"Empowered" will support community-based programs that educate women about the disease.
Alicia Keys' mission to educate the public about HIV/AIDS isn't stopping at all with her own foundation Keep a Child Alive. The singer has just launched a new campaign, "Empowered," to get the whole world talking about prevention and target those who are disproportionately affected by the disease. Keys met with women at the United Medical Center in Washington, D.C., on Monday to talk about their journeys and the obstacles they've faced since their diagnosis. Her non-profit foundation currently provides treatment and support to patients and families affected by HIV and AIDS in Africa and India, but with her new campaign, she hopes to expand her reach.
"Empowered," created in partnership with the Kaiser Family Foundation, will provide grants of up to $25,000 to community projects, increase awareness, and educate women about the disease through public service announcements and social media. The key is to get everyone talking about HIV/AIDS in the open, fight stigmas associated with the disease, and encourage each other to get tested.
"Black women are disproportionately affected, making up for the majority of all new infections," Keys said. "That's a must-have conversation."
The campaign will run for five years and will publish annual reports on the public's views, women's experiences and education on HIV/AIDS. To learn more, visit greaterthan.org.
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(Photo: AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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