ABOUT US

Facts:
* 30 million world- wide are infected with HIV/AIDS
* 2 million will die this year
* 70% of those infected live in Sub-Saharan Africa , where the majority live on less than $1.00 per day
* Women, especially those 15-24 years old, are infected at much higher rates than men
* There are already 20 million AIDS orphans AIDS can be treated, AIDS can be prevented; WE need to help!

WHAT IS THE UU GLOBAL AIDS COALITION?

We were founded in response to a powerful address given by Stephen Lewis, UN Special Envoy for AIDS in Africa , at the UUA General Assembly in 2002. He faulted those of us in the West for sitting by while the devastation of the AIDS pandemic is causing millions of deaths every year, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.

What later became the UU Global AIDS Coalition was originally founded as a Social Justice Action Group at First Unitarian in Portland , with three major goals: education, political advocacy and direct service. Our first major achievement was to initiate and pass an Action of Immediate Witness at GA in 2003 which commits UU's to speak out as a voice for liberal religion and congregations to become engaged to addressing global AIDS issues. Largely as a result, the UUA Advocacy Office now has an intern working half time on global AIDS issues.

From our base in Portland we have reached out to other congregations throughout the US and Canada. We now have a national board and UUGAC leaders have visibility in several cities in the US: here in Portland through the Portland Area Global AIDS Coalition, which is composed of nearly fifty action groups and is co-chaired by the chair of UUGAC; in Carbondale Illinois where UU's have taken a lead in several community programs; and in Newton, MA where UU congregations have formed a coalition of community groups to work mainly in Zambia. This is a powerful additional way for us to be seen as a force in the community on social and economic justice issues. Our newsletter comes out three times a year and reaches around 100 UU congregations directly and more through other distribution channels. We know of at least ten other UU congregations who are actively involved in programs to bring direct aid to those impacted by the pandemic. We are also proud that UUA President Bill Sinkford spoke out on World AIDS Day 2005 on global AIDS issues.

Our RED RIBBON CONGREGATION PROGRAM, named after the red ribbons people wear on their lapel to indicate support, was designed as a way to recognize congregations who have taken significant steps to become involved in global AIDS issues and to use their example to encourage others to follow suit.

LEADERSHIP

• Acting Chair Jan -June 2010: Ann Pickar, First Unitarian, Portland, OR.
• Chair designate: Terry Cushman, All Souls, Kansas City, MO
• Secretary : Madeleine Lefebvre, Juneau Alaska Fellowship
• Treasurer: Debbie White, Carbondale ILL UU fellowship
• Newsletter editor: Terry Cushman, All Souls, Kansas City
• Red Ribbon Congregation Program: Lyle Smith, Vancouver UU Church, Vancouver, WA.
• Advocacy Coordinator: vacant
• UU-UNO liaison/ Resource developer: Bruce Knotts/Holly Sarkissian, UU-United Nations Office. (ex-officio)
• At large: Dennis Reynolds, Unitarian Universalist Church, Eugene, OR
• At large, Cameryn Flynn, unattached
• Youth/Youth Advisor representatives: vacant
• Fiscal Agent: Carbondale, ILL UU Fellowship
• Web site: Greg Zupan, West Hills Unitarian Fellowship, Portland, OR (www.uuglobalaids.org)

RED RIBBON CONGREGATION PROGRAM
(all are ex officio members of the Steering committee)

The following congregations have been recognized as Red Ribbon Congregations for their continuing leadership in addressing global AIDS issues. We encourage others to contact them direct for information and advice.The following congregations have been recognized as Red Ribbon Congregations for their continuing leadership in addressing global AIDS issues. We encourage others to contact them direct for information and advice.

• All Souls Kansas City, Kansas City, MO. Contact Terry Cushman, tcushman at yahoo dot com
• Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship, Carbondale IL: Contact Carla Feldhammer, hospice88 at aol dot com
• First Parish Lexington MA: Contact Al Jacobson, aljacobson at comcast dot net
• First Unitarian Portland, OR: Patricia O'Shea, poppishea at hotmail dot com or Kirsten Carpentier, kirstencarpentier at hotmail dot com.
• First Unitarian Society in Newton, MA: Contact Peter Smith, psmith at igc dot org
• Juneau UU Fellowship, AK: Contact Madeleine Lefebvre, toisondor at gci dot net
• Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church, Louisville, KY: Contact Arlene4 Tuttle, arlt32 at gmail dot com
• Vancouver UU Church, Vancouver, WA: Contact Lyle Smith, llbs at aol dot com
• Unitarian Universalists of Cumberland Valley, PA: Contact Priscilla Laws, lawsp at dickinson dot edu

TO BECOME A RED RIBBON CONGREGATION

Go to the Red Ribbon Congregation page on our web site, www.uuglobalaids.org, or for more information contact Lyle Smith at llbs at aol dot com or contact any of the congregation contacts listed above.