Bay Area High School Students Use Art to Learn About HIV/AIDS

Fourth Annual “Don’t Turn Your Back on AIDS” Competition Increases        Disease Awareness Among Youth

OAKLAND, Calif.--Students from more than 15 Bay Area high schools are participating in        the Flowers Heritage Foundation’s Fourth Annual “Don’t Turn Your Back on        AIDS” art competition to highlight the impact the disease continues to        have on young people. According to an April 2009 study by the California        Department of Health Services Office of AIDS, more than 30 percent of        all persons living with HIV/AIDS in California are between the ages of        13 and 29. The competition is part of an interactive program during        which students learn important information regarding HIV/AIDS and are        challenged to express their views of the disease through art.

“Unfortunately, many young people do not know the basic facts about HIV        risk and prevention. Our goal with the Don’t Turn Your Back on AIDS art        competition is to not only educate local teenagers and help reduce their        risk behaviors, but also to foster a safe and creative environment where        they can share their feelings about HIV/AIDS through art,” said Gregory        Edwards, Ed.D., executive director of the Flowers Heritage Foundation.

The program culminates with an exhibition and reception at the        Waterfront Hotel in Oakland on December 5 from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm during        World AIDS weekend. The event will include a silent auction for the        student artwork with proceeds going towards future HIV/AIDS awareness        programs for youth and an awards ceremony during which the winners        receive prize money and earn matching funds for their school art        departments. The judges for the event are Bay Area museum        representatives and artists, including Barbara Henry, Chief Curator of        Education, Oakland Museum; Stephanie Cannizzo, Curatorial Associate,        Berkeley Art Museum; Ahmed Rahim, CEO & Co-Founder of Numi Tea; Sharaine        Bell, artist; and Susan Walton, art teacher.

Last year, students from 15 local high schools submitted 150 works of        art for the competition. Previous program participants have become        HIV/AIDS peer educators in their schools, public health ambassadors in        their communities and pursued careers in public health. In addition,        several students received full scholarships to art institutions such as        the California College of Art, The Fashion Institute of Design and        Merchandising and Academy of Art in San Francisco using their “Don’t        Turn Your Back on AIDS” art pieces as admissions materials.

About Flowers Heritage Foundation

The Flowers Heritage Foundation is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization        dedicated to identifying and addressing unmet needs in health care        services and systems. Based in Oakland, California, the Foundation        offers short and long-term public health solutions and works closely        with partners, collaborators, communities, and stakeholders to achieve        successful and sustainable outcomes. The Foundation was established by        the Flowers family and is an outgrowth of their belief in giving back to        the communities they serve. For more information, please visit www.flowersheritagefoundation.com.