Piper Kerman to Speak at AIDS Education Month Event
Orange is the New Black memoirist Piper Kerman will speak at Philly’s first End AIDS 2015 Conference. | Shutterstock.com
Philly HIV/AIDS nonprofit Philadelphia FIGHT has released the itinerary for its 21st annual AIDS Education Month (AEM). Taking place throughout June, the schedule includes all kinds of parties, panels and workshops geared toward increasing local awareness, and sharing up-to-date information about how to prevent and treat HIV.
The big news surrounding the monthlong event is the brand new End AIDS 2015 Conference, which effectively combines three AEM events: the HIV Prevention and Outreach Summit, the Prison Health Care and Reentry Summit, and the Faith Leaders and Community Summit. The conference will include 65 workshops and a plethora of speakers—perhaps the most notable of which is Piper Kerman, prison-reform activist and author of the memoir that birthed Netflix series Orange is the New Black.
On top of that, there will also be the annual Gospel Concert, the Summit Ball hosted by The COLOURS Organization, and Philadelphia Black Pride, and the always-popular Hip-Hop for Philly Concert, which encourages youth to know their status by giving them a free ticket when they get tested at participating sites around Philly. The headliner for the concert has yet to be named, but in the past they’ve pulled such big names as Wale and Fabolous. Stay tuned for any updates on that, and check out the full AEM itinerary below:
June 2nd: Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony (featuring keynote speaker Deon Haywood, executive eirector of Women With A Vision). 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, Independence Visitors Center, 6th and Market streets.
June 8th: The End AIDS 2015 Conference (featuring speakers Piper Kerman, Chief of Staff to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Everett Gillison, and Julie (JD) Davids, managing editor of TheBody.com). 8 am 6 pm, Pennsylvania Convention Center, 13th and Arch streets.
June 14th: Gospel Concert (featuring JJ Hairston and Youthful Praise). 5 pm to 8 pm. Mount Airy Church of God in Christ, 6401 Ogontz Avenue.
June 20th: The Summit Ball: Climbing Our Way to the Top. 7 pm to midnight, University of the Arts, Hamilton Hall, 320 South Broad Street.
June 27th: Hip-Hop for Philly Concert (time and location TBD).
June 28th: Community Cookout (featuring food!). 1 pm to 4 pm, Fairmount Park, Area No. 2, 33rd Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue.
