African American Planning Commission

An Eye for an Eye

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:20:36 PST

Ameneh Bahrami was once an independent Iranian woman living in Tehran. In November 2004, her life changed forever when a rejected suitor threw acid into her face, scarring her and blinding her in both eyes. For four years Ameneh fought hard for the right to have her attacker tried under Islamic law which allows for victims' retribution. A rare look at contemporary life and law in Iran.

Cutting-Edge Research May Lead to New HIV/AIDS Drug Treatment

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:33:27 PST

In what promises to be good news for African Americans diagnosed with HIV/AIDS -- an epidemic that continues to be a major health crisis for the United States -- scientists may have found a new development after 20 years that could lead to better treatment, British and U.S. researchers announced at the beginning of the year.

AIDS Epidemic in Some US Cities Worse Than Global Hot Spots

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:58:15 PST

Despite advances in prevention and treatment, rates of HIV/AIDS in some parts of the U.S. are higher than those in sub-Saharan Africa, say the authors of a recent study in The New England Journal of Medicine.

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is on Sunday

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:26:40 PST

Even though African Americans account for about 13% of the United States population, they account for about half of the people who contract HIV and AIDS. HIV/AIDS is also the leading cause of death for black women ages 25-34. But detecting the disease early can greatly prolong life and that is the focus of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on Sunday.

Haiti's children on their own on shattered streets

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:15:51 PST

By VIVIAN SEQUERA and BEN FOX, Associated Press Writers Vivian Sequera And Ben Fox, Associated Press Writers

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -The children with no names lay mute in a corner of the General Hospital grounds Tuesday, three among thousands of boys and girls set adrift in the wake of Haiti's earthquake.

National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS - GET INVOLVED!!!

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:41:02 PST

Every Church, Mosque, Synagogue, Temple and Home is invited to join in prayer, education, advocacy and service for the healing of AIDS in the United States and the World.

Disaster in Haiti - What others are doing to help

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:33:44 PST

As the world laments at the disaster in Haiti and we see the images of the aftermath of the massive quake, the human death toll, followed by a second quake; we often only see images and hear survivor stories brought to us by Western media. One would think that the United States is solely involved in the massive relief efforts. It was such a relief to know that the whole world has in fact pitched in to provide humanitarian assistance to the people and the island country of Haiti.

The Hate and the Quake - Sir Hilary Beckles on Haiti

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:20:49 PST

The Haitian earthquake is being discussed world-wide. Most people know about the acute poverty in Haiti but not many people know its history. The attached publication gives an insight into why Haiti has not been able to emerge from the depths of poverty and be part of this modern world.

HIV AIDS - Advances in Hope

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:38:42 PST

This video podcast from the CDC, AmfAR, and Discovery Health, focuses on the history of HIV/AIDS from 1981 through 2008. The lives of people living with HIV have been improving significantly since the beginning of the epidemic. Still there is no cure, but hope remains high at this fast rate of improvement.

City Budget Deal Looks Good for Human Services

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:19:49 PST

They may be rumors, but they are good rumors. That is the general assessment as advocates and providers scramble to learn details of a $59.4 billion New York City budget agreement announced last night by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. Human services, it seems, may have dodged a whole volley of bullets with the allocation of significant funding to continue most Council initiatives and even restore several major cuts to the Mayor's own baselined programs.

How to Stand Out on One More Day Aimed at Volunteers

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:48:33 PST

The June 1 edition of the New York Times examined the advertising campaign which promotes a new "day of service" honoring Nelson Mandela.

THERE was a time when holidays meant a break from working. Not so anymore, as seemingly every day of the year is National Something-or-Other Day. And a handful of nonprofits, with help from the White House, are working to rebrand occasions like Martin Luther King's Birthday and Sept. 11 as national days of volunteering, to say nothing of César Chávez Day (March 31), Make a Difference Day (the fourth Saturday of October), National Volunteer Week (the third week of April) and Be the Change Day (this year, Oct. 3). Add one more to the calendar: Mandela Day, July 18, when people around the world will be urged to perform 67 minutes of community service to honor the 67 years (and counting) that Nelson Mandela has fought for racial and social equality. The holiday is the brainchild of the Nelson Mandela Foundation and 46664, the advocate group that bears Mr. Mandela's prisoner number.

Obama and Black Organizations Have New Plan to Fight AIDS

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 08:41:17 PST

The Obama administration yesterday launched a five year, $45 million media campaign to promote HIV and AIDS awareness, saying that Americans had grown complacent about the deadly illness.

Bloomberg Outlines Initiatives to Assist Nonprofits

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 07:13:08 PST

Mayor Michael Bloomberg yesterday outlined a series of new initiatives to help New York City's more than 40,000 cultural, health and social service nonprofit organizations survive the economic downturn. The Mayor's plans focused on providing the struggling nonprofit sector with assistance in three major areas:

Developing Affordable Housing for DV Survivors in New York City

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:34:24 PST

Coming soon - Renee Steedley Residence

The African American Planning Commision ("AAPCI") is designing new affordable housing units to meet the needs of its constituents. Half of the 40 unit development at its Renee Steedley Residence will be designated for working families who are survivors of domestic violence. The second half of the project will be set-aside for low-income working families who have been priced out of "market rate" housing in New York City.

HIV/AIDS Housing in New York City

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:35:55 PST

Coming Soon. Edwin's Place.

The goal of Edwin's Place is to meet the immediate and long term needs of single adults, elderly couples, and families living with HIV/AIDS.

Additionally, Edwin's Place seeks to facilitate independence, dignity and well-being through a complement of safe, affordable housing and day-to-day supportive services provided to tenants. All tenants MUST be capable of independent living and may not require 24 hour round-the-clock, on-site medical intervention.

AAPCI awarded an annual $625,000 grant by the NYC DOHMH

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:20:19 PST

The African American Planning Commission, Inc. (AAPCI) has been awarded an annual $625,000 grant by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene ("DOHMH"). The funds will be used by AAPCI to provide supportive services to families and elderly couples living with HIV/AIDS once AAPCI completes development of its Edwin's Place residence, a new state-of-the-art permanent housing program with onsite support services in the East New York community of Brooklyn.

"Women Living with HIV and AIDS in NYC: A Mapping Project and Literature Review"

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:41:13 PST

"Women Living with HIV and AIDS in NYC: A Mapping Project and Literature Review" was released yesterday by The Women's HIV Collaborative of New York.

A disproportionate percentage of women and girls living with HIV and AIDS in NYC - 60% -- reside in just 14 ZIP codes in eastern Brooklyn, the Bronx, and northern Manhattan, according to a study released yesterday by The Women's HIV Collaborative of New York. Socio-economic stressors in these "hot spots," including high rates of poverty and incarceration, heighten women's risk for acquiring HIV.

March 10th - National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 22:22:58 PST

How do you fight a 100% preventible disease? With the truth!
The National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is March 10, 2009. The purpose of this annual day is to raise awareness of the increasing impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls and encourage women and girls to take action.

Challenge to Our Workforce: Young Adults and Low Literacy

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 12:16:13 PST

by Peter Kleinbard
Executive Director
Youth Development Institute

Nearly 70% of youth who drop out of school have very poor literacy and other core skills. Indeed, this is the primary reason why they leave school. Yet most funding for dropouts is targeted to those who are most job ready, focusing on quick placement in employment. This is true of both current funding and the dollars in the Obama Stimulus bill. This must change if we are to enable this large population to become financially independent.

Blind woman demands acid in attacker's eyes

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:28:14 PST

Ameneh Bahrami was blinded when a spurned suitor hurled acid at her face. Two weeks after the attack, the man turned himself in and confessed in court in Iran. Now, Bahrami is waiting for justice: acid dropped in the attacker's eyes as his punishment. "I told the judge I want an eye for an eye," Bahrami said. "People like him should be made to feel my suffering."