St. Charles Community College will celebrate AIDS Awareness Week Nov. 28-Dec. 1 in honor of World AIDS Day Dec. 1.
The week's events will include presentations, films and free HIV testing on the college's campus at 4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive in Cottleville. All of the events are free and open to the public.
SCC's celebration was inspired by SCC student and AIDS survivor Brryan Jackson, who spoke about his experience growing up with AIDS last year on World AIDS Day.
"We wanted to provide a variety of events to educate the SCC community about AIDS awareness," Mandi Smith, SCC student activities coordinator, said in a news release.
At each event, attendees will be able to sign a community ribbon in support of AIDS awareness, sponsored by SCC's S.A.G.E. (Straights and Gays for Equality) organization.
Following is a list of events planned at SCC. Each event will be in the College Center rotunda, unless otherwise noted.
Nov. 28
7 p.m.: The 1993 film "Philadelphia" (rated PG-13) will be shown in the auditorium of the Daniel J. Conoyer Social Sciences Building. Starring Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington, "Philadelphia" follows the story of a man with AIDS who is fired by a conservative law firm because of his condition and hires a small-time lawyer as the only willing advocate for a wrongful dismissal suit.
Nov. 29
1 p.m.: "Raising a Positive Child," presentation by SCC student Katie Meadows, who adopted an HIV-positive child eight years ago. She will share her story about being the parent of a child living with this disease.
Nov. 30
11 a.m.-1 p.m.: free HIV testing provided by Project ARK (AIDS/HIV Resources and Knowledge), a cooperative network of St. Louis area health care providers that deliver primary care to children with HIV.
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: free red ribbons handed out by the SCC Student Nurse Organization in the Student Center.
1 p.m.: "HIV: 30 Years Later," presentation by Danny Gladden, HIV/STD prevention coordinator for Washington University School of Medicine, Project ARK. Gladden will discuss the time line of HIV since the first cases were reported in 1981.
Dec. 1
11 a.m.-1 p.m.: free HIV testing provided by Project ARK.
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: free red ribbons handed out by the SCC Student Nurse Organization in the Student Center.
1 p.m.: "Living With AIDS," presentation by Kelly Nolan and Stacey Slovavek, a child life specialist, on what it's like living with this disease as well as the emotional toll that individuals go through.
SCC's AIDS Awareness Week is sponsored by SCC Student Activities and the SCC Health and Wellness Department of the Math, Science and Health Division. For more information, contact Mandi Smith at asmith@stchas.edu or 636-922-8469.
