The town hall meeting and panel discussion will be moderated by PageSix TV and Sirius/XM host, Bevy Smith, and will tackle the impact of stigma on the rising infection rates in communities of color and how entertainment can have positive effects on the current state of HIV/AIDS. Joining Bevy and the directors on the panel will be noted journalist and cultural expert, Emil Wilkebin, HIV Stops With Me spokesperson, Kimberly Canady-Griffith, a wife and mother living with the virus, and lead actor, Nic Few (The Chadwick Journals, The Counter: 1960).
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), African-Americans account for more: new HIV infections; people estimated to be living with HIV; and, HIV-related deaths than any other racial/ethnic group in the U.S. Black women are also disproportionately at risk with approximately 40,000 women living with HIV/AIDS in New York State. In 2010, African-American women accounted for the largest share of new HIV infections among women, and the incidence rate among African-American women was 20 times the rate among white women and over 4 times the rate among Latinas. The panel will discuss these topics, as well as the goals of New York State’s blueprint for Ending the Epidemic of HIV/AIDS.
Is love greater than our secrets? 90 DAYS explores that question through the story of a man and a woman who are faced with a life-altering decision after ninety days of dating. “We believe that storytelling is a perfect vehicle for advocacy and activism. With 90 DAYS our goal is to use entertainment to advocate for the message that love is greater than anything, including HIV,” Williams explains. Since premiering at the 2017 NAACP Image Awards in February, the film has screened at over 32 top film festivals and headlined notable screenings, including, the National Action Network’s National Convention, the National Association of Black Journalists National Convention, and the 2017 Imagenation Outdoor Arts & Film Festival.
For more information about the film (www.90DaysTheFilm.com). The filmmakers have been traveling the country with the series called 90 DAYS: ADVOCACY, ACTIVISM & STORYTELLING ©, a series of screenings and discussions about healthy relationships, created by Nathan Hale Williams. For additional information on community engagement, sponsorship, and/or media inquiries contact Richard E. Pelzer II.