Since the early ’80s and largely without the support of their national leadership or white ASOs, African-American grass-roots groups have mobilized to fight AIDS, taking prevention and support services to the streets and homes of most major U.S. cities. The following organizations draw a diverse membership—from the clergy to the media—and focus on self-empowerment through public education and specialized assistance programs.
NATIONAL
African-American HIV/AIDS Program of the American Red Cross Contact your local chapter or call 703.206.7090 Trains instructors to share community-based information about HIV, particularly with teens. Also develops posters and other prevention materials targeting African Americans.
The Balm in Gilead 130 W. 42nd St., Suite 450 New York, NY 10036 212.730.7381 or 888.225.6243 e-mail: BalmGilead@aol.com Mobilizes African-American churches to respond to AIDS through conferences, radio programs, videos and community forums.
Leading for Life Campaign (Harvard AIDS Institute) 651 Huntington Ave. Boston, MA 02115 617.432.4400 An advocacy project that brings together leaders from academia, media, medicine, politics and religion to develop national and local plans of action targeting HIV prevention among African Americans.
National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS 105 E. 22nd St., Suite 711 New York, NY 10010 212.614.0023 e-mail: NBLCA@aol.com Works to inform, coordinate and organize the volunteer efforts of clergy, elected officials and the media through community development, policymaking and fundraising.
National Minority AIDS Council 1931 13th St., NW Washington, D.C. 20009 202.483.6622 An association of more than 3,000 AIDS service organizations that target people of color. NMAC can provide local referrals to member agencies upon request.
REGIONAL
African-American AIDS Support Services and Survival Institute (AMASSI) 105 S. Locust St. Englewood, CA 90305 310.419.1969, hotline: 800.786.7448 A community center that provides services to PWAs as part of a wide range of cultural programs and events open to all races but with an emphasis on African-American life.
Black Coalition on AIDS 1042 Divisadero St. San Francisco, CA 94115 415.346.2530 A broad-based alliance providing education, services, treatment, emotional support and research in African-American communities.
Friends for Friends P. O. Box 77075 Washington, DC 20013 202.625.1444 e-mail: friends4friend@geocities.com www.geocities.com/HotSprings/7880 Creates innovative grass-roots prevention programs to educate and inform the African-American community about HIV, including distribution of condoms and flyers at Metro rail stations and peer educators in public-housing communities.
Together Responsible Informed Black Empowered (TRIBE) AIDS Project Arizona 4700 N. Central St., Suite 204 Phoenix, AZ 85012 602.266.7233 TRIBE programs include a weekly rap group for women of color affected by HIV and a support group for HIV positive African Americans.
We the People 425 S. Broad St. Philadelphia, PA 19147 215.545.6868 www.critpath.org/wtp A coalition run by and for PWAs with a drop-in center, meals, clothing, support groups, drug and alcohol counseling and testing for HIV, other STDs, TB and CD4 counts. Ninety percent of members are African American.
