Allstate joined President Barack Obamas call for a national day of service on Jan. 19, designating the 2009 Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday as Allstate Beyond February Give Back Day…Thousands of volunteers across the country answered Allstate’s call to service.
Here are a few photos and highlights from Allstate Give Back Day 2010…
Heroes and Tom Wilson
Above (Left to Right): Allstate Give Back Day Hero, Deanna Woods; Allstate Give Back Day Hero, Xavier Jefferies; President and Chief Executive Officer of Allstate, Tom Wilson; Allstate Give Back Day Hero, Marquis Smith; Allstate Give Back Day Hero, Lucy Hall-Gainer
Allstate’s Give Back Day Rally In Atlanta Georgia On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Above (Left to Right): Isaac Newton Farris, Jr. President and Chief Executive Officer of The King Center, and Elder Bernice A. King
Allstate’s Give Back Rally Day at the King Center in Atlanta, Georgia
Above (Left to Right): Isaac Newton Farris, Jr. President and Chief Executive Officer of The King Center; Allstate Give Back Day Hero, Lucy Hall-Gainer; Elder Bernice A. King; Allstate Assistant Field Vice President, John O’Donnell at Allstate’s Give Back Day Rally in Atlanta Georgia on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Here’s the latest from the Black AIDS Institute on the Trump AIDS campaign. In support of the campaign there is a bid whist tournament. Visit http://www.trumpaids.org/ for a listing of all of the cities that are participating and for more information.
ATLANTA, Jan. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Thirty-four percent of new male HIV infections are in the 40-plus age range and 36 percent of new female HIV infections are in the 40-plus age range. Yet according to the Black AIDS Institute (www.blackaids.org), there have been very few campaigns targeting this population.
“Last year Washington D.C. reported that one in 10 residents between the ages of 40 and 49 had the virus,” says Black AIDS Institute Founder and CEO Phill Wilson. “That is an epidemic that rivals the worst AIDS epidemics in the poorest countries on the planet.”
The Black AIDS Institute has found an innovative way to help Black people ages 40 and up become more aware of HIV/AIDS while raising money to fight the disease in Black communities. The campaign is called Trump AIDS. The campaign uses the traditional Black pastime of bid whist, popular with Black Americans aged 40-plus, as a unique way to target this often overlooked HIV/AIDS demographic. The Martin Luther King Jr. weekend kick-off event in Atlanta, GA includes a Bid Whist Qualifying Tournament and Health Fair in partnership with local Atlanta organizations Sister Love and AID Atlanta.
“We are proud to partner with the Black AIDS Institute on this new and innovative awareness campaign to reach Black Americans,” says Sister Love Founder and President Dazon Dixon. “When two-thirds of the new HIV/AIDS cases among women in the US are Black, now more than ever it’s important to educate and reach every demographic of the Black community.”
The Health Fair includes free onsite HIV testing for all Tournament attendees, players and guests. All are welcome to attend.
“Rates of HIV in persons over 50 years of age are 12 times higher among African Americans than among whites,” according to Achieve Quarterly’s article on HIV Prevention by Timothy G. Heckman, Ph.D. “Older people do not consider themselves at risk. Physicians rarely talk to older patients about sex or other risk behaviors.”
“Trump AIDS is an unprecedented event that will provide Black people who are not actively engaged in the HIV battle with access to important health information,” says Black AIDS Institute COO Aron Myers. “This is a tremendous opportunity for the Atlanta community and good citizenship for all.”
“There’s no way to end the AIDS epidemic in Black communities without targeting this population,” adds Wilson. “The Black AIDS Institute has spent the last decade meeting Black folks where they are. Trump AIDS is a perfect example of identifying an indigenous past time in our community and using it to deliver culturally effective messaging. Everything about this effort, from the date and city where we launch the campaign to celebrity co-chairs—Danny Glover and Jackee Harry—celebrate Black culture.”
“I’m proud to be a Co-Chair of the TrumpAIDS campaign,” says Actor and AIDS Activist Danny Glover. “AIDS does not only affect a select demographic such as youth, women, or gays. It affects all groups of people. That is why Trump AIDS is such an important campaign for Black people to support and participate in. We must unite as a community — for the sake of our community. To do nothing is to be part of the problem.”
Trump AIDS launches in Atlanta, GA in partnership with the 7NO! Players.
“The 7NO! Players are excited to host the kick-off event in Atlanta, GA Martin Luther King Jr. weekend,’ says Montez Collins, President, 7NO! Players. “We look forward to welcoming all of our regular bid whist players and any new comers who are interested in learning more about the game.”
Participants are encouraged to get involved with ending the AIDS epidemic in the Black community while having fun and potentially winning prizes. For a complete list of cities hosting events and to register visit www.TrumpAIDS.org.
About the Black AIDS Institute
Founded in May of 1999, the Black AIDS Institute is the only national HIV/AIDS think tank focused exclusively on Black people. The Institute’s Mission is to stop the AIDS pandemic in Black communities by engaging and mobilizing Black institutions and individuals in efforts to confront HIV. The Institute interprets public and private sector HIV policies, conducts trainings, offers technical assistance, disseminates information and provides advocacy mobilization from a uniquely and unapologetically Black point of view.
This book was released a few months ago. I’m just reading about it and wanted to share the information with you, too.
(Atlanta, GA) – Growing up, Justin C. Hart had always admired those who walked with significance and encouraged others, now it is his turn to do the same through his authorship of his debut fiction novel, Liquid Sunshine; a Story About Love, Life, and Finding the Will of God. Liquid Sunshine Hit #1 on Amazon’s Inspirational Bestseller List and Hit #5 on Amazon’s Spirituality Bestseller List on the day of Hart’s highly anticipated Amazon launch in September, beating out such books as Become a Better You by Joel Osteen and Battlefield of The Mind by Joyce Meyer.
As you know, the competition is heavy for authors nowadays, however Hart has separated himself from his competitors by not only talking the talk, but also walking the walk. Abstinent (with a purpose) for over 5 years, he acknowledges that his real life testimony is more powerful than the words written his book. Hart shares his enthusiasm about his accomplishment by stating, ”Dreams still do come true. This bestseller achievement was an experience that I will never forget. At the least, I hope to be a significant figure in the eyes of other African American young adults. I want them to know that they too can use their stumbling blocks as stepping stones, just as I have done.”
As a young adult leader at his church of approximately 6,000 people, Hart feels confident at being an author and inspirational speaker also. While promoting abstinence to singles of all ages, he continues to put his love for God first in all that he does. “It is evident when reading this book that the Author (Justin C. Hart) has a sincere compassion for others, especially men,” states his Author Coach Donna Fareed (Warfield) the Amazon Best Selling Author of Whatever Floats Your Boat. “It will challenge the reader to look at life from a different perspective. I would highly recommend this reading.”
The title Liquid Sunshine is a symbolic expression derived from taking the trials throughout life (rain) and merely perceiving them as growth from the Lord (sunshine). This love story touches many “hot topics” such as sex before marriage, physical and sexual abuse, abortion, prayer, honesty, forgiveness, direction, purpose, and most importantly, obedience. This insightful and self-examining novel will soon become a hit amongst college students, young adults, and young adult ministries nationwide. “Justin Hart crafts an intriguing and heart touching story that will keep you turning the pages and wanting more,” says Johnson Bowie, the Young Adult Pastor of Victory World Church in Norcross, GA.
On the day of his September 2009 Amazon launch date, Hart was absolutely thrilled as he celebrated with family, friends, and associates. Being the positive African American writer that he is, he has been busy preparing for speaking engagements and book signings in Atlanta, GA, Los Angeles, CA, and especially in his home city of Newport News in Hampton Roads, VA where the storyline takes place.
Upcoming events for Hart include local book signings, Conference Speaker at Greater Zion Baptist Church Family in Compton, CA, and an Inspirational Youth Speaker for Dr. Martin Luther King Day in Atlanta, GA.
Back in Fall 2007, around Halloween, there was a shooting outside of an Atlanta area club. The two young men involved were both were Morehouse College students, a prestigious all men’s HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) located in Atlanta, Georgia. Joshua Norris pulled up to Rashad Johnson with a gun. As Rashad tried to muscle the gun from Joshua’s hands (Rashad was unarmed), it went off. In the end, one of the three shots lodged in Rashad’s leg. The bullet still remains in his leg to this day as a painful reminder of the events that night in 2007.
On a personal note, Rashad had been taking that Fall semester off to grieve his father’s passing just 3 months prior and was still living in Atlanta at the time (permanent home is in California). Since that time, Rashad has returned home to California.
This story made headlines recently because Joshua, the shooter, just received his college degree from Morehouse College this past weekend. This was the result of a sweet plea deal offered by the prosecuting attorney where Joshua plead no contest in exchange for 6 years of probation, 240 hours of community service, and the promise to finish his college education at Morehouse.
I scratched my head as I heard this story on CNN over the weekend. It just didn’t make sense.
Then I got angry…
The plea deal is ridiculous offering from the prosecution. Rashad said that he was not notified of this plea deal nor the court hearing where the decision was finalized. His attorney, the prosecuting attorney, has since resigned.
That’s it, and that’s the troubling part. Joshua gets off nearly scott-free with a college degree and cleaning a few toilets while his victim ends up returning home to cope with his injuries, the grief from the loss of his father, and presumably get a fresh start at a different school (although I did read he was trying to save money). The prosecuting attorney is not working anymore but no further action was taken. The administration at Morehouse College never paused to consider this situation, at a minimum, from the standpoint of ensuring the safety of other students. The judge blessed this plea deal (although I’m not familiar enough with law to know if the judge could have done anything to change the outcome).
The only ray of light is in knowing that Rashad intends to pursue a law degree after completing his bachelor’s at Sacramento City College.
Here are a few other resources that I read before preparing this post…
50% of your donation (less Pay Pal fees) will go to Emerge Global charity (http://emergeglobal.org/). The other 50% funds the sweat equity I put into my work for your enjoyment. My hope is that one day I will be able to donate 100% to charity.
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