The AIDS Candlelight Memorial Service

VENUE CHANGE DUE TO RAIN: St. David's Episcopal Church Bethell Hall, 301 East 8th Street, Austin, TX 78701 - 7pm - 8:30pm FREE HIV TESTINGS CANCELED DUE TO RAIN The City does have "Red Ribbon Walk-Ins" tomorrow morning May 16th, starting at 8:30am-11:30am at the RBJ Health Center located at 15 Waller Street, 78702 - 512-972-5580 WHY? HIV Cases are up 40% in Travis County, Texas - ENGAGE, EDUCATE, EMPOWER! - Let's Get Back to Ground Zero: - Zero AIDS Deaths, Zero New Infections & Zero Discrimination and for All and It Starts Today with each of us at The 17th Annual AIDS Candlelight Memorial Service on May 15, 2016. ___ WHOM & WHERE? Austin/Central Texas: The 17th Annual AIDS Candlelight Memorial Service and the The 33rd International AIDS Candlelight Memorial will be hosted on Sunday, May 15, 2016 from 7pm to 8:30pm located inside St. David's Episcopal Church Bethell Hall, 301 East 8th Street, Austin, TX 78701. This event is free and open to the pubic of all ages. Please bring your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and join us all. ___ WHAT? Speakers, Proclamations, AIDS Quilts. Remembrances, Music, Artists, Prayers, and Free AIDS Memorial Commemorative Candles, AIDS Ribbons, Community Resource Literature, Condoms & Bottled Water for all - While Supplies Last ___ HIV TESTING: - TBD DUE TO RAIN Free and Confidential HIV Testing is available for all from 4pm to 9:30pm both Before and After the Service located one block east of the Park @ 4th and Lavaca Streets. Testing is provided by The City of Austin HIV Prevention Program. Look for their Mobile Van. ___ WANNA SWALLOW? - TBD DUE TO RAIN The Austin PrEP Access Project (APAP) Offers Consultation Navigators With Appointments to qualify for PrEP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis) Drug which taken orally, can prevent HIV which causes AIDS. These services offered from 4pm to 6:45pm and then again from 8:30pm to 9:30pm next to the city's free HIV Testing Mobile Van at 4th and Lavaca Streets. ___ INTERNATIONAL HUMAN AIDS RIBBON PHOTO OP: CANCELED THIS YEAR DUE TO RAIN - HOPEFULLY RETRY AGAIN NEXT YEAR All attendees will be asked to help form a Human AIDS Ribbon at this year's event with everyone holding their candles up high immediately following the service. We now have use of a cherry picker and can take some awesome pictures from high above. The equipment is made possible by Mr. Paul Watson & Sunbelt Rentals, Inc. Thank You Paul and Sunbelt Rentals. If we do this right, The International Global Network of People Living With HIV, (GNP+) the people who direct the International AIDS Candlelight Event, would like to use our photos going forward. Please tell your friends and family as we need at least 200+ people to help pull this off that night. We can do it & look forward to your attendance. ___ SPEAKERS AND DIGNITARIES: House State Representative Celia Israel to Present State Direction & Updates on HIV/AIDS Austin's Mayor Steve Adler will honor the AIDS Candlelight by with a proclamation and give additional remarks from the city. Austin.Travis County Health & Human Services Director, Mr. Shannon Jones III, will present local HIV/AIDS Updates, & happenings and initiatives at AIDS Candlelight Memorial. Mr. Jim Comer, a 31-Year HIV Survivor, caregiver spokesman & communications professional to highlight as Featured Speaker Dr. David Barstow President - Empact Africa to Present National / International Developments on HIV/AIDS Mr. Ben Walker, Executive Director of The Austin PrEP Access Project APAP), highlights clinical & APAP Updates. ___ ENTERTAINMENT: Artist Lindsey Kane Leaverton (AKA Elle G) to Perform Musical/Vocal Tribute Brett Bachus Returns to Perform Classical Music Selections The Liturgical Dancers of the Holy Cross Catholic Church Performing Artistic Dance with Music. ___ BOOK TO PROMOTE AIDS MEMORIAL: "When Roles Reverse: A Guide to Parenting Your Parents," by The 17th Annual AIDS Candlelight Memorial Featured Speaker Jim Comer wil be made available at Tthe AIDS Candlelight with 1/2 of all proceeds towards The Austin's Permanent AIDS Memorial Fund. Each signed copy costs attendees -- $20. ___ LOCAL, NATIONAL, & INTERNATIONAL STATISTICS ON HIV/AIDS Globally, 36.9+ million people living with HIV today. 34+ million people have died worldwide. Globally 7+ million people living with HIV are on treatment. 15+ million people are in urgent need of HIV Treatment. 1.2 million+ people in the United States are infected w/ HIV. 50,000+ people are newly infected with HIV annually. Worldwide, 1 in 5 people are not aware of their own status. Older Adults: 50% of Americans living with HIV will be over 50 year's old. Thus a need for care giving for all HIV/AIDS Survivors. (The Central Texas HIV AIDS and Aging Coalition) Youth: Today's younger generation are at risk due to complacency and or ignorance. Youth HIV infections are on the rise 40% for 15-29 years old and 60% of youth with HIV in the United States do not know they are infected. (AIDS Services of Austin (ASA). Texas: 72,932+ people living with HIV. Austin: 6,000+ people are living w/ HIV/AIDS (18% not aware). Travis County, Texas: HIV Cases are up 40%. Every 35 hours someone in the area is diagnosed with HIV. 1,000 people in Travis County are unaware they have HIV. (The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department (A/TCHHSD), ___ MORE NEWS: Area HIV/AIDS Service Provider Representatives Are Available Immediately For You Needs Right After The Service. This annual event is hosted by The Austin / Central Texas Area HIV/AIDS Service Providers, Partner Agencies & Individuals, and by the City of Austin, Travis County and The State of Texas. Austin/Central Texas is proud to boost the claim of hosting the oldest continuous event in the State of Texas which is always held on the 3rd Sunday in May. Next year's 18th Annual AIDS Candlelight Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, May 21, 2017. This year's World AIDS Day Service (WAD) is on Thursday, December 1st, 2016. Please Check with The Care Communities for Information on WAD & Save the Dates. ___ SPECIAL THANKS AND SPONSORS: Thank You to AIDS Services of Austin (ASA) with Mr. Terry Neal and Ms. Megan Satterfield and their staff at ASA for creating the Home AIDS Candlelight Kits and ASA & Midtowne Spa of Austin for supplying the contents of these kits. Special thanks to my friend Greg Goldston for Helping with the Lights and Keeper of the AIDS Ribbon. In addition, picking up and redelivering The Q Austin's Chalk Board. Thank You Mr. Issac Sanchez & Mr. Alan Stewart of Midtowne Spa Austin - Free Bottle of Water and Condoms for attendees. Thank You Edgar Gierbolini & The Care Communities for providing the AIDS Quilts as well as the AIDS Red Ribbons. Thank You Mr. Issac Ben Sanchez and Mr. Daniel Brookshire for distributing our AIDS Candlelight Flyers at Art Erotica. Also special thanks to Mr. Brian Brown and their staff for letting us promote. Thank You Mr. Tom Marek and the staff at Minuteman Press at 1221 W 6th St, Austin, TX for printing of our AIDS Home Kit Flyers, the Motorblade AIDS Candlelight Posters and the Giant AIDS Memorial Promotional Poster. Thank You to Mr. Fritz Blaw & Motorblade Postering Service for distributing 200 - 8 1/2 x 11 AIDS Candlelight Posters around Austin. Thank You AIDS Services of Austin, (ASA), Community AIDS, Resources and Education (C.A.R.E. Program), The Care Communities Austin & Round Rock Locations and Project Transitions for printing up the 5,000 Color AIDS Candlelight Promotional Flyers distributed around Austin/Central Texas. Thank You Mr. Marcus Cruz Sanchez & The Q Austin for redeveloping the AIDS Candlelight Flyers into a more localzed version and for Development and Print of the Program. Thank You The Q Austin for donation and use of tonight's AIDS Candlelight Chalkboard & Chalk for those wishing to leave thoughts and remembraces. Very Special Thanks to Katherine Cantrell, The City of Austin HIV Prevention Program & their staff, & also Mr. Ben Walker & The Austin PrEP Access Project (APAP) and their staff for offering and making happen the HIV Testings and PrEP Qualifications for all attendees. Special Thanks to Ms. Anne Child and RESULTS for emailing and targeting our press release to all media and for tonight's candles. Thank You Paul Watson and Sunbelt Rentals, Inc. for loan and use of your equipment for our Human AIDS Ribbon Photo Op. Thank You Mr. Travis Jarrell & Mr. Clarke Curtis & Bumber Active . Com (Burnet Rd. Location) for our Candle & Water Bottle Labels. Thank You Mr. David Sandoval, David Petty and PostNet . Com (Far West Location) for our Giant ENGAGE, EDUCATE, EMPOWER Banner. Thank You Artist Lindsey Kane Leaverton (AKA Elle G) and Mr. Brett Bachus performing your musical tributes. Thank You - The Liturgical Dancers of the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Austin Performing - "I Need You to Survive" Thank You Mr. Todd Kinney for loan and use of his sound and PA euipment system. Thank You Representatives of the The 17th Annual AIDS Candlelight Memorial Service Who Attended & Received The Austin City Hall Proclamation for our 17th Annual AIDS Candlelight from Mayor Steve Adler on 5/5/16 which included: Tami Barron Schroeder, Ben Walker, Chris Alberts, Justin Irving, Edgar Gierbolini, Eric A. Crabtree, Blythe Plunkett, Stacey Luera, Hope Marie Moore and Crystal Flores. Many Thanks to The City of Austin, Travis County and the State of Texas, GNP+. Thank You to all the service's speakers, volunteers, ACM Committee Members, guests and attendees. Special thanks & most importantly to YOU! 4 Attending and Caring and Making it Happen with Zero HIV/AIDS. Thank You! _____ LINK INFORMATION: AIDS Candlelight Coordinator: Email: ozparade@aol.com Austin/Central Texas: https://www.facebook.com/17AnnualAIDSCandlelightMemorialService International AIDS Candlelight Memorial: www.candlelightmemorial.org Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+): www.gnpplus.net www.AIDS.org www.EmpactAfrica.org Austin PrEP Access Project: www.austinprepaccessproject.com http://candrewmartin.com ONE.org Candlelight Advocacy Platform: http://www.candlelightmemorial.org/index.php/about/mission.html Getting to Ground Zero: http://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/en/media/unaids/contentassets/documents/unaidspublication/2010/JC2034_UNAIDS_Strategy_en.pdf Positive Health, Dignity and Prevention: http://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/en/media/unaids/contentassets/documents/unaidspublication/2011/20110701_PHDP.pdf One may also email your local Area HIV/AIDS Community Service Organization Providers for further details or on how you may get answers, assistance or even volunteer your services, time, or help financially, for all those living with this chronic illness. Information on the International Candlelight History, Advocacy, Mission, Latest News, Resources, etc. may be found at: www.candlelightmemorial.org