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Times and Democrat
Orangeburg, SC
10/26/2001
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Call to arms: AIDS like Sept. 11 for blacks
Saving lives was the focus of "Save Yourself, Save Your Community," a first-of-its-kind
conference on the still-epidemic problem of HIV/AIDS and its impact on minority
communities.
Held Thursday at South Carolina State University, the conference opened with
the President's Dinner in the Walnut Room where college officials, public health
officials, political representatives and activists gathered to exchange ideas
and compare notes on their view of the HIV/AIDS problem.
At the conference, the presidents of five historically black colleges were
in attendance, deemed miraculous by SCSU President Dr. Leroy Davis as he extended
his welcome to the participants at the conference. Others there were Benedict's
David Swinton, Claflin's Henry Tisdale, Denmark Technical College's Joann Boyd-
Scotland and Clinton Junior College's Elaine Copeland.
"It is our goal to give our students the information they need to develop
their awareness of the damage this dreadful disease is doing to our communities,"
he said. "We intend to take an active role in eliminating this problem so
that our young people will have the promising, bright futures they deserve."
Representing Gov. Jim Hodges, Virgie Randolph Chambers, director of health
and human services policy for the Governor's Office, declared that the answer
is to "motivate, educate and eliminate."
"It is shocking that every day in South Carolina, three people become
infected with HIV," she said. "We are trying very hard to get to the
younger members of the community to make them aware of HIV/AIDS and educate them
on preventative measures. We don't have a silver bullet or a quick answer, but
by golly, we've got to work to eliminate this problem."
The keynote speaker at the President's Dinner was Pernessa C. Seele, founder
and CEO of The Balm in Gilead, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to mobilizing
black churches to become centers for HIV/AIDS education and compassion. The Balm
in Gilead has guided the development of HIV/AIDS programs in more than 10,000
churches throughout the United States and in six African countries.
A native of Lincolnville, S.C., Seele began her talk telling of her good fortune
in growing up in the small town atmosphere and her family environment. She said
she learned early in life that it is her responsibility to work for the good health
of her fellow man and to reach back and help another young black person struggling
to make it in life.
Quoting a favorite Bible passage, she explained "Faith is the substance
of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen."
"What the mind can conceive and perceive, we can achieve," she said
as she declared herself the evidence of the prayers and positive thoughts of her
ancestors and of many great black minds from history - Harriet Tubman, Mary McCleod
Bethune, Benjamin Mays.
"Who will be the evidence of our faith tomorrow?" she asked. "How
will history record our actions in this epidemic that is 100 percent preventable
and 100 percent out of control? We've entered the third decade of AIDS and we
remain a silent community about this epidemic. Evidence shows that we don't care
enough about our community to address the problem."
Admonishing the group gathered at the dinner, she told them that time has run
out for inactivity and apathy toward HIV/AIDS and she pointed out that every person
in the room knew someone affected by the disease.
"We have already wasted 20 years," Seele said. "I'm so glad
to see that the presidents of black colleges are finally coming to the meeting,"
she said in praise of those at the conference.
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