The Neighborhood Fundraising Network, Inc. (NFN) produced the third annual San Diego People of Color HIV/AIDS Conference in conjunction with World AIDS Day, Monday, Dec. 1. The conference, held at the Westgate Hotel, addressed a range of culturally specific issues that affect minority populations living with HIV/AIDS, and discussed possible solutions or prevention strategies.

People of color represent the fastest growing population of new AIDS cases in the nation. In San Diego, African-Americans have had the highest yearly rate of AIDS since 1986, with Hispanic populations running a close second.

“What we’re doing is trying to raise public awareness in the Latino and African-American communities of the [HIV/AIDS] pandemic itself,” said Chris Laflamme, member of the conference board of directors and conference planning committee. “We want to raise the awareness that … there are actually declining AIDS cases in the United States, but in the United States as a whole, we’re seeing a rapid increase in HIV among Latino women and people of color.”

NFN produces the conference to provide an educational community forum that spreads awareness and outlines intervention strategies in underserved communities. Attendees ranged from medical professionals and caregivers to community leaders and HIV/AIDS clients and consumers. The agenda included a culturally diverse panel of HIV/AIDS experts, plenary speakers, workshops, booths, displays and information about the latest treatment options, resources and research, with a particular emphasis on youth prevention education.

“This is a disease that is controllable,” said Laflamme. “This is a disease that does not necessarily have to happen to another generation. The way we stop it is by education.”

Approximately 70-75 people attended the conference this year, which was more than anticipated, according to Laflamme.

“We need to talk about HIV more to our youth,” said Laflamme, “but we also need to educate parents and young people, so that young people can have that information and then bring that information home to their families. We do know that HIV can be stopped, just by education; talking about it allows us to be able to do that. We’ve done a real promotional push towards prevention education.”

In “Black Men, HIV and the ‘Down Low’ Myth,” David Malebranche, MD, MPH, a clinical instructor of medicine at Emory University in Atlanta, addressed the culture of non gay-identified men who have sex with other men, yet maintain a heterosexual lifestyle. According to Malebranche, much attention is focused on these “down low” men spreading HIV to women in the African-American community

“Why we’re seeing the increase [in AIDS cases in communities of color] is because, over the years, the education has been somewhat lacking in those communities, be it ignorance, lack of acceptance, or the norm of those cultures that HIV was just a gay-orientated disease,” said Laflamme. “Now we’re seeing finally the switch, and we’re seeing more people looking for the information — to get accurate information. So what we do [at the conference] is we bring out as much information as we possibly can and we give it to the adults, hoping that they will bring it to the families.

“It’s wonderful,” said Laflamme. “Seventy people are going to take this back to their community. I had a Latino lady say to me that it’s the first time that the Latinos have had an opportunity to voice their opinion as to what they need in education. So we’re getting a good feel from [conference participants] as to where we need to go next.… We as a committee will come together at the end of this conference and put together a plan, a formula that we think will best suit the Latino and African-American communities and then bring those needed services to the communities.”

NFN was founded in July 2000 when Stephanie Edwards, an MPA and professional resource development specialist, saw a need for affordable training and support for nonprofit organizations in minority communities. NFN is itself a nonprofit, and works strictly as an educational and charitable agency to help nonprofits succeed. NFN designs educational group workshops to develop skills in strategic planning, board leadership, media and communications, and management, as well as providing technical assistance for individuals. Another major goal is to link under-served nonprofits to an appropriate network of foundations and services.

NFN also helps nonprofits learn how to raise funds, holding regular “Funders Panels” where panels of foundation officers provide practical tips for nonprofit organizations to obtain grants from funding agencies, such as understanding funding requirements, grant application processes and how grants are awarded.

“Money is tight,” said Laflamme. “What we’ve tried to do with the little bit of money that we have is take the focus off of the researchers, the pharmaceuticals, and put it back in the hands of the people.”

The conference lost much of its funding this year when the focus was pulled away from pharmaceutical research and its affiliated advertisements. In fact, Edwards took out a personal bank loan this year to help fund the conference. “It’s been a tough year for all of us financially,” said Laflamme. “But some of us aren’t in it for the money. The reality is that whether we get the money or not we still need to talk.”

For more information about the annual conference, Neighborhood Fundraising Network, Inc. or any of the conference funders, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com and click on this article.