Status Is Everything Will Represent Newark, NJ At AIDS Conference In Vienna, Austria

NEWARK, N.J., July 8 /PRNewswire/ -- African American Office of Gay Concerns (AAOGC) is proud to announce that Status Is Everything (SIE) HIV testing social marketing campaign will present a poster exhibition on July 19, 2010 at the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria July 18-23, 2010. The SIE poster is titled, "Creating a social marketing campaign targeting African American men who have sex with men (MSM) in Newark, New Jersey, in an effort to increase HIV rapid testing within a high risk population." AAOGC is the only New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) funded agency presenting at the six-day conference.

"AAOGC will be among international leaders in HIV research and prevention.  This opportunity is our kudos for advancing HIV prevention strategies among high-risk populations.  Our campaign is making a difference in Newark, the nationally and internationally recognized epicenter of HIV infections in New Jersey," states Gary Paul Wright, Executive Director of AAOGC.  Wright will be available for questions at the conference on July 19, 2010 between 12:30 pm – 2:30pm.  The poster will also be published electronically on the conference website and as a CD-ROM.

SIE is a pioneering public health social marketing campaign targeting African American MSM ages of 18-24 in the Greater Newark area.  SIE is the first HIV testing campaign in NJ to combine new- and traditional media strategies:  text messaging, Twitter, Facebook, PSAs and outdoor advertising. Candidates have 24-hour access to Newark-based testing centers: by texting NJ+YourZipCode (NJ07102) to 36363, 1-866-HIV-CHECK, and www.statusiseverything.org.  A key to the campaign's success is the local African American MSM featured in the campaign's original photography and PSAs.  DHSS - Division of HIV/AIDS Services funds SIE as part of its efforts to target high-risk African American men. The HIV Prevention Community Planning Support and Development Initiative of Rutgers University will evaluate SIE results.

About the African American Office of Gay Concerns

AAOGC has a mission to serve as a resource for the well-being of men of color, inclusive of, but not limited to the gay, bisexual, transgendered and questioning communities through outreach, education and compassionate care. The African American Office of Gay Concerns is committed to delivering quality HIV/AIDS services to the Gay community in the Newark Area. We provide an array of services focused on changing individual behavior. For more information about AAOGC or "Status Is Everything", please call 973-639-0700 or visit www.AAOGC.org.

SOURCE African American Office of Gay Concerns (AAOGC)