The Black community has been left out of the conversation and the AIDS relief efforts for the past 40 years. The campaign against HIV/AIDS did not receive the same national attention to combat the incidence and prevalence of AIDS in Black neighborhoods and communities throughout our nation. We are seeking to create a bridge between the HIV/AIDS community and the Black church, which is a major institution for accessing the Black community throughout the nation. We already have this relationship locally and we want to build on it so that we can end the Black HIV Crisis in Indianapolis.

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In Phase 1 of the Hoosier IAC International AIDS Conference Scholarship Fund, a group of 21 Hoosiers received scholarship. They became official Hoosier delegates from the United States of America to the International AIDS Conference 2020 (VIRTUAL) in July 2020. At the completion of their participation, they received official membership into the International AIDS Society, Geneva, Switzerland. Several group members have become community advocates in their neighborhoods and in their Indiana counties. These HIV educated scholars helped us establish our phase 2 objectives.

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The Phase 2 activities of the Hoosier IAC International AIDS Conference Scholarship Fund focussed on providing access to HIV education in the church and surrounding community. The Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) campaign by the CDC recognizes the increasing incidence of HIV among youth and adults in the Black community, who are not connected to HIV information, education, resources, and services. When people are educated and have access to these resources, it diminishes the risk of transmission and improves the efforts to confront stigma in the Black community. We provided HIV education to youth, hosted community awareness events (including a World AIDS Day Jazz Luncheon, and HIV Long Term Survivors Day Celebration), and hosted HIV testing at Broadway United Methodist Church in partnership with BU Wellness and StepUp, Inc.   

We are also pleased to announce that we were also able to raise $27,556.96 for the Hoosier IAC International AIDS Conference Scholarship Fund that provided scholarships (including conference registration, airfare, lodging, and meals) for 5 delegates to attend AIDS 2022 in Montreal from July 29-August 2, 2022, and for 2 delegates to attend virtually in Indianapolis.  

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Check out a highlight video from our Hoosier IAC Scholarship Fund Delegation's experience at AIDS 2022 by clicking HERE.  

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We have now entered Phase 3 of the Hoosier IAC International AIDS Conference Scholarship Fund and we are excited to continue to develop local community leaders to End the HIV Epidemic and find a cure. In 2023 and 2024 we will focus our efforts on the HIV Crisis in the Black community. In 2022 there were 300 people diagnosed with HIV in the Indianapolis Targeted Group Area (TGA). 57.3% (172) of those new HIV diagnoses were African Americans. While some populations have seen reductions, in the Black community the campaign against HIV/AIDS has not received the same attention or funding to combat the incidence and prevalence of the disease, and continues to experience a disproportionate impact today. We will focus our work on educating our Black neighbors, engaging with Black church leaders, partnering with BU Wellness and StepUp, Inc., host a special community event on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in February, as well as send at least 4 Black Hoosiers to AIDS 2024 in Munich, Germany in July, 2024.   

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You may support our work by donating today through our Fiscal Sponsor, Broadway United Methodist Church, at the following link: 

https://secure.myvanco.com/YJD6/campaign/C-11QCP

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