By Imani Williams
DETROIT – With all the hype surrounding the so-called down low phenomenon, a conference called "Between Sistahs" will address the reality of the growing number of women of color contracting and living with HIV/AIDS.
The daylong free "Between Sistahs" conference will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, at Marygrove Conference Center, Madame Cadillac Building.
The conference will focus on HIV and its affect on women of color. Workshops will include HIV Disease Progression in Women, HIV infection Among Same Gender Loving Women, Women to Women-Empowering Ourselves, HIV, and Domestic Violence Among Women, and HIV and Hepatitis C Co-Infection Among Women.
Self-empowerment and education served as the catalysts to form the Sister Friend Project Committee, comprised of staff from AIDS Partnership Michigan, and YWCA's Interim House.
Lillian Piersante, AIDS Partnership's HIV Rapid Testing and Lab Coordinator and Sistah Friend Project member says, "It is so important for us to be knowledgeable of our status, because we don't know where our partners have been. One of our workshops will focus on women empowering ourselves. A lot of times our men don't like to wear condoms and we don't like, or don't know how to ask them. This is about self empowerment."
Debunking the myth that women cannot transmit HIV to each other will be Kimya Ayodele, MSW presenting on HIV Infection Among Same Gender Loving Women.
Keynote speaker for the event will be Linda Villarosa, New York Times contributing writer, and Essence Magazine editor-at-large.
Registration begins at 9 a.m.; workshops start at 9:30 a.m. Lunch will be provided.
Limited seating is available. Register by Sept. 15. Call (800) 872-2437 or [email protected] for additional information, to register.
Bristol-Meyers Squibb Company, Marshall Fields, Mays Company, and AIDS Partnership Michigan-Sistah Friend Project sponsor this event.
