-NORTH CAROLINA
with what you’d like to bring. Note: if you have
food limitations, be sure to include that infor
mation so others are aware of these concerns.
Western
Prayer week held
HICKORY — The 20th Annual Black
Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS
was held from March 1-7.
The observance was a collaborative effort
between ALFA, formerly known as AIDS
Leadership Foothills-Area Alliance, Inc., and
several organizations in the Unifour counties.
This national mobilization effort was designed
to encourage and mobilize faith-based organi
zations to get involved locally and across the
U.S. and its territories.
Special events such as free HIV testing,
prayer breakfasts, town hall meetings, memo
rial services, seminars, prayer vigils and sim
ple distribution of information took place
across the country.
HIV/AIDS continues to devastate African-
American communities. While African-
Americans represent approximately 13 percent
of the U.S. population, the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the
group accounts for almost half (49 percent) of
the nation’s AIDS cases. According to State
Health Facts (statehealthfacts.org) 2007
Report, North Carolina had a total of 14,915
cumulative HIV/AIDS cases with 9,962 of
them being in the African-American commu
nity. It also stated that there were 945 new
HIV/AIDS cases in North Carolina last year
and of that, 657 were African-American.
Schedule:
March 2 — Morning Star Baptist Church held
a special worship service that included free
HIV testing afterwards.
March 6 — Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church in
Lenoir held a special worship service that
includes free HIV testing prior to the service.
March 8 at 4 p.m., Shiloh AME Zion, 1115
Salisbury Rd., Statesville, will hold a gospel
concert.
March 14 at 10 a.m., a health fair will be held
at Catawba Elementary School,5415 Hudson
Chapel Rd. in Catawba.
These events are open to the public,
regardless of race or ethnicity. The public is
encouraged to attend.
For more information, call Cecilio Orta at
800-473-1447, email prevention@alfainfo.org
or visit ALFAs new website at
www.alfainfo.org.
Statewide
Calling all intern wannabes!
RALEIGH — Equality NC (ENC) is seek
ing several summer and fall interns. This is a
great opportunity to become involved and
gain experience with North Carolina's
statewide LGBT-activist nonprofit.
ENC wants outstanding students who are
committed to winning equal rights and justice
for LGBT North Carolinians. Interns will gain
valuable experience working for a non-profit
advocacy organization. Stipends are not avail
able, but ENC will work with university offi
cials to aid in securing course credit.
These are the intern spots that need to be
filled: Database; Advocacy; Development;
Communications; Conference Planning;
Volunteer Management/Outreach; and
Transgender Issues.
For a full description of each internship
and to learn how to apply, visit equalitync.org.
Task force launched
RALEIGH — The Transgender Policy Task
Force of ENC met for the first time during the
week of Feb. 23. The task force consists of
transgender/gender nonconforming identified
individuals and allies from.around the state
who are interested in advocacy. The group
grew out of the Transgender Policy Summit
that convened last fall during the weekend of
the Equality NC Conference and will work to
help ENC better address the needs of the
transgender community and engage transgen
der North Carolinians in its work.
Participants of the policy summit along
with Ian Palmquist, executive director of ENC,
and Stephen Wiseman, intern, worked to
develop the task force.
The essential job of the task force is to
serve as a means to advise the executive direc
tor, staff and board of ENC on policy issues
affecting the transgender community. During
the first meeting participants brainstormed
on ideas of what they would like the Task
Force to accomplish and how best to address
the needs of the transgender/gender non-con
forming community in North Carolina.
Participants spoke about many issues
including the need for greater visibility of the
community in advocacy work, how to forge
connections with ENC, identifying existing
policies within the state that affect the trans
gender community and building a more uni
fied LGBT movement.
“The creation of this task force is an impor
tant part of Equality NC’s commitment to win
ning policy victories that meet the needs of the
entire LGBT community," Palmquist said. “This
is an incredibly talented, savvy group that will
help us address the needs of transgender indi
viduals through advocacy and policy and build
a state of equality in North Carolina.”
The task force will work during the
upcoming month to increase participation
from trans-identified individuals at the
Equality NC Day of Action on March 24. It is
increasingly important for legislators to hear
from people in their community who identify
as transgender and the task force hopes to
work to address that need.
Pack it up, it’s camp time!
STATEWIDE — The LGBT 8c Ally Summer
Leadership Camp will be held from July 21 -26 at
Towson University’s Glen Complex in Maryland.
The five-day camp experience works to
develop stronger undergraduate student lead
ers and safer, more LGBT-friendly colleges and
universities. Participants have the opportunity
to learn valuable campus organizing skills,
coalition building and strategies for creating
change at colleges and universities. Space is
limited, so register early. Deadline for Happy
Camper rates is April 17.
Enjoy this growth opportunity as you learn
how to access premiere faculty and national
leaders in social justice, human rights and
civil rights advocacy. All this can be achieved
in an environment inclusive of identity/
expression and sexual orientation.
To register or for more information, visit
www.campuspride.org. i
info: Announce your community event in NC Newt Notes,
email: editor@q-notes.com.
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The^«
a fondue restaurant
w-.. fine aged cheeses 1 assorted wines I seafood and steaks I chocolate fondue
y www.meltingpot.com I fondue coast to coast I locally owned and operated
MARCH 7.2009 •IjNotes II