Press Releases

Silence will no longer be tolerated

Twenty-seven years, a Call to Action at the National NAACP Convention, and a challenge put forth by two of the most inspirational and respected Black leaders of our lifetime, Nelson Mandela and Barak Obama, have awakened the faith communities of African-Americans and Latinos in New London County to eliminate the barriers that are responsible for the disproportionate spread of HIV/AIDS in our communities.

No longer will cultural norms and the fear of stigma keep us silent.  Who can be silent when African-Americans represent 36% and Latinos 35% of new HIV cases in
Connecticut but are only 18% of its population?  Who can be silent when infections in African-American women have increased from 25% to 37% in the last four years?  Who can be silent when the number one cause of death in African-American women between the ages of 14 – 29 is AIDS?  Who can be silent when poverty, unemployment, education and access to preventative healthcare contribute to the disturbing fact that 60% of African-American men and 63% of Latinos report they became infected through Injection Drug Use.

Black clergy, leaders, advocates and concerned citizens are mobilized. It is more than the Audacity of Hope that together we will eradicate HIV/AIDS in our community; it is a commitment. On Thursday, February 7th at 6:30 pm there will be a Praise & Worship service at Walls Temple A.M.E. Zion Church in New London to commemorate National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.  It is a beginning to open a dialogue about education, testing, and treatment. We encourage you to join us.

                                                                        Sandra Brindamour, Executive Director
                                                                        Alliance for Living

Alliance for Living is New London County’s AIDS Service Organization and is partnering with the Ledge Light Health District, Faith and AIDS Matters, and Faith Communities of Color Collaborative.