R&B singer Raheem DeVaughn and neo-soul artist Goapele will participate in a national campaign focused on sexual health and wellness with a free concert and discussion Friday in the Egyptian Ballroom of Atlanta's Fox Theatre.
The event is part of a four-city tour of “ RISE Above,” an initiative developed in collaboration between the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and Oakland-based WORLD ( Women Organized to Respond to Life-threatening Disease) and the Reed for Hope Foundation. It was launched in Oakland in March 2017, during National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness month and promotes sexual health and responsibility among women.
Its local partner is AID Atlanta.
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Samantha Granberry, AHF vice president of marketing and sales, said the event is “specifically tailored to women by women. It’s a chance for women to let their hair down and their secrets out - to talk about topics that are often taboo in our community.”
“We want to encourage people not to be afraid to get tested and not to be afraid to talk with their friends, their children and their families about issues of sexual health that impact us all...This is not just a concert. They can ask questions about mental health and what are the social deterrents that might stop you from going to the doctor to get tested.”
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The project is inspired by the powerful poem, “Still I Rise”, written by the artist, educator and author, the late Maya Angelou. The “Rise Above,” is focused on eliminating HIV-related stigma by educating and empowering women of color about healthy relationships, sexuality and wellness, while featuring an intimate evening of music, conversation and activities.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control , 1 in 4 individuals living with HIV in the United States are women. Black/African American and Hispanic/Latina women continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV, compared with women of other races/ethnicities. Of the total estimated number of women living with diagnosed HIV at the end of 2013, 61 percent; 17 percent were white; and 17 percent were Hispanics/Latinas.
Event preview: R&B singer Raheem DeVaughn and neo-soul artist Goapele will participate in a national campaign focused on sexual health and wellness with a free concert and discussion. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.Program begins at 7 p.m. Friday. Free. Space is limited, but registration is required. Registration does not guarantee admission. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Atlanta Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. NE 404- 881-2100.
