DURHAM, N.C. – Organizations from throughout Durham will gather on Thursday evening for Durham’s annual World AIDS Day event, to focus on building and supporting collaboration and coordination among organizations and the community to energize and reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS.

This year’s event, hosted by the Partnership for a Healthy Durham, will be held on November 29, from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the Hayti Heritage Center, located at 804 Old Fayetteville Street in Durham. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.

Those attending the event are encouraged to bring canned goods and nonperishable food items, which will benefit the food pantries of the Alliance of AIDS Services–Carolina and CAARE, Inc.

Festivities will include performances from the Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble, jazz vocalist Noah Powell, spoken word artist Wisdom Pharaoh, Tony Johnson and the Bolero Latin Theater Company, with Patricia Bartlett, from the Duke University AIDS Research and Treatment Center delivering the keynote address.

The event will also feature an official presentation of the 2012 World AIDS Day Quilt, a lighting ceremony, and testimonials.

Food and refreshments will be provided during the event, as well as free HIV and syphilis testing.

Durham County has the fourth highest rate of HIV (29.9 per 100,000) among North Carolina’s counties. Over the last five years, Durham’s HIV rates have remained stable. At the close of 2011, there were 1,467 residents living with HIV.

“World AIDS Day allows us to gather and raise awareness, honor those who have passed and celebrate accomplishments in treatment and prevention,” said Monica Curry, Public Health Education Specialist with the Durham County Department of Public Health. “As public health professionals, we are committed to raising awareness, advocating and finding a cure, but the community is the most important part of the fight against HIV/AIDS. The community has a powerful voice and can influence decisions related to research and work with elected officials to advocate for more prevention and better care for people living with HIV.”

For more information about World AIDS Day, contact Curry by calling (919) 560-7766, by e-mail at mcurry@dconc.gov , or by visiting the Partnership for a Healthy Durham’s website at www.healthydurham.org.

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