Although World AIDS Day is officially Dec. 1, a variety of events will take place around Chicago before, during and after that date. A run-down of some of the events is below:
Wed., Nov. 28:
—Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus Full Body Meeting and Open Mic (6-8 p.m. at Little Black Pearl, 1060 E. 47th; www.lovethybrotha.com)
—Better Existence with HIV (BEHIV)–Free HIV testing (10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Loyola University Chicago’s Mertz Hall; www.behiv.org or e-mail tburkin@luc.edu)
Thurs, Nov. 29:
—AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s World of Chocolate (5:30-9 p.m. at Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan; see www.aidschicago.org/events/world_of_chocolate.php)
—Free HIV testing (10 a.m.-4 p.m. at George’s Music Room, 3915 W. Roosevelt; www.istandwithmagic.com)
Fri., Nov. 30:
—Mosaic Initiative World AIDS Day Prayer Breakfast and fundraiser (7-9 a.m., $25/person, $250/table, at The Abbington, 3S002 Rt. 53, Glen Ellyn; 630-665-5194, www.mosaicinitiative.org)
—Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus’ The Red Party (8-11 p.m. at Circuit Nightclub, 3641 N. Halsted; cover-$20-$25; www.lovethybrotha.com)
—’Facing HIV/AIDS’ photographic exhibit opening, (5:15 p.m. at Meadville Lombard Theological School, 5701 S. Woodlawn; see www.meadville.edu/Ab_News_HIVAIDsExhibit.html)
—Free HIV tests (9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at Howard Brown, 4025 N. Sheridan and 1-9 p.m. at Broadway Youth Center, 3179 N. Broadway)
—American Medical Student Association (AMSA) and Chicago Women’s AIDS Project rally to demand reform of PEPFAR (the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), the U.S. global AIDS initiative, from the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates (12-2 p.m. at the office of Sen. Barack Obama, John C. Kluczynski Building, 230 S. Dearborn; www.chicagowomenaidsproject.org)
—Town-hall meeting with representatives from Abbott Laboratories and The Magic Johnson Foundation, followed by entertainment (6 p.m. at the AFC World Outreach Center, 7859 S. Ashland; www.istandwithmagic.com)
—Sex and Art at Columbia College Chicago’s World AIDS Day 2007: workshops and HIV testing (workshops: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. and testing 12-4 p.m. at Conaway Center, 1104 S. Wabash; www.colum.edu)
Sat., Dec. 1:
—HIV testing at Walgreens (10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Walgreens, various locations, including 71st & Jeffery, 75th & State, 26th & Albany and Belmont & Broadway; e-mail hunter_michael@cdph.org for more info)
—Gospel Shout-Out (6-9 p.m. at Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Van Buren; call 773-848-3853)
—The Pocketbook Monologues (4 p.m. at Mercy Hospital Auditorium, 2525 S. Prairie; see www.cityofchicago.orghealth or call Mercy at 312-567-2000)
—The Broadcast Ministers’ Alliance of Chicago and the Illinois Department of Public Health will host day-long HIV awareness activities (at Rainbow/PUSH headquarters, 930 E. 50th; www.basuah.org)
—Liz Long Gallery at Urban Art Retreat: A group show of art by people affected by AIDS/HIV opening reception. (1-4 p.m. at 1957 S. Spaulding; 773-542-9126 or www.urbanartretreat.com)
Sun., Dec. 2:
—Testing at 400 W. 95th (all day)
—TV broadcast of Kevin’s Room: Together (7:30-9 p.m. on WCIU-Channel 26)