Go VIP against HIV — a percentage of event proceeds will be donated to Metro TeenAIDS!

The HIV Prevention Capacity Building Symposium is a professional development opportunity for individuals who work with youth (ages 13-24). The symposium will feature speakers, roundtables and workshops centered on sexual, reproductive and wellness health issues facing youth in metropolitan D.C. Community-based organizations that are interested in learning how to enhance their youth programs are encouraged to attend.

The symposium is FREE.

WHEN: August 11-12, 2010, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

WHERE: Marvin Center at George Washington University, 800 21st Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20052

CLICK HERE for free registration. Breakfast buffet included.

For more information, contact Isaiah Webster III at 202.543.0094 or by email.  For up-to-date information about capacity building services at Metro TeenAIDS, visit http://www.capacitytalk.blogspot.com.

  CLICK HERE to download the MTA Symposium Flyer (PDF).

Well — we did it! MTA’s 17th Annual Auction was a resounding success. This year’s Auction raised over $140,000.  All of this money will contribute to fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic and supporting our more than 40 incredible youth staff.

On behalf of Metro TeenAIDS’ youth, staff and Board of Directors, we thank our corporate sponsors, community champions, and contributors for their amazing commitment and generosity to Metro TeenAIDS and the youth of DC. Your contribution, encouragement and participation to make this such a wonderful event is greatly appreciated! And, a special thanks to this year’s host committee. These individuals really make this event the unique occasion that it is!

We are confident that with your help, next year will be an even bigger success! Thank you for your contribution and support for MTA.

See you next June!

On Saturday March 6th 2010 Metro TeenAIDS joined with the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) to commemorate Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.At the NCNW headquarters (633 Pennsylvania Avenue NW) MTA and NCNW hosted the lunchtime session From Us to You, an inter-generational event that featured five distinguished panelists and experts on various areas of women’s health, free HIV testing, a small lunch, giveaways and monologues and poems. The event was led by one of MTA’s Peer Educator groups, the Young Women of Color Leadership Council (YWOC). View some of the photos of the event below:

On Friday February 19th Metro TeenAIDS commemorated National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) by hosting For the Love of You, an open mic event targeted specifically to youth ages 13-17. Held in the newly renovated Freestyle Youth Center, the event offered youth the opportunity to perform poetry, song, and spoken word on the Freestyle stage.

For the Love of You was hosted by MTA’s own Dwayne Lawson Brown, also a famed DC poet, as well as REALtalk reps Deron Perkins and Shawnna Isaac. MTA created a fun post-Valentine’s Day atmosphere with everything from dimmed red lighting to roses on the tables to non-alcoholic, frozen daiquiris. Additionally, the event offered free raffle prizes, including an iPod Touch, to those getting tested. Check out a few photos from the event:

2010 is a year of energy and momentum for Metro TeenAIDS. We are re-settled into our renovated Freestyle Youth Center and the results are fantastic! Twice as many youth are coming to FreeStyle than did before the renovation. Of course, staff is thrilled and newly dedicated – but what has been most amazing to us is how purposeful and intent the youth are. They are coming into the new space with a sense of seriousness about their futures and their work that is amazing! Thank you again to the dozens of volunteers and supporters who made this renovation possible.

Last month, UNAIDS Executive Director (appointed December 2008) made his first trip to Washington D.C. as Executive Director. The Executive Director and the Washington office of UNAIDS coordinated several high-profile events and visits. During this week, the Director toured just one local HIV/AIDS organization and that was Metro TeenAIDS. On Thursday September 17th, 2009 UNAIDS Executive Director sat down with MTA’s programming and youth staff and discussed the local epidemic and what MTA does specifically to fight HIV/AIDS. Check out photos from his visit!

On Thursday September 24th, 2009 Metro TeenAIDS was invited to participate in the 2009 Annual Legislative Conference of the Congressional Black Caucus, Foundation (CBCF). Metro TeenAIDS was featured on the panel “Real Talk: Meeting the Challenge of HIV/AIDS in Black America.” The panel was hosted by the CBCF, the CBC Health Braintrust, and Representative Barbara Lee (CA) as well as Delegate Donna M. Christensen (Virgin Islands). The panel featured major HIV/AIDS Activists such as Phil Wilson (Founder and Executive Director of the Black AIDS Institute), Bambi Gaddist (South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council) and Sheryl Lee Ralph (Actress and long-time Activist). The panel was divided into three parts. The first part was moderated by Essence Editor-in-Chief, Angela Burt-Murray and the other two parts moderated by BET political commentator, Jeff Johnson. Metro TeenAIDS was featured on the third panel which consisted of a group of major, local HIV organizations. MTA selected peer educator and REALtalk rep, Paul Spires to speak from the DC youth perspective. Paul did an amazing job and was one of the most captivating and enlightening speakers. The audience truly appreciated his REALtalk! Check out some photos.