Rayceen Pendarvis accepted an invitation to co-host the World AIDS Day Red Carnation Affair. The event served as an awareness campaign aimed at informing the public on how they could get involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Three-time Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, entertainer, Raheem DeVaughn (pictured directly above), whose LoveLife Foundation actively engages in various HIV prevention efforts, served as the event's special guest. Additionally, free food and beverages were offered to all in attendance.
As the title suggests, the special event served to honor World AIDS Day, a day set aside annually in an effort to raise awareness of the AIDS pandemic, while also providing an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to stand in solidarity with those living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness. Founded in 1988, World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day.
The Mayor of Washington also aimed to have the city do its part in helping to minimize the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Exactly one year prior to this event, on December 1, 2016, Mayor Muriel Elizabeth Bowser (pictured above), announced the formation of 90/90/90/50, the city's plan to help end the HIV epidemic by 2020 within Washington, DC. Through this public-private partnership, the 90/90/90/50 Plan (see image below) specifically aims to achieve the following core goals:
- 90 percent of DC residents with HIV will know their status
- 90 percent of DC residents diagnosed with HIV will be in treatment
- 90 percent of DC residents in treatment will achieve viral load suppression
- The District will see an overall 50 percent decrease in new HIV cases
In her speech, the honorable Muriel Bowser stated “We have made tremendous progress over the past decade in combating HIV/AIDS. For nine consecutive years, we have been able to decrease the number of new HIV cases in the District, and when residents are diagnosed with HIV, they are getting care faster and they are starting – and staying on – treatments that we know are effective."
The Mayor continued by stating, "Now, we need to continue getting the word out about what more can be done. We want all Washingtonians to know how to get tested and how to access the care and resources available to them.” The mayor also took time to issued a special proclamation in honor of World AIDS Day (pictured below).
Following the mayor's remarks, attendees were invited to take part in various service projects, such as packing safe-sex kits and creating emergency preparedness care packages.
Volunteers from several organizations were also on hand to dispense information about the various services they routinely provide. Representatives from several major organizations were in attendance including reps from Casa Ruby, Us Helping Us, People Into Living, Whitman-Walker Health, and the Women’s Collective.
The event was officially presented by Serve DC – The Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism, the organization which serves as Washington's government agency dedicated to promoting service as an innovative, sustainable solution to pressing social challenges.
The festivities were co-sponsored by The Mayor's Office of LGBTQ Affairs, LoveLife Foundation, and The DC Center for the LGBT Community, and held in the same building as Serve DC's headquarters at the Frank D. Reeves Center of Municipal Affairs in Washington, DC.
Click below to view a collection of images.
Click below to view a special Facebook Live Video featuring Rayceen Pendarvis.
Click below to view a Facebook Video featuring Mayor Muriel Elizabeth Bowser and Delano D. Hunter, III - Chief Service Officer/Executive Director of Serve DC.
For more information visit: Serve DC – The Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism
