Activities varied during AIDS Awareness Week

By Craig Chamberlain

Blues, rap, gospel, and karaoke, as well as a minister's message about AIDS
and the church will be part of this year's AIDS Awareness Week at the UI
and  at sites in Champaign-Urbana, March 23 through April 1.

The Rev. Jacquelyn Wilkerson, executive director of AIDS Advocacy in
African-American Churches, will be the featured speaker at a "Gospel
Against AIDS" program March 31 at a local Baptist church, and will speak at
the traditional candlelight vigil that evening at the UI. She also will be
interviewed on local radio programs.

Wilkerson's organization provides technical assistance, education and
training to churches and organizations interested in developing AIDS
ministries. She also is the founder of a national AIDS education campaign.

This year's awareness week features a variety of new events, on and off the
campus, mostly thanks to increased participation from community
organizations and businesses, says Deborah Richie, sexuality education
coordinator at  McKinley Health Center and the principal organizer of the
week.

"Part of what we are trying to do during the week is put a face on some of
the issues connected with AIDS," Richie said, and participation from many
different groups helps to accomplish that. In addition to the gospel
program, at which Wilkerson will speak on "AIDS and the African-American
Church," the week will include programs aimed at Latinos, women, teens,
gays and lesbians.

One program aimed at the general student audience is "Friendship in the Age
of AIDS," a program by two college friends dealing with the consequences of
HIV.

Joel Goldman, who was diagnosed as HIV positive in 1992, and T.J. Sullivan,
a former fraternity brother from Indiana University, bring a blend of
personal experience and humor to the subject of AIDS. In addition to
challenging stereotypes about AIDS, Goldman and Sullivan teach students how
to reduce their own risk of HIV infection and the risk for their friends.

Their presentation centers on Joel's experience as a fraternity member and
the risks he took mixing unprotected sex and alcohol. Sullivan teaches
students about alcohol's effect on decision-making, the workings of HIV,
and ways students can reduce risk and prevent infection.
AIDS Awareness Week Activities


Saturday, March 23	
 * "Variety Show '96," 8 p.m., Wesley Foundation. Benefits the Gay
    Community AIDS Project (GCAP).

Monday, March 25
 *  Rally and food drive for GCAP, noon to 1 p.m., UI Quad.
 * "Blues Against AIDS," 7:30 p.m. to  midnight, The Blind Pig Co.,
    6 Taylor St., Champaign. Admission charge.

Tuesday, March 26
 * "Friendship in the Age of AIDS," 7 p.m., Foellinger Auditorium.
 * "Secrets," a 40-minute play by HealthWorks Theatre about teens and HIV,
    noon, Courtyard Cafe, Illini Union. The play will be followed by a
    question-and-answer session.
 * "Secrets," 7 p.m., Douglass Center, 512 E. Grove St., Champaign.
 *  Screening of the video "Positive," 7 p.m., La Casa Cultural Latina,
    1203 W. Nevada St., Urbana. Video will be followed with discussion
    of HIV issues and Latinos.

Wednesday, March 27
 *  Cerebral Cafe with Frederico Navejas, a Latino community AIDS activist,
    noon, Courtyard Cafe, Illini Union.
 * "African-American Legionnaires Against AIDS," 7 to 10 p.m., American
    Legion Post #559, 735 N. Hickory St., Champaign. Dominoes, bid-whist and
    spades tournaments. Charge per team.
 *  Screening of the videos "HIV: Women's Voices" and "No Regrets," 7 to 10
    p.m., main lounge of Allen Residence Hall.
 * "Karaoke Against AIDS," 8 to 11 p.m., Mabel's, 613 E. Green St.,
    Champaign. Admission charge.

Thursday, March 28
 * "Teens Against AIDS Rap Dance,"
    6 to 9 p.m., Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club, 201 E. Park St., Champaign.
 * "The Wizard of AIDS," a musical performed by HealthWorks Theatre, 7 p.m.,
    Gallery Lounge, Parkland College.

Friday, March 29
 *  Paris is Burning Ball #2, 7:30 to 11 p.m., Urbana Civic Center,
    108 Water, Urbana. The ball will feature a soul food buffet, floor show,
    prizes and surprise guests. Advance tickets can beobtained through GCAP.

Saturday, March 30
 * "SafetyNet," a screening and discussion of safer-sex videos that were
    winners in the San Francisco AIDS Foundation contest, 7 p.m., Geneva Room,
    McKinley Foundation. For gay and bisexual men.

Sunday, March 31
 *  Rev. Jacquelyn Wilkerson on WBCP Radio's "Straight Talk," 9:45 to 11 a.m.
 * "Gospel Against AIDS," 3:30 p.m., Jericho Baptist Church, 801 Killarney
    St., Urbana. A program of song, with a keynote address from the Rev.
    Jacquelyn Wilkerson, on "AIDS and the African-American Church." Freewill
    offering.
 *  Candlelight vigil celebrating the lives of people touched by AIDS, 7:30
    p.m., lobby of the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.

Monday, April 1
 *  The Rev. Jacquelyn Wilkerson on WILL-AM's  "Focus 580," 11 a.m. to noon.
 *  Brown bag lunch and discussion with the Rev. Jacquelyn Wilkerson, noon
    to 1 p.m., African-American Cultural Center, 708 S. Mathews, Urbana.