2008 Woodie Awards
BET's HIV/AIDS Forum at Booker T. served as wake-up call for sexually active teens
Trey Songs and Sammie were among the special guests
Jevonya Hughes
Section: Entertainment
On Wednesday, Oct. 24 from 3-5 p.m. Black Entertainment Television hosted a "Rap it up" open forum discussion at Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk. The forum, which was hosted by 103 Jamz radio personality Chris Caliente, was based on HIV/AIDS in the African American community, especially in young people aged 16-25. Over the past 10 years, Virginia went from the 19th state with the most reported cases of HIV to the 10th state. This alarming rise was reason for the forum.
"The reason for this forum is to inform teenagers of the dangers of having unprotected sex," said HIV positive motivational speaker Janet Hall, whom was one of the nine panel members. Other members of the panel included: Irma Hinkle, a program coordinator for Access, Pavar Snipe, of the "Boodah Brothers" morning show on 103 Jamz, Gerard Ghee, founder of Selah, which is an organization that enforces abstinence, Saran-Bell-Day, president of Youth Against Drugs and Diseases (YADAD), and Alicia Dickens, of Eastern Virginia Medical School.
Special panel guest included Virginia's own Trey Songs, recording artist Sammie, former SWV group member Coco, who now sings inspirational music, and BET personality Alicia Rene. Other noted guest included Scandalous, and Ace from "Making the Band 4."
The forum began with the host, Chris Caliente bringing out the special guests. The crowd was uncontrollably loud when Trey Songs stepped onto the stage. After more then five minutes of screaming the forum began. The discussion began when the Caliente asked the students in the audience to raise their hand if they were in a relationship, and to then keep their hand up if they were sexually active. About half of the audiences' hands were raised.
The forum continued with the enforcement of the usage of protection.
"There are four different ways, [through bodily fluids] in which an individual can contract the HIV virus," said Dickens. They include: The transfer of breast milk from mother to child, the transfer of blood, through Semen, and through vaginal secretions, as well as from sharing needles," said Dickens.
"The reason for this forum is to inform teenagers of the dangers of having unprotected sex," said HIV positive motivational speaker Janet Hall, whom was one of the nine panel members. Other members of the panel included: Irma Hinkle, a program coordinator for Access, Pavar Snipe, of the "Boodah Brothers" morning show on 103 Jamz, Gerard Ghee, founder of Selah, which is an organization that enforces abstinence, Saran-Bell-Day, president of Youth Against Drugs and Diseases (YADAD), and Alicia Dickens, of Eastern Virginia Medical School.
Special panel guest included Virginia's own Trey Songs, recording artist Sammie, former SWV group member Coco, who now sings inspirational music, and BET personality Alicia Rene. Other noted guest included Scandalous, and Ace from "Making the Band 4."
The forum began with the host, Chris Caliente bringing out the special guests. The crowd was uncontrollably loud when Trey Songs stepped onto the stage. After more then five minutes of screaming the forum began. The discussion began when the Caliente asked the students in the audience to raise their hand if they were in a relationship, and to then keep their hand up if they were sexually active. About half of the audiences' hands were raised.
The forum continued with the enforcement of the usage of protection.
"There are four different ways, [through bodily fluids] in which an individual can contract the HIV virus," said Dickens. They include: The transfer of breast milk from mother to child, the transfer of blood, through Semen, and through vaginal secretions, as well as from sharing needles," said Dickens.
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good article
posted 10/05/08 @ 6:43 PM EST
Those interested in protecting themselves might also be interested in the following website:
http://www.scarleteen.com/
Lots of down to earth advice on how to stay safe, and it debunks a lot of myths. (Continued…)
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