Act Against AIDS Partnerships

The Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative (AAALI)

The Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative (AAALI) is a six-year partnership between CDC and leading national organizations representing the populations hardest hit by HIV.

Launched in 2009, the AAALI initiative initially brought together some of the nation's foremost African American organizations to intensify HIV prevention efforts in black communities. In 2010, CDC expanded AAALI to also include organizations that focus specifically the Latino community and on black gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM).

• Why does AAALI focus on specific communities?
• What does it mean to be a part of AAALI?
• What have AAALI partners accomplished?
• How can I learn more about the AAALI partners?

GBCHealth (formerly known as the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria), is a coalition of more than 200 Fortune 500 companies leading the business sector for improved global health.

GBCHealth has effectively helped members achieve global health goals, and supports the work of its members by developing comprehensive workplace policies; supporting community programs; leveraging core competencies; facilitating leadership and advocacy by business leaders; and brokering public-private partnerships. GBCHealth also manages the private sector delegation to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, serving as an entry-point for corporate collaboration and engagement with the Fund and its recipients worldwide.

GBCHealth has years of experience engaging the private sector in international HIV/AIDS prevention efforts and is now expanding those efforts to the HIV epidemic in the United States. GBC uses its collective knowledge and experience to help inform the development of Act Against AIDS campaigns.

GBC has paired with local governments, health departments, and community based organizations to scale up local and regional HIV/AIDS projects that are reaching African Americans, Black gay and bisexual men, and health care providers in support of Act Against AIDS. Examples of targeted efforts include the Washington, DC, campaign Ask for the Test/Offer the Test, and Get Screened Oakland in Oakland, California. GBCHealth’s expertise also lies in coaching and capacity building.

To learn more about GBCHealth, visit their Web site at www.gbchealth.com.

A nonprofit public charity, the Magic Johnson Foundation, founded by Earvin “Magic” Johnson in 1991, works to develop programs and support community-based organizations that address the educational, health and social needs of ethnically diverse, urban communities.

Since its inception in 1991, the Magic Johnson Foundation has had a significant, impact toward positively changing the face of urban, minority communities. The organization’s programs and services are dedicated to having an affirmative effect on community revitalization by eliminating negative cultural barriers; advancing economic and social equality by engaging minorities in every aspect of their communities; increasing academic and innovative achievement; raising HIV/AIDS awareness, treatment and prevention; creating positive emerging leaders; and promoting collaboration and alliance among all sectors of the community (businesses, educational institutions, legislative, community and faith-based organizations, and policymakers).

CDC partnered with the Magic Johnson Foundation and Black Entertainment Television (BET) on February 18, 2011, in conducting the first-ever E.R.A.S.E. (Empowering and Reinforcing Awareness of Students through Education) HIV Youth Summit at Centennial High School in Compton, California. More than 1,000 students attended the summit, which included a Q & A session with peer leaders and entertainers like Isaac Keys, Lamman Rucker, and Shauna Chin. The event, which focused on HIV prevention among youth, was moderated by comedian Joe Clair of BET. The students were provided basic HIV/AIDS information, prevention messages, and an opportunity to get tested for HIV and STDs by the Magic Johnson mobile (provided by AIDS Healthcare Foundation) and the LA County Health Department.

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions.
CDC has a 10-year partnership with BET in support of their HIV/AIDS education, prevention and community engagement initiatives.

CDC has provided online and offline support to the brand’s Emmy-winning, Rap-it-Up HIV/
AIDS awareness campaign, including technical assistance to support the development of campaign pages on Twitter and Facebook.  Additionally, CDC has co-branded materials for dissemination at local events, coordinated CDC leadership and partnership participation in World AIDS Day broadcasts for “106 & Park,” the nation’s leading cable music countdown.

Most recently, CDC partnered with BET to host the first-ever E.R.A.S.E. (Empowering and Reinforcing Awareness of Students through Education) HIV Youth Summit at Centennial High School in Compton, California. More than 1,000 students attended the summit, which included a Q & A session with peer leaders and entertainers like Isaac Keys, Lamman Rucker, and Shauna Chin. The event, which focused on HIV prevention among youth, was moderated by comedian Joe Clair of BET. The students were provided basic HIV/AIDS information, prevention messages, and an opportunity to get tested for HIV and STDs by the Magic Johnson mobile (provided by AIDS Healthcare Foundation) and the LA County Health Department.

AAA and its partners have had the strong voices of celebrity spokespersons to carry HIV prevention messages to communities across the nation. These celebrities, like Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Laila Ali, Raheem DeVaughn, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and astronaut Jose Hernandez, have done public service announcements, hosted events and concerts, promoted AAA and HIV prevention through their social media channels, and made appearances in support of AAA and AAALI partners.
CDC also regularly coordinates with highly influential entities such as Bronner Bros Enterprise, Magic Johnson Foundation, and Black Entertainment Television to conduct HIV prevention outreach activities at the local and national level.

Bronner Bros. Enterprise

CDC has partnered with the Bronner Bros. Enterprise for more than two years to promote HIV/AIDS education and prevention.

Bronner Bros. Enterprise consists of Bronner Bros. beauty products and hair product lines, UPSCALE magazine, Cottonwood Hot Springs Spa and Motel in Alabama, Bronner Bros. International Beauty and Trade Shows, The Word of Faith Family Worship Center, and The Ark of Salvation Worship Center.

Through this partnership, CDC is able to bring HIV awareness, education, and prevention to the forefront of the Bronner Bros. International Hair Show (BBIHS) held in Atlanta. Each year, the BBIHS attracts more than 60,000 hairstylists, barbers, salon owners, exhibitors, manufacturers, distributors, and hair industry students from around the world for the three-day event.

In September 2010, HIV/AIDS awareness messages were integrated throughout the Bronner Bros. International Hair Show. Mass media channels and event videos were used to promote AAA and the Business Responds to AIDS/Labor Responds to AIDS program’s “Shop Talk: What You and Your Clients Don’t Know Could Hurt You” workshop. The “Shop Talk” workshop focused on delivering basic HIV information, engaging clients in HIV/AIDS conversation, and making HIV prevention, testing, and care referrals.

The attendees, totaling more than 200 stylists and barbers, also participated in role playing activities, and were given hair capes, smocks, t-shirts, and barber jackets displaying prevention and awareness messages. Celebrity stylists, including Dwight Eubanks of the Purple Door Salon & Spa and Real Housewives of Atlanta and Kaye Flewellen of the Flewellen Beauty Salon in Dallas, and public health experts provided the training. HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention, and education was also promoted through the use of the exhibit space, where more than 4,700 palm cards, fact sheets, and other HIV prevention materials were distributed to attendees.

CDC and Bronner Bros. will continue their outreach to the beauty industry through the Stylist and Barber Prevention Network, a sub-set of the Business Responds to AIDS/Labor Responds to AIDS Program and the Act Against AIDS network. CDC will provide this network of more than 180 stylists and barbers with prevention and awareness messages, who will in turn share the information with their clients, families, and friends.

CDC regularly coordinates with influential entities across various sectors, including Arts & Entertainment, Business/Labor, Civic/Social, Education, Elected Officials, Faith, Health and Media.

Partnerships allow CDC to extend the reach of HIV prevention messages, while providing partners an opportunity to actualize individual and/or organizational goals related to corporate social responsibility.  Partners are selected primarily for their proven ability to reach specific populations at increased risk at the national and/or local level.

CDC provides partners with varying degrees of technical assistance, including the development of HIV/AIDS prevention materials for dissemination at local events, digital resources, capacity building, strategic guidance for national and local activities, and linkages to other national and local partners.

Joining Act Against AIDS

The Act Against AIDS campaign’s partner relationships are managed by the National Partnerships Team (NPT), a multidisciplinary team within the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention’s (DHAP) Prevention Communications Branch (PCB).

If you are interested in learning more about what it means to be partner and how you can Act Against AIDS at the local and national level, please contact CDC’s National Partnerships Team at: NPT@cdc.gov.