshments. Speakers include: Minister Kendal Richardson, Howanda Calloway, Moses Sands, Jr, Lisa Britt, Shyronn Jones, and Bishop Richardson. Entertainers include the following people: NuPurpose, Voncile Belcher, JUST B, J.Dot Ravyn, Okirike, The Minista, Carlos Porter & BJ Bowman, Dre Magic & Lil J, Globee, Rayshawn Carson, Obey One BA, King Cee, Peter Grace, Derek Thompson, Robert FaithMuzic Stokes, St. Clair, Sherrie McCrary, Reggie Hicks and many more.
Participants of the 9th Annual Youth AIDS Walk will assemble at Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA 30312 on Saturday, March 28 starting at 7:00a.m., and walk to the Georgia Capitol. The Georgia Capitol is located at 216 Capitol Avenue, Atlanta, 30303, and the Rally/Concert will begin at Noon.
The Grapevine HIV/AIDS Foundation’s mission is to educate youth, parents, pastors and community members concerning HIV/AIDS through social media and community involvement. Their motto is “Defeating the virus through Jesus Christ.”
