February 1, 2008
TIME TO REFLECT
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Black leaders at Sunday's press conference |
The National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS (NBLCA) held a press conference at Brooklyn Borough Hall on Sunday calling on the New York State's AIDS Institute to appoint more black people in leadership roles, and to involve the community in the hiring process. Despite the fact that almost 50 percent of new infections in 2005 in New York State were among African Americans, there are no African-Americans at top leadership posts at the AIDS Institute.
Joining NBLCA in its demands were State Senators Kevin Parker (Bklyn - 21), John Sampson (Bklyn - 19) and Eric Adams (BKLYN - 20), Gwendolyn Edwards of East New York/Brownsville HIV CARE Network, Carrie Mobley, representing City Council Speaker Christine Quinn's office, City Council Member Letitia James (Bklyn - 35) and Von Michaels of Black Vets for Social Justice.
The AIDS Institute which coordinates the state health department's HIV/AIDS health care, prevention and outreach, has a budget of more than $400 million. It has made strides in appointing Latinos in prominent roles, including new executive director Humberto Cruz, but has lagged when it comes to African-Americans.
"It's not 1981 when AIDS is considered a gay white male disease," said Dee Bailey of NBLCA. "It's a black disease and it's been a black disease for a very long time, and it's time for us to look at the leadership to reflect that."
Housing Works Director of New York City Public Policy terri smith-caronia, who attended the press conference, echoed Bailey's calls for more representation. "As the epidemic becomes darker and darker, the leadership should reflect those who are affected," she said. "It's important to have people who are involved in the community who can say, 'I don't see it like that.'"
The New York State Health Department press office did not respond to the Update's request for comment.