Hello from the Red Umbrella:
Mark YOUR calendar!
On Saturday, March 09, 2013, the African American Community will again host “The Red Umbrella Second-Line Parade” (RUM) through the streets of downtown New Orleans to raise community awareness about the alarming and disproportionate rising rate of HIV infections in the New Orleans’ African American community and the impact that HIV/AIDS is having on our men, women and families.
We are asking YOU to join US in this lifesaving community event as WE Second-Line, with Red Umbrellas, to raise awareness about the unnecessary and needless toll HIV continues to take on OUR community. If you are an organization, agency, social/civic group, educational institute and would like your logo to appear on our media campaign, please indicate your participation by e-mailing your response and logo to: redumbrellasecondline@yahoo.com.
The Event:
The Red Umbrella Second-Line Parade will begin at Armstrong Park’s “Congo Square” North Rampart Street entrance at 11a.m. Then, the Red Umbrella will proceed through the 7 th Ward and into one of our most vulnerable and historic neighborhoods, The Treme.
The parade will end back at Congo Square where the Louisiana Office of Public Health STD/ HIV Program and the Red Umbrella will co-host an exciting health and wellness event in recognition of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Important information will also be available for our men and boys because HIV doesn’t discriminate.
Individuals knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS resources and services in our community will be available to answer questions and provide guidance.
Red Umbrella Decorating Contest:
This year the Red Umbrella Second-Line Parade will feature a Red Umbrella Decorating Contest. We will be looking for the group and individual whose decorated umbrella best describes what the Red Umbrella is all about. HIV/AIDS Awareness and Education in the African American Community. Judges will be taking notices throughout the parade route and the winners will be announced during our victory to combat HIV/AIDS ceremony back at Congo Square.
The Troubling Data:
HIV is everyone’s problem. But, it is undeniable that HIV/AIDS is having a disproportionate impact on the African American community.We should all be alarmed that in 2010
• 72% of new HIV diagnoses were in OUR community
• 23% of them were in individuals under 25.
•34% of people newly diagnosed in 2010 went on to an AIDS diagnoses within 6 months
of their HIV diagnoses.
For whatever reason, the HIV prevention message is not reaching deep enough into OUR community. As involved and concerned African Americans WE must be doing everything in OUR power to educate OUR community about HIV/AIDS. The Red Umbrella Second-Line is an opportunity for US to break down barriers, dispel myths, reduce fear and urge people to get tested and into care if they are HIV+. HIV is a preventable disease. HIV is a chronically treatable disease especially with early diagnosis and treatment.
At the conclusion of The Red Umbrella Second-Line Parade we will join with Louisiana Office of Public Health STD/HIV Program at Congo Square to provide important resource, health and wellness information at an event that will provide participants with essential information about HIV/AIDS and risk-reduction tools designed to enable attendees to take control of their health through access to relevant facts and data, skill building, self-efficacy, and empowerment activities.
How YOU can participate:
We are asking YOU to join US in this lifesaving community event as WE Second-Line, with Red Umbrellas, to raise awareness about the unnecessary and needless toll HIV continues to take on OUR community.
If you are an organization, agency, social/civic group, educational institute, we would like your support by participating in the second-lining parade with us on March 9 beginning at 11a.m. starting at Armstrong Park, North Rampart Street entrance. And, we would like to have your logo to appear on our media campaign as a community supporter of this event. Please indicate your participation by e-mailing your response and logo to: redumbrellasecondline@yahoo.com.
This year the Red Umbrella Second-Line Parade will feature a Red Umbrella Decorating Contest. We will be looking for the group and individual whose decorated umbrella best describes what the Red Umbrella is all about. HIV/AIDS Awareness and Education in the African American Community. Judges will be taking notices throughout the parade route and the winners will be announced during our victory to combat HIV/AIDS ceremony back at Congo Square.
Thank you for your interest and support of this community event. Together we can make a difference in the lives of many. We look forward to YOUR participation in this celebration of life!