Health & Wellness | News
Gayes, the 2024 US Conference on HIV and AIDS (USCHA), is coming to New Orleans. This year’s focus on “Southern Joy” is the perfect backdrop to address the ongoing HIV/AIDS epidemic in the South.
Ahead of the conference, the inaugural BLK in the South Summit is set to take place on September 11th and will be a historic gathering of southern-based activists and leaders looking to tackle the HIV crisis affecting the Black community in the South.
Attendees can expect a transformative experience featuring thought-provoking panels, interactive workshops, and a powerful celebration of Black culture.
The summit which takes place at America’s only Historically Black and Catholic University, the Xavier University of Louisiana was founded by renowned educator and activist Marvell L. Terry II, and is sponsored by Gilead Sciences among other notable donors.
Terry, is a dedicated grassroots changemaker and cultural organizer, originally from Memphis, Tennessee. For over a decade he has fought for HIV advocacy and leadership at The Red Door Foundation, the Saving Ourselves Symposium, and other various roles with the likes of the Human Rights Foundation, and AIDS United. In September 2023, Marvell was sworn in as a member of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS during the 78th Full Council meeting.
Tery II shared his excitement about the summit saying, "Last year they announced that USCHA would be in the South and I felt that you can’t have a meeting of such significance and not address the epidemic among Black folks in the South."
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said she was honored to bring the summit to the city.
“I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the BLK in the South Summit for telling the stories of the Black queer community living with HIV and for advocating for a better quality of life for these individuals. While here, I encourage you to indulge in all the unique experiences New Orleans has to offer."
In conjunction with USCHA, the NMAC leads the race to urgently fight for health equity and racial justice to end the HIV epidemic in America. The United States Conference on HIV/AIDS (USCHA) is the largest HIV-related gathering in the United States, bringing together thousands of participants from all segments of the HIV epidemic.
In partnership with GLAAD, the summit will also feature "Afterglow: A Celebration of Blackness," a free event that promises to uplift and inspire.
Registration for the summit is now closed. Visit www.blkinthesouth.org or more information.
