Event Aims to Reduce HIV/AIDS Misinformation & Inspire Youth Activism
TORONTO
,
Dec. 1
/CNW/ - The 411 Initiative For Change (411) a youth led charity, is working with Keep a Child Alive (KCA), a NPO dedicated to providing AIDS medication in
Africa
and
India
, to launch an arts based HIV/AIDS education program for young Canadians.
The project which merges video, music and theatre to spoof a live to-air TV talk show will debut on World Aids Day
Dec 1, 2009
with sold out presentations at
10:00am
and
1:00pm
at the
Al Green
Theatre,
Miles Nadal
JCC - 750 Spadina Ave,
Toronto
.
The production engages young people in the global fight against HIV/AIDS, while also combating misinformation, stigma and stereotyping related to HIV/AIDS in
Canada
. The presentation features interviews, frank discussion and performances with Canadian hip-hop artists Eternia, Rochester, Masia One, DJ Dopey and poet
Dwayne Morgan. Show
highlights include:
- Video footage of DJ Dopey's trip to the Hassle Free Clinic to get an
HIV test.
- Word On The Street find out what Canadians really know about HIV/AIDS
- Video commentary from HIV positive young Canadian and young people
worldwide
- Excerpts from KCA documentary 'Alicia in Africa: Journey to the
Motherland'
"Many young Canadians are surprised to learn that in
Canada
12 people are infected by HIV every day," explains
Sterling Downey
, President of 411. "411 is working to present the most accurate information in a format that is palatable to young people, this is why we use pop culture elements and musicians in our programming."
411's HIV/AIDS programming has already been presented to over 50,000 young people in high schools across
Canada
. In 2010 the program will tour to an additional 30 schools in Western
Canada
reaching 15,000 teens. Educators are invited to register for the project to visit their school online at www.whatsthe411.ca - schools are chosen through a lottery system.
For further information: Media Accreditation: Tel: (416) 473-3595, Email: [email protected]; More Information: media.whatsthe411.ca, www.keepachildalive.org
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