Johnathon Briggs, communications director at AIDS Foundation of Chicago, told Windy City Times how he came to partner with FootworKINGz: ‘In 2006 and 2007, as a Chicago Tribune reporter, I wrote several stories about the culture and art of [the dance form] footworkin’, which led me to the dancers now known as the FootworKINGz. When I joined the AIDS Foundation of Chicago last year, I pitched the idea of partnering with them as a way to inject energy into the Run & Walk and help generate AIDS awareness among Chicago youth. The idea blossomed into reality with the support of Chicago Creative Partnership, [local photographer] Chris Lake and the CAPS Group [which placed the female dancer over the male ones in the shot].’ The FootworKINGz, who have been featured on MTV, modeled in order to raise AIDS awareness among Chicago’s youth.
AIDS Run & Walk Chicago 2008 will take place Sun., Sept. 20, at Columbus and Balbo in Grant Park. Registration is $25 in advance and $30 on-site. See www.AIDSRunWalk.org or call 312-334-0946. Photos and text by Andrew Davis; official logo courtesy of Johnathon Briggs