The Campaign to End AIDS (www.c2ea.org) and the National Minority AIDS Council (www.nmac.org) have developed a joint advocacy action for Wednesday February 7, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

To get ready, we're holding three national conference call teach-ins this week to help local activists get up to speed on the issues and to build a base for future action.

NEXT WEDNESDAY IS BLACK AIDS AWARENESS DAY: CALL CONGRESS

On Wednesday February 7, we'll be urging people all over the country to participate in a national call-in day to demand action from Congress on key items in the FY07 federal budget to fight AIDS in Black America.

For a copy of the C2EA/NMAC Black AIDS Awareness Day action flier click here or cut-and-paste this link into your web browser:

http://www.c2ea.org/downloads/BLACK_AIDS_DAY.PDF.

THIS THURSDAY, FRIDAY & SATURDAY: NATIONAL TEACH-INS

This week, we'll be holding three national conference call teach-ins with presenters from NMAC and C2EA member organizations on key issues including:

• NMAC's recent report on AIDS in Black America and their five-point action plan;
• New federal legislation on HIV prevention and treatment, including the JUSTICE Act and the Early Treatment for HIV Act;
• Advocacy and policy strategies for high-impact groups, including Black women;
• Top federal budget priorities for this year and next year.
  

CONFERENCE CALL TEACH-IN SCHEDULE

Phone info for all calls:

Call-in Number: 1-866-394-9509
Participant Access Code: 9357895#

Overflow Access Code (if more than 75 participants): 7761180#
Alternate number (if you can't call toll-free): 1-847-619-2419

STEPS YOU CAN TAKE ON HIGH-PRIORITY AIDS ISSUES TODAY

1. AIDS Housing

Make sure the federal Health Resources & Services Agency (HRSA) knows AIDS housing is essential to the health of people living with HIV/AIDS. Submit your comments to HRSA by February 5; details here.

2. HIV Treatment for All

Sign on to support the Early Treatment for HIV Act (ETHA) which would allow states to expand Medicaid to cover everyone living with HIV and provide enhanced funding to make it happen. To sign your group on in support, email rgreenwa@law.harvard.edu; for more info on ETHA click here.

For more information (or to fix conference call glitches) contact secretary@c2ea.org .