Special to
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — Thirty years ago, the first cases of HIV garnered the attention of the entire world. Today, the HIV/AIDS epidemic has truly infiltrated our community as a whole.

With approximately 1.2 million people in the nation infected with the HIV virus, there is approximately one in five people living with HIV and unaware of their status, placing them at a greater risk of spreading the virus.

Every nine-and-a-half minutes someone in our nation is infected by this debilitating illness.

Roughly, 75 percent of HIV/AIDS cases in the U.S. are among men. There are 25 percent of Americans living with HIV who are women, and the disease disproportionately impacts women of color.

Subsequently, racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately represented in the HIV epidemic and die sooner than whites.

One quarter of new HIV infections occur among adolescents and young adults, ages 13 to 29.

Twenty-four percent of people living with HIV are 50 or older, and 15 percent of new HIV/AIDS cases occur among people in this age group.

At 5 p.m. June 22, the Right Choice Project HIV/AIDS Awareness Program, whose founder and CEO is Antoine M. Jasmine, will host its first annual Champions Banquet, honoring African American/black men who have made gargantuan contributions to our community as well as our society.

This dynamic fundraising event will allow the Right Choice Project the ability to provide free HIV testing on a broader range. Presently, the hours of operation are Tuesdays from noon to 3 p.m. at 516 E. Airline Highway in LaPlace.

The contributions raised will allow an increase in hours of operation as well as the ability to expand testing capabilities to include STIs and other analysis and hire staff.

Everyone is invited to attend and support this epic event.

Increasing the HIV awareness in the St. John the Baptist Parish of Region 3; this is the region of our community regarding the HIV national breakdown.

The noble gentlemen acknowledged are as follows: Gary Bolden, Jared Dunn, Randal Gaines, Damion Johnson Sr., Glenn Watson and Kevin Work.

These affluent black men are pioneering the paths for others and have exhibited the most premier acts of humanitarianism, philanthropy, mentoring, accomplishment and service to our communities, families and society.

We invite you to come out and honor our state representative, along with others who are making a difference for the greater good of our community, society and the world.

Choice International Ministries Community Development Corporation is tactically positioned and equipped to transform the lives that have been plagued by abuse, drugs, familial disadvantages, unforeseen mishaps or other social ills and to add value and cater to the holistic well-being of every individual affiliated with our community.

It is our desire to continue to provide the multiplicity of programs in our community and the surrounding vicinities.

Our state-of-the-art facility, which addresses every aspect of the quality of life that exists, provides a spiritually endowed worship service program, bounteous self-help and self-motivation conferences and crusades, a plethora of educational enhancement programs in addition to training, mentoring, and developmental programs for economically disadvantaged men, women, and youth.

Because of viable funding resources, including grants, fundraising events, concerts and productions, private and corporate charitable donations, and through collaborative efforts, CIMCDC continues to set the standard of assisting those in need in and around the LaPlace and Tri-parish areas.

Our programs start with a critical competitive edge as there exists no other organization as CIMCDC in this vicinity that offers extensive training programs on various pro-social activity levels and with emphasis on crime reduction.

President Barak Obama stated in 2010, “Right now, we are experiencing a domestic epidemic that demands a renewed commitment, increased public attention, and leadership.”