The hip-hop community is well aware of the impact that AIDS can leave behind when someone is taken from us due to this deadly disease. The hip-hop culture lost Ruthless Records owner and gangsta rap icon Eric ‘Eazy-E’ Wright to the deadly disease in 1995; leaving a void in the hip-hop and rap community that has never and will never be filled.

The 1st Annual HIV/AIDS Summit with Rev. Al Sharpton, Congresswoman Maxine Waters and other Black Faith Leaders will be held November 12^th in Inglewood, California.

Did you know that Black woman now represent 73% of all the newly diagnosed cases of HIV among women? In Los Angeles County alone, African Americans account for 54% of all HIV cases. AIDS is the leading killer of African American men between the ages of 25 – 54 years old, that is why this is so important.

The Black church has always been the cornerstone for change in the Black community. It’s now time for the church to take a stand to reduce the spread of the HIV/AIDS virus. We need to break the code of silence about the devastating impacts of HIV/AIDS in our community. It’s time for the Black church to get involved!

What:   Local, national and internationally known Black faith leaders will discuss the roles and responsibilities of the Black church as it relates to the HIV/AIDS epidemic impacting the Black community at the “HIV/AIDS and the Black Faith Community,” the first of its kind HIV/AIDS Summit. This event is free to the public.

Who   Panelists include:

Apostle Beverly “BAM” Crawford, Bible Enrichment Fellowship International Church

Rev. Joyce Johnson, Turner AME Church

Rev. Dr. Clyde Oden, Bryant Temple AME Church

Rev. Al Sharpton, President, National Action Network (NAN)

Rev. Russell E. Thornhill, Unity Fellowship Church

Rev. Ron Wright, New Vision Church of Jesus Christ

Congresswoman Maxine Waters

Other guests: Inglewood Mayor Roosevelt Dorn, Office of AIDS Programs and Policy Interim Director Mario Perez, and Inglewood District 3 Councilman Eloy Morales.

When:       Saturday, November 12th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where:      Faithful Central Bible Church “The Living Room”

               400 West Florence Avenue, Inglewood, Ca  90301

Free HIV testing provided by the Minority AIDS Project (MAP).   

Media wishing to attend should contact Cynthia Tucker at 323-293-2319.