TRENDZ Youth invited to White House

TRENDZ co-founder and Center board member Kenya Pierce shares an update as interns participate in a national strategy session at the White House to combat the rise of HIV.

December 1st marked a global day of awareness for HIV/AIDS and although there are several advancements in antiretroviral treatment and longer life expectancies for those living with AIDS,  a steady increase in new cases continues to affect vulnerable populations disproportionately. Most affected by the disease are African-American youth.  While only 17% of teens in the U.S. are African-American, they account for 69% of HIV positive youth.

Several social and economic forces continue to place African American youth at an extreme risk for HIV infection. Higher rates of poverty, unequal access to care and reproductive health services and social stigma are just a few of those forces. Unfortunately, a recent poll conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that African Americans are less concerned about the disease than they were a decade ago.  There is now an opportunity - and a strong need - to reengage and reignite community responses to this epidemic, starting first with those most at risk, youth.

President Obama has charged the White House Office of National AIDS Policy with the task of developing the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) to reduce HIV incidence; improve access to care for persons living with HIV/AIDS; and reduce HIV/AIDS related health disparities. In effort to combat the domestic epidemic among youth, the Office of National AIDS Policy is hosting a strategy session at the White House to discuss youth prevention today, December 4th.  Youth from across the county have been invited and will have a chance to help set the national agenda for HIV/AIDS. 

Nathaniel Phillips and Tyler Evans, TRENDZ Inc. interns are attending this meeting and representing Nevada.  Neither Tyler nor Nathaniel has ever traveled to D.C.  So both see this as an "once in a lifetime" opportunity to not only visit the nation's capital, but to be given the opportunity to share their ideas and educate those in attendance on issues affecting youth from their specific communities. 

TRENDZ Inc. has identified sexual health as one of their top priorities.  By partnering with other youth-serving organizations and facilitating peer-to-peer learning opportunities, we hope to be a catalyst in helping decrease the number of youth who put their sexual health at risk while increasing those who become new leaders.  

The youth arrived December 3rd and attended a pre-session reception.  They got a chance to meet many young people their age including several brave individuals who are presently living with HIV.  During introductions each of the young people talked about their own personal thoughts and experiences and it proved to be an effective ice breaker as they prepared for an early rise this morning to attend the strategy meeting.

The agenda started with a interactive dialogue around communication and ideas on how to create prevention messages that youth will respond to.  That is being followed by information and dialogue on barriers to care for persons living with the virus and also a look at specific populations and the disparities that exist for those groups. 

We hope that this will merely be the beginning for TRENDZ Inc. and this initiative as there is plenty of work to do.  TRENDZ Inc.  plans to host a forum in Las Vegas as a follow up to this trip.  February 7th is National Black HIV/AIDS awareness day and it could serve as an ideal time to get the message out. 

You can read more about Trendz work at our website: www.trendznv.org

--Kenya Pierce, TRENDZ Inc. Co-Founder.