In Our Town
World AIDS Day in Prescott 2007
This year, World AIDS Day is Saturday, December 1, 2007. On that day, across the globe, across the country, across Arizona, and in our hometown, people will gather to commemorate the lives of nearly 25 million men, women and children who have perished, and acknowledge the nearly 40 million people world-wide currently infected with HIV. Once again Northland Cares is planning multi-dimensional community activities and, of course, its annual World AIDS Day Breakfast to memorialize and celebrate all of the lives of people who have been impacted by the pandemic. Northland Cares will be the hub for all the community’s activities including the unveiling of an interactive art exhibition, and our evening vigil, and a bigger, brighter World AIDS Day Annual Breakfast.
On Friday, November 30, 2007, at approximately 12 Noon, Northland Cares will launch an HIV-specific interactive art exhibition at the Prescott Resort and Conference Center in their stylish Verde Room. Entitled Walking in Our Shoes – The Journey of Us, the exhibition is designed to take the participant through a labyrinth-like environment telling the compelling story of an HIV-infected person’s life journey. Through the expressions of artisans, each destination throughout the labyrinth provides a brief glimpse into the cosmos of life with HIV. Northland Cares hopes to increase non-infected people’s understanding of the lives of infected people while dispelling the remaining myths and misconceptions they may still hold about them, and to remind all of us about the fact that many, many creative, talented and diverse people succumbed to the disease. The last stop in the labyrinth combines a few diverse visual presentations like Northland Cares’ newly completed public service announcement, The Pandemic Art timeline, and the recently conceived client-based Lin-Us Project. The Lin-Us Project, much in the style of the National AIDS Quilt, is comprised of hand-made and sewn blanket patches, which depict the creator’s exuberance and vitality despite living with HIV. Each individually created and unique panel is placed side-by-side to form a large quilt-size compilation. Rather than focus on lives lost to the disease, the Lin-Us Project purpose is to celebrate the lives of people, who despite having HIV, are managing to have a happy, successful quality of life as well as a longer one. Admission is free, but donations are gleefully and gratefully accepted. Northland Cares representatives will be present during the run of the exhibition to guide you through the labyrinth, and to answer questions. The Exhibition will close immediately following the Breakfast on Saturday, December 1, 2007, at 12:00 Noon.
At dusk on Friday, November 30th, the United Methodist Church of Prescott will host our Candlelight Evening Vigil beginning at 5:45 PM. Representatives from a wide-array of faith-based and spiritual centers in Prescott will lead an hour-plus-long ceremony to honor the gallant lives of men, women and children from all walks of life who have perished. Local pastors, priests, rabbis, ministers and spiritualists from churches, temples, congregations and spiritual centers will lead the group in prayers, inspirational words, music and meditations in a candle-light filled sanctuary on the eve of World AIDS Day. Anyone who has lost a friend, spouse, partner, child or family member, or any one who is currently impacted by the disease is asked to join us that evening. We urge those in our faith-based community to share in our candlelight vigil so that together we can memorialize those who perished, and celebrate the lives of those who continue to fight against the disease, its stigma, and misunderstandings.
Since World AIDS Day falls on a Saturday this year, Northland Cares has the luxury of starting The Breakfast at 9:30 AM. This year, the theme is In Our Town and concentrates upon the undeniable fact that HIV/AIDS exists in our community, and that we all have the responsibility to respond compassionately to the needs of people who are infected with, and affected by HIV. Our Breakfast has grown this year! We will be holding it in the Goldwater Ballroom of the Prescott Resort and Conference Center, which has more than adequate capacity to hold our target of 250 guests! In addition, through the great expertise and kind assistance of our local CableOne office, Northland Cares has produced not one, but two brand-new videos that will make their world premiere at this year’s Breakfast. We will also be graced by Dr. Kevin Carmichael, the Medical Director of El Rio Clinic in Tucson, one of the state’s model HIV clinics, who will share his insights into the importance of knowing your status and taking action to get treatment. Of course, we also plan on continuing the tradition inaugurated last year by presenting The Dr. Sam Downing World AIDS Day Community Impact Award to another member of our community whose work and endeavors are characteristic of deep compassion, and unwavering support for those infected with HIV. To end our Breakfast on an “up-note,” Northland Cares will have two extremely diverse musical groups perform thematic and interpretive selections. Be prepared to enjoy yourself and tap your toes!
The Yavapai County World AIDS Day Planning Committee wants to elevate this year’s events and activities to be more inclusive of the community, and to generate more awareness around HIV, and the availability of services for those impacted by it. It also provides the perfect opportunity to attract even more supporters from the community into our family, as well as serving as a critical reminder of our planet’s journey with HIV/AIDS.