The Wall-Las Memorias Project

2010 AIDS Awareness and HIV Testing Initiative with Chivas USA

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 05:30:00 -0700

On Sunday, August 29th, 2010, The Wall Las Memorias Project and Chivas USA soccer club will host the fourth annual AIDS awareness night. The evening will feature the Major League Soccer game between DC United and Chivas USA at 7pm, to be held at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

The partnership between The Wall Las Memorias Project and Chivas USA is a joint effort to promote AIDS awareness and HIV testing in the Latino community of Los Angeles County. 2010 will mark the fourth consecutive year of this initiative with a purpose of reducing the stigma surrounding the disease and promoting..

Los Angeles World AIDS Day Observance

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:06:41 -0700

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2, 2009
Keith Malone, (323) 514-3282

Los Angeles World AIDS Day Observance
Honors the Memory of AIDS Activist & MTVs The
Real World Star Pedro Zamora

With Zamoras sister and niece in attendance, organizers of the event will launch a
campaign to ask the U.S. Postal Service to honor Zamoras legacy with a stamp.

"City of Los Angeles Council Proclaims 2009 As Meth Awareness Year"

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:10:00 -0700

Community activists and city leaders hope a yearlong awareness campaign will help reduce meth usage

400 Gather to Observe World AIDS Day

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:31:33 -0700

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 1, 2008

CONTACT Keith Malone, (323) 514-3282

400 Gather to Observe World AIDS Day at Eastside AIDS Monument

A television news series about HIV/AIDS in Tijuana has been honored with a regional Edward R. Murrow Award

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:30:30 -0700

A television news series about HIV/AIDS in Tijuana has been honored with a regional Edward R. Murrow Award, presented by the Radio-Television News Directors Association. It is indeed gratifying that the important issue of HIV/AIDS has been recognized with such an award.

Cal State Northridge Professor and students visited Casa Hogar Las Memorias. Lincoln Harrison, student Natalia Zelaya, and James Hill produced a three-part series for KCET, as well as a half-hour program for L.A. Channel 36.

They are now working on a Spanish version of the half-hour program, and hope to have DVDs available for the XVII International AIDS conference in Mexico City on August 3-8, 2008.

AIDS Awareness Night with Chivas USA

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:41:22 -0700

June 4, 2008

Media Contact: Eddie Martinez
323-257-1056 ext. 28/emartinez@thewalllasmemorias.org

The Wall Las Memorias and Chivas USA team up to fight AIDS

Free Chivas USA game tickets to be distributed at local soccer fields and churches to encourage HIV testing and promote the annual AIDS Awareness night.

The Wall Las Memorias to host annual World AIDS Day event at Lincoln Park

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 22:10:00 -0700

This year, more than fifty volunteers from local youth groups and high schools will help set up and light 3,000 luminarias through out Lincoln Park in honor of continued AIDS awareness and activism...

Faith Leaders Embrace Call to Action to Fight AIDS in Latino Community

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 09:40:00 -0700

First ever conference on AIDS and faith brings together
communities of faith and people affected by HIV

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 26 A historic conference on Latinos, faith, culture and HIV came come to a conclusion yesterday with an unprecedented call to action...

Faith and Community Leaders Unveil Final AIDS Monument Mural

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 15:30:00 -0700

September 7, 2007

Faith and Community Leaders Unveil Final AIDS Monument Mural

Presidential Candidate Governor Richardson Attends Morning Ceremony in Los Angeles

Los Angeles , CA - Faith and community leaders celebrated the unveiling of the final art mural for The Wall Las Memorias AIDS Monument in the eastside Los Angeles community of Lincoln Heights. What started as a dream for project founder and executive director Richard Zaldivar in 1993 came to a conclusion today with an unveiling of the "Spirituality and AIDS" mural. Ceremony was attended by Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico; clergy members representing the Roman Catholic, Evangelical and Protestant communities and over 100 community members.

The AIDS monument was officially dedicated in 2004 but completion was delayed due to controversy surrounding the art mural "Spirituality and AIDS". Prior to the dedication of the monument, a few community members objected to one of the selected art mural depicting the image of a Madonna. Opposition viewed the piece as a violation of church and state since public funds were used to support the project. Monument organizers decided to not use the questioned mural and re-commissioned artist Alex Alferov to submit a new art piece reflecting the theme of spirituality and AIDS. The new art mural is called "I Once Knew a Child with AIDS" depicts an image of a child and butterflies.

Opening the official ceremony was Herbert Siguenza of comedy group Culture Clash who all attendees to the morning event. The opening prayer was provided by Rev. Kathy Cooper-Ledesma, board member for the Wall Las Memorias Project and Pastor of the Hollywood United Methodist Church. Richard Zaldivar provided the opening remarks and cited the lyrics of the theatrical song "The Impossible Dream". He felt lyrics of the song best depicted the passion and dedication of the project staff members in fighting AIDS in the community. Their commitment to providing education and grassroots organizing community at a grassroots level has built wide support for the project. According to Zaldivar, "AIDS is alive and recognition of project workers is important since they are the ones in the trenches fighting this pandemic". Zaldivar also thanked New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and California State Senator Cedillo for their support of the unveiling ceremony. Senator Cedillo was scheduled to appear but unfortunately was not able to attend ceremony due to last minute work commitments in the state capital. From Sacramento, Cedillo offered his gratitude to all individuals especially faith leaders for using spirituality as a vehicle for discussing HIV/AIDS at the dinner table. Senator Cedillo stated "By continuing to work together we can increase awareness and prevention in combating HIV/AIDS among future generations".

Governor Richardson was given the opportunity to say a few words to audience. Richardson stated, "It is an honor to be here for the unveiling of the art mural at The Wall Las Memorias AIDS monument. "HIV/AIDS continues to devastate our families, loved ones and communities. I applaud the work of this organization in bringing together church leaders, parents, community based organizations, and the community. Together, they are creating a greater awareness and discussion about this devastating pandemic."

The event program also consisted of testimonials by Laura Heffron, Director of Community Relations for Macy's and Lupe Valdez Director of Public Policy and Community Affairs from Union Pacific Railroad.

Fr. Richard Estrada of Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic church stated in his prayer that "God is watching and listening to the supporters of the monument The Wall Las Memorias. For without him and his help, we would not be here today among this magnificent crowd"

The audience was electrified with the performance of 18-year-old Karla Carillo, as she sang a cappella to Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful". Following the song, the crowd moved over to the art panel where Governor Richardson and founder Richard Zaldivar unveiled the art mural. The audience was moved as Karla Carillo sang "Amor Eterno (Eternal Love)". Doves were also released from the monument adding an emotional finale to the long hard campaign for the construction of the monument.

Other participants included Rev. Roberto Colon, Chairman of the Council, Synod of Southern & Hawaii, Presbyterian Church; Johnny Polanco, band leader, Conjunto Amistad; and Fr. Ruben Restrepo of St.Vincent De Paul Catholic Church.

There are sixty-five million people diagnosed with AIDS through out the world and in Los Angeles County over 45% of people living with AIDS are Latinos.

Founded in 1993, the mission of The Wall Las Memorias is to preserve the AIDS monument as an inspirational tool to educate the community about HIV/AIDS, cultural denial and to promote activism and a healthy living. The organization provides HIV prevention services to the high risk population in Los Angeles. The organization also provides services reaching out to the faith community and families.

For more information about The Wall Las Memorias Project please call (323) 257-1056 or visit www.thewalllasmemorias.org

AIDS Activist Richard Zaldivar Meets with Spanish AIDS Officials

Mon, 15 Jan 2007 16:00:00 -0700

NEWS RELEASE - January 15, 2007

AIDS Activist Richard Zaldivar Meets with Spanish AIDS Officials

From left to right: Marisa Garcia Tunon, subdirector of general of international relaltions; Richard Zaldivar, Executive Director, The Wall Las Memorias Project; Mar Val DZ, PHD, Secretary of the National Plan on AIDS for Spain. To the right: Jose Onorbe de Torre, Subdirector de information, setudiosicoordination de programmas de prevencion y asistencia and Monica Suarez Cardona.

Los Angeles AIDS activist and founder of The Wall Las Memorias Project recently met with Mar Val DZ, Secretary of the National Plan on AIDS for the Ministry of Health & Consumer Affairs for the government of Spain. Richard Zaldivar took time our from his vacation schedule to meet with the National AIDS director. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the climate of drug use and HIV in the Latino community in Spain and the United States.

Spain is doing an incredible job in the area of HIV prevention and care, Zaldivar stated. Our communities are oceans apart; while there are some cultural differences, there are also many similarities on issues that contribute to HIV/AIDS. We will be sharing some information about crystal methamphetamine use and other pertinent data in the near future, Zaldivar further stated.

The entire country reported an estimate of 140,000 people living with HIV/AIDS as of the end of the year 2005.In Spain a high rate of the contraction of AIDS is through IV drug use, whereas the majority of cases of AIDS in the United States are through sexual contact.

While in Spain, Zaldivar also had an opportunity to meet with Alberto Martin Perez, of the Colectivo de Lesbianas and Gays de Madrid, which oversees the HIV Prevention and treatments services for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community in Madrid.