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John Schuster M-DCPS JOINS NATIONWIDE RESPONSE TO MIAMI – On Monday, Feb. 7, students from North Miami Beach Senior High will perform the play “Living On,” which depicts various scenarios surrounding HIV infection and the different ways it impacts the community. The event will take place from 6-9 p.m. at the Joseph Caleb Center Auditorium, 5400 N.W. 22nd Ave., Miami. The play is part of Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ fifth annual observance of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness & Information Day (NBHAAID). M-DCPS is joining Miami’s African-American leaders and organizations in observing this day through the theme “HIV/AIDS: Expression through the Arts.” “Living On” includes a cast and crew of 20 from North Miami Beach Senior High’s drama club. They have spent four months working on this production, including training sessions with HIV/AIDS specialists who shared what it is like to have and live with HIV/AIDS. In November, they performed this play at the Florida Theater Conference, where they competed against 40 schools and received Straight Superiors. The lead actress, Paule Aboit, received the best actress award for the whole conference. Seventy-two African-Americans are infected with HIV every day according to national statistics. African-Americans make up approximately 12 percent of the population of the United States, yet 38 percent of total AIDS cases reported in this country are among members of the Black community. In 2003, more African-Americans were reported to have HIV/AIDS than any other racial/ethnic group. NBHAAID was established to encourage citizens to get educated, get tested, and get involved with HIV/AIDS as it continues to devastate Black communities. It is co-funded and sponsored by the Community Capacity Building Coalition (CCBC), a coalition of organizations committed to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS in the African American Community. The coalition is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the National Minority AIDS Initiative. For more information about NBHAAID local events, contact Jacquelyn White, District Supervisor HIV/AIDS Education, 305-995-7118, or visit www.blackaidsday.org. ### 05-LJG/114/TEL |
