Status Is Everything will represent Newark at the XVIII Annual International AIDS Conference in Vienna

NEWARK, N.J., July 6, 2010 – The African American Office of Gay Concerns (AAOGC) is proud to announce that the XVIII International AIDS Conference taking place in Vienna, Austria July 18-23, 2010, has selected the Status Is Everything HIV testing social marketing campaign to take part in the conference poster exhibition on July 19, 2010. The AAOGC 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 agency funded by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, selected to take part in the six-day conference.

“Our campaign is making a difference in Newark, which is the nationally and internationally recognized epicenter of HIV infections in New Jersey. This is a tremendous opportunity for the AAOGC to be among international leaders in HIV research and prevention and it’s an international kudos to our agency for advancing HIV prevention strategies in Newark, NJ among high risk populations,” states Gary Paul Wright, Executive Director of the African American Office of Gay Concerns. Gary Paul Wright will be present and available to answer questions about the poster at the conference on July 19, 2010 between 12:30 pm – 2:30pm. For those who can not attend the conference, the poster will be published at a later date electronically on the conference website and as a CD-ROM.

Status Is Everything is a pioneering HIV testing campaign targeting African American men between the ages of 18-24 who have sex with men in the Greater Newark area. Status Is Everything is the first HIV social marketing campaign in New Jersey to combine new media and traditional media strategies including: text messaging, Twitter, Facebook, PSAs and large-scale outdoor advertising. Candidates can receive 24-hour access to local Newark-based testing centers three ways: by texting NJ and their zip code (NJ07102) to 36363, calling 1-866-HIV-CHECK, or by visiting www.statusiseverything.org. A key component to the campaigns success is featuring local African American men who self-identify as men who have sex with men, in the campaign’s original photography and PSA’s. The New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services Division of HIV/AIDS Services funds the campaign, as part of its efforts to target high-risk African American men. Results will be evaluated through the HIV Prevention Community Planning Support and Development Initiative of Rutgers University.

About the African American Office of Gay Concerns (AAOGC)
African American Office of Gay Concerns 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.

Media Contact: Kimberlee Williams, FEMWORKS, 973-494-9705, kwilliams@femworksllc.com

Source: African American Office of Gay Concerns

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Campaign Objectives:
- Drive use of text message #36363 for instant access to local Newark Testing Centers
- Drive use of New Jersey HIV/STD hot line 1-866-HIV-CHECK
- Drive target community interaction and participation

Get Involved With Status Is Everything
Please join us online, upload PSAs to be featured on the Status Is Everything website – www.StatusIsEverything.org and join this much needed conversation.
Twitter: http://bit.ly/SIETwitter
Facebook: http://bit.ly/SIEFacebook
Causecast: http://bit.ly/SIECausecast
YouTube: http://bit.ly/SIEYouTube

About Status Is Everything (SIE)

SIE is an HIV Testing social marketing campaign produced by AAOGC.org it’s funded by New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services: Division of HIV/AIDS Services and the Centers for Disease Control

Status Is Everything is Newark based and aims to encourage African American men, particularly young men who have sex with men, to get HIV tested and reduce risky behaviors.

A respondent to the “Status Is Everything” campaign will be referred to one of three partnering local HIV testing centers in Newark; St. Michael’s, UMDNJ, and NJCRI. These site were selected by five focus groups of young African American gay men and offer confidential and convenient testing services.

SIE Offers 24 hour instant access to local Newark based testing center information through texting 36363 with NJ and your zip (NJ 07102). Callers to 1-866-HIV-CHECK are connected to New Jersey’s HIV/STD hotline, operated by UMDNJ Poison control center in Newark.

SIE integrated promotions include social media, text messaging, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, CauseCast.com, television commercials, buses wraps, bus interior and exterior signage, movie theater, light rail trains, billboards in downtown Newark, and StatusIsEverything.org.

About LCH Business Media and Tech Solutions (LCH)
LCH is a boutique social media firm based in Newark, NJ. that specializes in Web 2.0 Campaign Strategy and Management and Mobile Application Development

Media Contact: Kimberlee Williams, FEMWORKS, 973-494-9705.

Source: LCH Business Social Media & Tech Solutions

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ComeUnity Wire is a service of FEMWORKS LLC. Issuers and not FEMWORKS LLC are solely responsible for the content, facts and accuracy of all information submitted by them for transmission or posting by ComeUnity Wire. FEMWORKS LLC does not warrant or make any representations concerning the content, accuracy, likely results or reliability of the use of the materials it transmits or posts.

NEWARK, N.J., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ — Beginning January 2010 in Newark, African American men who have sex with men will be targeted by an HIV Testing social marketing campaign titled “Status Is Everything” organized by the African American Office of Gay Concerns (AAOGC) of Newark. “Status Is Everything” aims to encourage African American men, particularly young men who have sex with men, to get HIV tested and reduce risky behaviors. AAOGC will unveil the “Status Is Everything” brand and outreach components on World AIDS Day, December 1, 2009. Funding for “Status Is Everything” is provided by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services as part of the department’s HIV prevention efforts aimed at high-risk African American men.

Preview Campaign Photo Shoot: tinyurl.com/YKSYXSM

Campaign Website: www.StatusIsEverything.org, (January 2010 Launch)

“Our focus groups with young African American gay men have shown that “Status Is Everything” must use new media to reach and impact their demographic. We will market the campaign using mobile text messaging, viral videos, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, as well as billboards and palm cards, print and online ads,” adds Gary Paul Wright, Executive Director of AAOGC. AAOGC has retained FEMWORKS, Newark’s premier multicultural marketing agency, to lead the creative and communications plans for the social marketing campaign.

The “Status Is Everything” campaign is designed to provide referrals to partnering local HIV testing centers in Newark that are preferred by young African American gay men and offer confidential and convenient testing services. A testing candidate will be able to receive referral services through their mobile device, online at www.StatusIsEverything.org, or through the New Jersey hotline 1-866-HIV-CHECK. A thorough evaluation will be conducted by the HIV Prevention Community Planning Support and Development Initiative of Rutgers University

About African American Office of Gay Concerns (AAOGC)

AAOGC’s mission is to comprehensively serve as a resource for the well-being of Gay 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 focusing on changing individual behavior. This is accomplished through our interaction with our consumers and developing an understanding of their needs. 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)

RELATED LINKS
http://www.AAOGC.org

Status Is Everything photo shoot sneak preview

“Status Is Everything” Social Marketing Campaign Targets Young African American Gay Men In Newark

NEWARK, N.J., October 27, 2009 – Beginning January 2010 in Newark , African American men who have sex with men will be targeted by an HIV Testing social marketing campaign titled “Status Is Everything” organized by the African American Office of Gay Concerns (AAOGC) of Newark. “Status Is Everything” aims to encourage African American men, particularly young men who have sex with men, to get HIV tested and reduce risky behaviors. AAOGC will unveil the “Status Is Everything” brand and outreach components on World AIDS Day, December 1, 2009. Funding for “Status Is Everything” is provided by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services as part of the department’s HIV prevention efforts aimed at high-risk African American men.

Preview Campaign Photos: http://tinyurl.com/yksyxsm
Campaign Website: www.StatusIsEverything.org, (January 2010 Launch)

“Our focus groups with young African American gay men have shown that “Status Is Everything” must use new media to reach and impact their demographic. We will market the campaign using mobile text messaging, viral videos, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, as well as billboards and palm cards, print and online ads,” adds Gary Paul Wright, Executive Director of AAOGC. AAOGC has retained FEMWORKS, Newark’s premier multicultural marketing agency, to lead the creative and communications plans for the social marketing campaign.

The “Status Is Everything” campaign is designed to provide referrals to partnering local HIV testing centers in Newark that are preferred by young African American gay men and offer confidential and convenient testing services. A testing candidate will be able to receive referral services through their mobile device, online at www.StatusIsEverthing.org, or through the New Jersey hotline 1-866-HIV-CHECK. A thorough evaluation will be conducted by the HIV Prevention Community Planning Support and Development Initiative of Rutgers University.

About African American Office of Gay Concerns (AAOGC)
AAOGC’s mission is to comprehensively serve as a resource for the well-being of Gay 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 focusing on changing individual behavior. This is accomplished through our interaction with our consumers and developing an understanding of their needs. For more information about AAOGC or Status Is Everything, please call 973-639-0700 or visit www.AAOGC.org.

Media Contact: Kimberlee S. Williams, FEMWORKS, 973-494-9705, or email kwilliams@femworksllc.com

Source: African American Office of Gay Concerns

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ComeUnity Wire is a service of FEMWORKS LLC. Issuers and not FEMWORKS LLC are solely responsible for the content, facts and accuracy of all information submitted by them for transmission or posting by ComeUnity Wire. FEMWORKS LLC does not warrant or make any representations concerning the content, accuracy, likely results or reliability of the use of the materials it transmits or posts.