On Monday, February 8, 2010 from 9 A.M. to 1 P.M. the Brooklyn Linkage to Care Coalition (BLCC), the Center for the Study of Brooklyn at Brooklyn College and Watchful Eye Testing, Outreach and Prevention Initiative collaborated on a conference bringing together community leaders, HIV/AIDS experts, service providers, consumers and a very special guest to commemorate National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

Divinah “Dee” Bailey, Founder and CEO of Watchful Eye facilitated the four hour conference. Chairs of the four (4) Work groups presented Brooklyn’s first ever IV/AIDS Strategic Plan and Dr. Monica M. Sweeney MD., MPH, Assistant Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Bureau of HIV Prevention and Control provided a “Sneak peak” at the “Brooklyn Knows” HIV testing campaign scheduled to begin in December 2010.

Yvonne Graham, Brooklyn Borough President and Founder of the Caribbean Women’s Health Association, Inc. delivered the keynote address. Congressman Edolphus “Ed” Towns provided special remarks during the twelve noon luncheon.

Divinah “Dee” Bailey introduced the Red Ribbon Revitalization Campaign and the Communications Work group, which she chairs. Ms. Bailey also presented a PLWA Panel, facilitated by Michelle Lopez and consisting of Chadrick Coleman, Pastor Christina Walker, Raven Lopez and Chakena Conway.

In a follow-up evaluation with the conference’s approximated one hundred thirty-five participants, a majority indicated interest in working with the Communications Work Group and being most impressed at the conference with the PLWA Panelists.

HIV Antibody testing was made available by the Mobile Unit of Community Healthcare Network for the duration of the conference.