FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 1, 2008

CONTACT Keith Malone, (323) 514-3282

400 Gather to Observe World AIDS Day at Eastside AIDS Monument

Despite progress made in communities across Los Angeles, some families are still reluctant to submit names, wanting to keep the cause of death secret.
(Los Angeles, CA) A gathering of four hundred people, including families, community residents and people concerned about the HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles came together on World AIDS Day for Noche de las Memorias (Evening of Memories) at the AIDS monument in Lincoln Park to remember those lost to AIDS and renew their commitment in the fight against the disease. Names of loved ones submitted by family and friends and etched on the monuments granite panels were unveiled.
Despite progress made in educating the public about HIV and efforts to address the silence and shame that accompany the disease, families remain reluctant to discuss the issue of a loved one lost to AIDS. Some families were hesitant to submit names for inclusion on the wall panels of the eastside AIDS monument.
While weve made tremendous progress in reaching out to families, and building bridges to clergy and communities of faith, HIV remains a stigma and source of pain for some families, said Richard Zaldivar. The goal of the monument is to break the silence and chip away at the shame and denial we see daily.
Joining the World AIDS Day observance were CBS 2 News Anchor Laura Diaz, who served as emcee, and Mexican Consult General Juan Marcos Guttierez.
The tragedy of AIDS does not recognize boundaries and, today, communities, families and governments in Mexico and the United States come together to remember that HIV can and must be prevented through information and education, said Juan Marcos Gutierrez, Consul General. Tonight, we reflect and renew our efforts in the fight against this disease, here and across the globe.
As part of the evenings agenda, several individuals and organizations were recognized and honored for their contributions to the fight against AIDS. Honorees include: Time Warner Cable, Dino T. Barajas, Attorney, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, Daniel Zingale, Chief of Staff, First Lady of California Maria Shriver and Ignacio Olivares, Time Warner Cable.
In total, more than 300 names of individuals lost to AIDS were on view, including the most recently submitted names. Names were submitted by partners, siblings, spouses, friends and parents. A suggested donation of $50 is requested to process the name and etch it on a panel. The two granite panels will eventually hold approximately 7,500 names.
Behind each name is a story of someone who was loved and who is missed, said Richard Zaldivar, executive director of The Wall-Las Memorias Project. And behind each name is a story of people who are deeply to committed to ending AIDS as we know it.
One of the key elements of Noche has always been the focus on spirituality and healing.
HIV/AIDS challenges us to be more compassionate and giving of ourselves, said the Rev. Kathy Cooper-Ledesma, senior pastor at Hollywood United Methodist Church. And, in doing so, we ground ourselves in Gods grace and love and work for Gods justice.
Sponsors of Noche de las Memorias World AIDS Day observance included CBS 2 / KCAL 9 News, Macys, American Express, Gilead, InMagazine, Jarritos, Los Angeles City Councilmember Ed Reyes, Union Bank of California, Antigua Bread and Stewart Filmscreen.
"We stand on the edge of unprecedented transformation, challenged by a new leader to be agents of both hope and change, said Mario J. Perez, director of the Office of AIDS Programs and Policy of the County of Los Angeles. In that same spirit, on this World AIDS Day, let us renew our work to address the stigma, social injustices and discrimination that continue to create health disparities, particularly among communities of color."
The Wall - Las Memorias Project (www.thewalllasmemoriasproject.org) is dedicated to promoting wellness and preventing illness among Latino populations affected by HIV/AIDS by using the inspiration of The AIDS Monument as a catalyst for social change. This World AIDS Day marks the 15th year Noche de las Memorias has taken place at Lincoln Park. The Wall Las Memorias Project is funded in part by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health, Office of AIDS Programs and Policy.
# # #