Black Women Are Greater: Tackling Stigma and Addressing the Current State of HIV/AIDS in the Black Community

NEW YORK, NY, December 01, 2020 /Neptune100/ — On Tuesday, December 1, 2020, World AIDS Day, the National Organization of Black County Officials, Inc. (NOBCO), United We Rise (UWR), onePULSE Foundation & iambeautiful365.com present the multiple award-winning film, 90 DAYS from writer/co-director, Nathan Hale Williams, co-director, Jennia Fredrique Aponte. The film, which tells the story of a young couple forced to confront the modern day challenges of loving with HIV, will screen and live stream a fireside chat powered by I Am Beautiful 365 Facebook LIVE (iAB365), #1 Destination for smart and ambitious African American Women. This virtual event will commemorate this year’s global World AIDS Day theme, “Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Resilience and Impact” (“Erradicar la epidemia del VIH/SIDA: Resiliencia e Impacto”).

The evening’s presentation Black Women Are Greater will be hosted by iAB365, Candi Bryan who will tackle the impact of stigma on the rising infection rates in communities of color and how entertainment can have positive effects on the current state of HIV/AIDS. Joining Candi and the directors Nathan & Jennia will be a Fireside Chat with Jazmyne V. Simmons, PhD, MPH, Florida A&M University, School of Allied Health Sciences, Chioma Nnadi, Planning Committee Member of United We Rise and special guests (Gena & Alicia) speaking on the topic, Living Positively. Solo Performance by Antavia Williams, Keynote Speech by Dr. Brandon Moton (Dating Apps and HIV) and Dr. Mary Simmons (Covid-19 & HIV Care), and the “Legislative Impact of HIV & Stigma on the Fiscal Stability” Message from Chairwoman Alisha Bell, Wayne County, MI Commission and Dr. Helen Holton, Executive Director of NOBCO.

“United We Rise is thrilled to support this event as a Community Partner. The 90 Days film underscores that fact that women – particularly Black/African-American women – are impacted by HIV. This event provides a vital opportunity to have candid conversations about how HIV continues to affect all parts of our communities,” shares Gary Daffin, speaking on behalf of United We Rise.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), African-Americans account for more: new HIV infections; people estimated to be living with HIV; and, HIV-related deaths than any other racial/ethnic group in the U.S. Black women are also disproportionately at risk with approximately 40,000 women living with HIV/AIDS in New York State. In 2010, African-American women accounted for the largest share of new HIV infections among women, and the incidence rate among African-American women was 20 times the rate among white women and over 4 times the rate among Latinas. The panel will discuss these topics, as well as the goals of the Southern States of America’s blueprint for Ending the Epidemic of HIV/AIDS. 

Is love greater than our secrets? 90 DAYS explores that question through the story of a man and a woman who are faced with a life-altering decision after ninety days of dating. “We believe that storytelling is a perfect vehicle for advocacy and activism. With 90 DAYS our goal is to use entertainment to advocate for the message that love is greater than anything, including HIV,” Nathan explains. Since premiering at the 2017 NAACP Image Awards, the film has screened at over 35 top film festivals and headlined notable screenings, including, the National Action Network’s National Convention, the National Association of Black Journalists National Convention, and the NYC Imagenation Summer Outdoor Arts & Film Festival. For more Information, visit: 90DAYSthefilm.com.

Please forward all interview requests and media inquiries to:

PR REdefined, Inc. 
Anissa King, Publicist 
407.256.4555
[email protected]

Watch the film screening replay from Dec. 1st on the I Am Beautiful 365 Facebook page or visit www.90daysthefilm.com to preview the full private film screening.

The National Organization of Black County Officials, Inc. (NOBCO) is a nonpartisan, 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 1982 to provide resources to empower and transform populations into more sustainable communities.  We’re rooted in the National Association of Black County Officials (NABCO), a membership association founded in 1975.  We are an affiliate member of the National Association of Counties (NACo) founded in 1935; the oldest and largest advocacy organization for counties. NOBCO’s focus is to support communities led by black elected and appointed officials. Mission-driven, we work to provide education and training, raise awareness, and serve as a catalyst and clearinghouse that offers an array of resources to assist elected/appointed officials on legislative and public policy issues.  All politics are local and our greatest impact is how we intersect with their respective areas of governance.  For more Information, visit nobco.org.

United We Rise (UWR) is a new national effort to unite and mobilize a collective force to end the HIV epidemic in our community and uplift the quality of life of Black people. We are a body of over 30+ people and organizations who are leading the response to end HIV for Every(Black)Body. For more Information, visit everyblackbody.org.

onePULSE Foundation is the official 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated to manage the design and construction of the permanent national memorial and museum dedicated to the PULSE tragedy.  Our mission is to create and support a memorial that opens hearts, a museum that opens minds, educational programs that open eyes and legacy scholarships that open doors. Its vision is to establish a sanctuary of healing and a beacon of hope by memorializing the lives taken, the lives saved, and all the lives affected by the Pulse nightclub tragedy of June 12, 2016 – ensuring Pulse’s legacy of love lives on forever. For more information, visit oonePULSEfoundation.og.

I Am Beautiful 365 (iAB365) is a Multimedia Company that creates and promotes positive narratives for people of color. Founded in 2013, I Am Beautiful 365’s goal is to further diversify all forms of media. There is an African Proverb that says, “Until the Lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the Hunter.” I Am Beautiful 365 noticed that same theme occurring in the way people of color were being depicted and started on a journey to write our own narrative. We create, produce, market and distribute content that is relevant to the Mind, Body, and Soul of African American women. For more information, visit iambeautiful365.com.