Post-Conference Story

Hundreds of people from the African American church community convened in Charleston, South Carolina October 24-27, 2006 for the Balm In Gilead’s Black Church Institute on HIV/AIDS and Other Health Disparities.

The three-day Institute which featured praise and worship, workshop sessions and guest preachers, brought together leaders and representatives from the African-American church to enhance and strengthen their capacity to address HIV/AIDS, as well as other diseases that are disproportionately affecting African Americans.

“We are living short-term lives due to a multitude of diseases that today are 100% preventable,” said Pernessa Seele, Founder and CEO, The Balm In Gilead. “This conference armed the participants with information, a network and resources to help them return to their church communities and build their capacity to address such health disparities as cervical cancer, Hepatitis C, stroke, renal disease and obesity.”

The Institute featured more than 20 hours of workshop sessions and panel discussions. Some titles included: “Successful African American Faith Based HIV/AIDS Program Models”, “A Theological Discussion on Suffering, Healing, and Forgiveness, ” “ A Family Discussion” featuring Debra Frasier Howze, president, The National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS and Bishop Yvette Flunder, City of Refuge United Church of Christ and “For Sisters Only” and “For Brothers Only” luncheons led by Essence Magazine’s Dr. Hilda Hutcherson and David J. Malebranche, MD, MPH, assistant professor at the Division of General Medicine at Emory University’s School of Medicine and a member of the President’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA).

Other topic’s covered included: stroke, renal disease and cervical cancer. The Institute also featured a special presentation of “Sometimes I Cry” by actress and activist Sheryl Lee Ralph. Preaching and praise were also an integral part of the program with Dr. Kenneth Samuels, pastor of the Victory Church of Stone Mountain, Georgia opening the Institute and Bishop George W.C. Walker, senior bishop of the AME Church closing the Institute Friday afternoon.

At this year’s Institute, the Balm In Gilead hosted its first annual Wisdom of Healers Awards Ceremony, a special program to kick off the Institute and pay tribute to those who have made significant contributions in the field of HIV/AIDS. The awards, named after trailblazers in the field, were presented to young veterans who are making their mark.

The 2006 Wisdom of Healers honorees were: The Debra Frasier Howze Leadership Award presented to Myisha Patterson, national health coordinator, NAACP; The Beny Primm, MD, Service of Merit Award presented to Christopher Bates, Director of HIV/AIDS Policy for the Dept. of Health and Human Services; The Phill Wilson Advocacy Award presented to Jesse Milan, Jr., Vice President for Global Health Convergence of the Constella Group; and, The Rev. Canon Frederick Boyd Williams Community Service Award presented to A.J. Johnson, CEO and founder of the Baton Rouge AIDS Society.