PROGRAM SUCCESS – EASTER 2013 PAGE 27
“I AM MY BROTHER/SISTER’S KEEPER” CONFERENCE 2013
Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry gives opening remarks
DAYTONA BEACH – The Minority AIDS Network of Volusia/Flagler is hosting the “I Am My Brother/Sister’s
Keeper” Conference from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 30. The conference will take place at Bethune-Cookman
University’s L. Gale Lemerand School of Nursing, 739 W. International Speedway Blvd., in Daytona Beach.
The keynote speaker is HIV/AIDS activist and Jacksonville native Renee’ LadyByrd Burgess. The mother of three
became an HIV/AIDS activist in 2008, months after being diagnosed as HIV positive. Her inspirational story is one
that she enjoys sharing in an effort to educate others about how to prevent the spread of HIV. Burgess will share her
shocking experience of hearing that she was infected while being in a married relationship with a partner who had
knowingly infected her without telling her of his status. “It can happen to you as easily as it happened to me,” said
LadyByrd Burgess. She is currently a junior at the Florida Institute of Technology majoring in computer information
systems.
“We are delighted to have Ms. Burgess as one of our conference speakers,” said Dr. Bonnie J. Sorensen, director of the
Volusia County Health Department. “The purpose of this conference is to provide important information so people can
make informed decisions about living healthy lifestyles,
sex, stigma and faith.”
In addition to Ms. Burgess, Derrick Henry, Mayor of
Daytona Beach will give an opening welcome.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, African Americans face the most severe
burden of HIV of all racial/ethnic groups in the United
States. Despite representing only 14 percent of the US
population in 2009, African Americans accounted for 44
percent of all new HIV infections in that year.
Compared with members of other races and ethnicities,
African Americans account for a higher proportion of
HIV infections at all stages of disease-from new
infections to deaths.
The conference is free to the public. Registration
includes continental breakfast, lunch, door prizes,
information and more. To register for the “I Am My
Brother/Sister’s Keeper” Conference, please call 386-
274-0500 ext. 0662.
The conference sponsors include:
* Minority AIDS Network of Volusia/Flagler
* Abraham Daughters House of Refuge
* Florida Department of Health
* Gilead Sciences Inc.
* CommCare Pharmacy
* VITAS