March 6, 2011 will kick off the National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS in partnership with The Balm in Gilead, Inc. The Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS is the coming together of all people of faith to unite with purpose, compassion and hope. Through the power of God’s love we will educate every American about HIV prevention facts; encourage and support HIV testing; advocate for the availability of compassionate care and treatment for all those living with the disease in every community in America; and love unconditionally all persons living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

HIV/AIDS continues to spread out of control in our community! African American women are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. As such, HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death among African American women ages 25 to 34.The rate of AIDS cases for African American women is 25 times higher than the rate for white women. Of the estimated new AIDS cases, 61% are among African American teen girls ages 13 – 19. African American Gay men continue to be at high risk for infection, accounting for an estimated 57% of AIDS diagnoses among men.*Over the past year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a serious outbreak on many historical Black college campuses. After almost 30 years of fighting AIDS unsuccessfully in our communities, time is certainly running out on us!

We Believe in the Power of Prayer and Education!! This year our theme is “Standing on the Promise”. We are asking for every Church, Synagogue, Mosque, Temple and home to join us in prayer, education, advocacy and service for the healing of AIDS in the United States and the World. 

For more information or ideas on how you can help, please feel free to contact me at (203) 870-0761 or ashefaithmadc@yahoo.com. We have staff ready to assist you and your ministry and look forward to partnering with you on behalf of our community.

 We Believe in the Power of Prayer and Education!!

Nancy Kingwood, MSHS, CHIVC, HS-BCP

Project Director ~ ASHE’ HIV Faith Project

The goal of this special Congressional Briefing was “Identifying HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care Needs of Women of Color.” The briefing, sponsored by the National Minority AIDS Council and the Women of Color Leadership Institute, in cooperation with Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), the National Women’s AIDS Collective and the Positive Women’s Network, included a discussion on gender-specific needs of women of color in HIV/AIDS prevention and care.

As Nancy’s guest in Washington, it was a proud moment for me to see that our local efforts were being recognized alongside the work of other community organizations in cities as large as Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, and Oakland to name a few.  The finale of the day was the visit to Capitol Hill to meet with Congressman Jim Himes, where were had the opportunity to advocate and express our concerns on behalf of those persons in our communities who are infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. To our pleasant surprise, Congressman Jim Himes is well versed on the subject of HIV/AIDS and he gave Nia the charge to keep him informed and get his agency involved; he also asked that we create a short list of action items that will help reduce the spread of HIV in our communities.

Nancy Kingwood

Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D - CA)

NMAC WOCLI Graduates

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Matthew 25:35

On last night we spent the evening with residents of a local shelter. The Nia Alliance along with some local community partners made it possible for the residents to have a hot meal and Holiday gifts. We understand that the Holiday season can be a tough time of year for some people. We thank God for allowing us to be a blessing to someone else. Nothing can compare to the heart-felt thanks that we received from the residents.

“Whenever you failed to help any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you failed to do it for me.” Matthew 25:45

Contact: Nancy Kingwood
Work: (203) 870-0761
Email: ashehivfaith@yahoo.com
Who: Mount Aery Development Corporation-Ashe HIV Faith Project
What: National HIV Testing Day When: We will observe this day on June 26th
Where: Washington Park Bridgeport, CT
When: June 26th 10am to 4pm

Details: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one out of five people living with HIV in the U.S. are unaware of their HIV status. NHTD is an opportunity for people nationwide to learn their HIV status, and to gain knowledge to take control of their health and their lives.

Funding support has been provided from the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Administration Services Center for Substance Abuse Prevention through a subcontract with Westover Consultants, Inc, McFarland & Associates, Inc. and Mount Aery Development Corporation. The Ashe HIV Faith Project an initiative of the Mount Aery Development Corporation is co-sponsoring a community HIV Testing event with a goal promote the use of existing HIV testing services.

The purpose of the CSAP Faith & Community Based Support Initiative (FCBSI) is to provide mini subcontracts to 31 faith- and community-based organizations that have existing HIV or substance abuse prevention programs. These funds will also enhance the organization’s capacity to be more efficient and effective in social service delivery. Mount Aery Development Corporation was the only organization in the state to receive this funding.

]]> http://niaalliance1.wordpress.com/2010/06/16/media-advisory-national-hiv-testing-day-june-27th/feed/ 0 niaalliance1 national hiv testing day 09 NHTD_250x300 SAMHSA http://niaalliance1.wordpress.com/2010/05/29/what-i-learned-at-harding-high-school/ http://niaalliance1.wordpress.com/2010/05/29/what-i-learned-at-harding-high-school/#comments Sat, 29 May 2010 14:49:45 +0000 Karin - Nia Grad, 2nd Cohort http://niaalliance1.wordpress.com/?p=37 ]]> Thursday, May 27^th was HIV testing day at Harding High School as part of their health fair; this was a follow up to the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy event that was held earlier in the month. When I heard about the testing event at our Nia meeting, I immediately signed up to participate in the event for I felt that this was my target audience, this was my sweet spot!

Back in 1984 while living in Orange County, Ca, and being one of a few blacks at Tustin High School, I got pregnant in my senior year of high school. You could imagine the shock, disappointment, and yes, embarrassment for my mother and for me, the shame. This was an obvious confirmation of sexual activity with my boyfriend. After the school learned of my “condition” I was promptly transferred to an alternative school for “difficult and challenging” students. I whizzed through my classes and in June 1985 I proudly walked across the stage 8 months pregnant and I received my diploma. On July 11, Brandon was born into this world – I was 17. I was one of thousands of teenage girls, 20+ years ago, who had unplanned pregnancies – we prompted this national observance!

So again, it was critical for me to go to Harding High School and test and be a part of this teen pregnancy prevention initiative because that was my life. I thought if I could speak a word of encouragement or, at the very least, be one of those adults who wouldn’t look down on a young person who found him or herself in similar predicament, one that I had found myself in some two and half decades before them.

However, as the day drew closer, I began to get nervous. You see, Harding High School is the leading failing high school in our district. I had heard about the “difficult and challenging” students. I heard about the metal detectors and the bag check by the uniformed guards when entering the building.  In fact, I had previously attended a prayer vigil the year before and had learned firsthand that Harding had 70+ pregnant female students in their population at that time.  No doubt, this was a rough crowd.

Now in my early 40’s, a woman of faith and part of the Nia Alliance, which is a faith based initiative, I was now a little nervous about the environment I was walking into. I had asked for intercessory prayer from a family friend and had conferred with my Nia sisters and we prayed that not only would we not get a positive (none of us have yet to test and get a positive person and we sure didn’t want to get a positive teenager!), but we also prayed that the day would go well for us as we walked into the proverbial Lion’s Den.

Well the day started off with a few glitches, but it had nothing to do with the staff and students at Harding. By the end of the day, I had tested 3 students: 1 female freshman and 2 sophomore males – they were polite, pleasant and asked great questions. They all knew the facts about HIV from their health class and were able to tell me how the disease is transmitted – they had paid attention in class! I gave them their status, asked them about their grades and future life goals and at the end of the session, I encouraged them to focus on their studies, not their hormones and I wished them each the best of what life has to offer them!

~~~~~

While I know there are problems at Harding, I also know the administration is dealing with them, hence our being there. I had a great experience and was blessed by the students that I met and the staff that assisted my Nia sister and I while we were there . I pray that each student’s dreams come to fruition and that they can return to their communities to be a beacon of hope and assistance for the following generation.

As for me, I look back on the days leading up to the event, including the morning of, and feel ashamed! Shame that for a moment I had forgotten that I came from the projects (PT Barnum when I was born and Marina Apartments in my youth when my family didn’t live in the OC); shame that I had forgotten that I used to hang out on Stratford Ave just a few blocks away from the school; heck, I still bounce to Eric B and Rakim when I hear them on the radio or pull them up in iTunes (Rakim IS the greatest rapper of all times – sorry to digress, but the truth had to be told!);  and finally, shame that I bought into the hype that Harding High School was a placed to be feared. Warren Harding High School is  just like every other urban school in America – they just need prayer and resources!

In closing, I am thankful for my experience at Harding High School – I learned something from that day: the next time I have an opportunity to participate in a similar event, of course I’ll pray before the event, but my prayer will be: Father God, please NEVER, EVER allow me to become one of those Christians who get so comfortable within the inner walls of a sanctuary, that I get so uncomfortable outside of them!  In the name of Jesus, I pray.  AMEN

Peace!

Karin –Nia graduate (2^nd cohort), HIV Prevention Specialist and Tester

Thursday, May 6^th was the National Day of Prayer and despite the opposition to this annual observance, President Obama proclaimed the day would be honored! And, as with most of President Obama’s “proclamations”, there was political debate and discourse! But, as was the will of the people, the National Day of Prayer was observed, celebrated and people were blessed – And right here in the city of Bridgeport with Nia Live!

Nia Live returned to the air waves a couple of months ago in its original time slot of Thursday afternoons at 4pm on WDJZ 1530AM, thanks to the prayer of the righteous that Nia would obtain grant funding for our Faith Based Initiative – and we were blessed with the Ashe HIV Faith Project!

How apropos it was to have people call to call in live to request prayer for themselves and their loved ones on the National Day of Prayer! As expressed by LaJeune Pollard of the Nia Alliance, who prayed with two of the callers, “In the Bible, Genesis states that God said “Let there be light”. In this passage, the Bible clearly implies that God used words to enlighten the world and everything in it.  Prayer is that light. National Day of Prayer was a gift to be treasured to know that people were listening and called into Nia Live for intercessory prayer.” LaJeune closed by stating, “Life can be hard sometimes, don’t give up.  God hears and answers prayers.”

We give thanks to, and were blessed by, our guests who joined host Rev Peggy Hill to pray without ceasing: Pastor S. Hagins of Miracle Center Ministries and Pastor G. Johnson of Windows of Faith, both churches located in the city of Bridgeport. We were also blessed by Nia’s own Reverend Tucker, Doreen Cotter, LaJeune Pollard and Natasha Wright who took calls off-line and prayed for those in need prayer.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!