There are young people across the country emerging from the fading cold and of winter and dusting off their fundraising kits. No, not the Girl Scouts... It's the C2EA Youth (scouts?)! The application process is in full swing for the 4th Youth Action Institute to be held on the campus of University of New Mexico in Albuquerque June 25 - 29, 2008.

This will be YAI's first gathering west of the Mississippi since its first in '05 on Colorado State University's Ft. Collins, Colorado campus. The following year was in Chicago and last year's was in Raleigh, North Carolina, at the North Carolina State University.

"New Mexico is a culturally rich and geographically beautiful state," says, New Mexico resident and member of the C2EA Youth Caucus, Kahlo Benevidez. "Native American and Hispanic culture pervade every city in the state in one form or another. Here, you will find a culturally diverse and friendly community willing to share its values, traditions and customs and a stunningly beautiful landscape. The beauty of New Mexico and the openness of its people
do justice to its nickname 'The Land of Enchantment.'"

Kahlo and the rest of the YAI staff and faculty will be welcoming this years group and sharing experiences and developing skills in grassroots organizing, public health, advocacy, anti-stigma, and direct action. In all, over 200 youth representing communities all over North America have shared ideas and succeeded in goals developed at YAI. This year will be no different.

Who Can Come?
Absolutely everyone (between the ages of 16 and 26) is encouraged to apply, regardless of past experience working on HIV and AIDS issues. If you’re passionate about working to end AIDS, then you qualify. C2EA especially encourages people living with HIV and AIDS, women, and people of color to apply.

How To Apply?
The attached application (below, in English and Spanish) must be received by 6:00pm
on March 15th. It can be faxed, mailed, or emailed to the number and address below:

CAMPAIGN TO END AIDS
YOUTH ACTION INSTITUTE 2007
c/o Charles Long
57 Willoughby Street 2nd Floor
Brooklyn, New York 11201
(347)473-7451 oce
(646)942-1934 cell
(347)473-7464 fax
long2@housingworks.org

You will be notified of your acceptance by April 1. Travel arrangements will be made by YAI staff after confirmation of acceptance.

YAI Application eng.

YAI Application esp.

C2EA activists rally at Myrtle Beach debate;
Edwards' daughter and U.S. Reps attend

C2EA-SC's Karen Bates listens to Edwards

On Martin Luther King Day in Myrtle Beach, S.C., politics was in the air, food and water—CNN pundits and campaign staffers seemed to outnumber locals in the lead up to Monday night's Democratic presidential debate. Candidates' supporters lined the streets heading to the Palace Theatre as they waited for their favorite candidates to arrive for the evening's bicker-fest. But Campaign to End AIDS (C2EA) activist Ron Crowder had a different agenda. He hadn't driven some 10 hours from Nashville just to cheerlead for a favorite Democratic candidate but to make sure that everyone on the podium made ending the AIDS epidemic a priority.

Little Caleb Glover gets to go swimming, as Campaign to End AIDS event boosts awareness of AIDS stigma

Two months ago, Alabama toddler Caleb Glover was barred from the pool at the Alabama RV resort Wales West simply because he is HIV-positive. Yesterday, Caleb, accompanied by dozens of HIV-positive activists from the Campaign to End AIDS (c2ea.org), finally got to take a dip in the Wales West pool. The Labor Day swim was part of C2EA's "family reunion" at the resort, intended to call attention to the stigma that still affects people living with HIV/AIDS.

April 14 - 15, Columbus, Ohio; The 2008 Conference will offer traditional leadership training with significant national and regional speakers providing a balanced agenda that is broad in appeal to consumers, professionals and others affected by HIV/AIDS. Individuals representing Ryan White Part B Program Consortia, the AIDS Education & Training Center and the HIV CARE Services Section, as well as People Living With HIV/AIDS are planning the 2008 Conference. This planning committee has worked diligently with sponsors to offer an affordable conference that will address issues that affect all those working and living within the HIV/AIDS spectrum. http://www.ohioaidscoalition.org/programs.html

April 15 - 17, Washington DC & NYC; Housing Works, the nation’s largest minority-controlled AIDS organization, is proud to present the fourth-annual Keith D. Cylar AIDS Activist Awards, held on Thursday April 17, 2008 at the Times Center in New York City. Given to those who demonstrate extraordinary courage and commitment in the fight to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the award is named for the cofounder of Housing Works, a fearless AIDS activist who died of AIDS-related complications in 2004.

All proceeds from the Keith D. Cylar AIDS Activist Awards go to the Keith Cylar Activist Fund, which has raised $1.6 million in support of advocacy and activism by people living with HIV/AIDS in America and around the world. http://www.cylarawards.com/

April 18, San Francisco, California; CAPS invites you to attend the Sixth CAPS Conference: “New Directions in HIV Prevention.” We know what works in HIV prevention, yet we continue to be challenged by new and continuing HIV epidemics globally and domestically. Researchers, community-based agency staff, funders, health departments, people living with HIV/AIDS, and many others need to find new directions for transferring our knowledge and expertise into the countries and communities that are most impacted by HIV. http://www.caps.ucsf.edu/conference/

April 28 - 30, Washington, DC; Please join AIDSWatch, the largest annual constituent-based Federal HIV/AIDS advocacy and education event in the U.S. Participants include people living with HIV and AIDS, their families, friends, care providers, and other advocates. AIDSWatch is a project of the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA). Also, join us for the AIDS at Home Rally and March on the Capitol grounds April 29. http://napwa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19