BET Networks heads south with its renowned national HIV/AIDS public awareness initiative, Rap-It-Up, to host a celebrity health forum at famed Louisiana historically black college and university (HBCU), Grambling State University on Tuesday, April 24. Rap-It-Up will be hosting the event in partnership with the university and local radio stations, 91.5 FM and 103.1 FM. The purpose of the event will be to raise HIV/AIDS awareness, and also tackle the various social issues, behaviors and attitudes impacting today's young adults.
The Rap-It-Up celebrity health forum will take place on Tuesday, April 24 at 12:00 p.m. for all Grambling University students in the T.H. Harris Auditorium located on the Grambling State University campus. Serving as forum moderator will be comedian and former BET on-air personality Joe Clair, who will be joined by forum panelists: R&B artist Sammie, AIDS Advocate Denise Stokes, HIV/AIDS health educator Teresa Parker, and local 103.1 radio personality DJ Star. There will also be event giveaways and health materials made available to event attendees following the event.
Today's disturbing statistics have shown that African Americans account for the most AIDS diagnoses, people estimated to be living with AIDS, and HIV- related deaths than any other racial group within the United States. Presently, African-American women account for 67 percent of new AIDS cases among women, and 55 percent of newly reported AIDS cases among African Americans have occurred in the South. Although African-American teens (ages 13 - 19) represent only 15 percent of U.S. teens, they accounted for 66 percent of newly-reported AIDS cases in 2003.
To date, BET's Rap-It-Up Campaign has tested over 11,800 people nationwide for HIV infection; managed over 1.1 million calls to the Rap-It-Up toll-free hotline; hosted community teen forums for over 10,000 youth in over 33 U.S. cities; distributed over 400,000 sexual health information guides; and reached millions of viewers via HIV-related programming on the BET Network, including award-winning news specials, documentaries and public service announcements.
