In honor of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, March 10th, The Urban Wellness Project presented S.I.S. – Safe is Sexy Sexy is Safe to educate and empower women and girls about the importance of HIV/AIDS Awareness. According to the Centers for Disease Control, a quarter of the HIV infections in 2007 were among females ages 13 and up. For this reason, The Urban Wellness Project found it very important to assure that women and girls are properly informed about HIV/AIDS.

“S.I.S. Safe is Sexy Sexy is Safe,” was held at Salon Heaven in hosted by actress, Erica Hubbard from BET’s hist sitcom Let’s Stay Together and guest speaker Dr. Mildred Williamson. The night also included performances by singer, Melody Angel (www.MelodyAngelMusic.com) performing “The Death of Me” written for the event, poets, Mama Brenda and London A’Lexus. To make women feel glamorous complimentary beauty services were provide, a Glam Photo Booth, refreshments and gift bags.

Erica Hubbard and The Erica Hubbard Foundation are extremely excited to be co- hosting and participating in such an influential event that will undoubtedly touch the lives of many women residing in her hometown of Chicago.

“The National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a time for our community to seriously address one of the most exigent and relevant health concerns that is plaguing this generation and potentially future generations if proper education, testing, and prevention tactics are not successfully imparted to those at risk,” says Hubbard.

As of September 2010, there were 32,923 (15,163 HIV; 17,760 AIDS) people reported as living with HIV/AIDS in Illinois. The number of cases in Illinois is the eighth highest in the U.S. There are 60,000 Illinois residents living with HIV. Women accounted for 24 percent of all new diagnoses of HIV/AIDS in Illinois between 2000-2009. This percent has increased over the years. Of the 24 percent, high-risk heterosexual activity accounted for 65 percent of all infections among women for whom a risk factor was reported. Between 2000-2009, people ages 13-19 at the time of diagnosis accounted for four percent of new HIV/AIDS infections in Illinois. The number of new infections among teenagers continues to grow. For more information on HIV/AIDS, log on to www.idph.state.il.us/aids/default.htm or call HIV/AIDS-STD hotline at 1-800-243-2437.

“We must educate people, especially our youth, about how HIV/AIDS is transmitted and ways to avoid becoming infected,” said Dr. Mildred Williamson, HIV/AIDS section chief for the Illinois Department of Public Health. “Know your status, get tested and get your friends tested. The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested.”

Participating organizations and businesses include Brown Sugar Bakery, The Erica Hubbard Foundation, Reel Beauty, Toussaint Werner Designs, Pizza Ria, Keep it Simple Chicago, The Red Pump Project and TASK Force. Media sponsors for the event include Rolling Out Urban Styles Weekly (www.rollingout.com) and Six Brown Chicks (www.ChicagoNow.com/SixBrownChicks).