AKRON AIDS COLLABORATIVe
Who We Are
In 2000, The Akron Brother Circle (ABC) restructured and became the Akron AIDS Collaborative (AAC). There was a need to broaden services and increase advocacy efforts to support a growing number of newly diagnosed cases for both men and women of color. The ABC became a program of the parent agency, the Akron AIDS Collaborative.
The mission of the Akron AIDS Collaborative is to broaden the network of caring organizations in the minority community, to influence social norms that contribute to the prevention of HIV/AIDS, and to increase advocacy for social services for people of color who are living with HIV/AIDS and people who have suffered from sexual orientation stigma within the African-American community.
What We Do
The Akron AIDS Collaborative provides an array of services that support our mission and facilitate our impact
in the African American community including,
- Akron Brother Circle support group for same gender loving youth .
- An Afrocentric drop-in center where guests can get COVID & HIV testing, case management, including referrals, food pantry, clothing rack, laundry and shower services.
- HIV testing with Ora Quick testing Kits mobile test in home, at the drop-in center or other arrangements with those desiring HIV tested .
- Community mobilization around advocacy and funding for African American HIV resources and services.
- Educational presentations (trainings or in-services) on the impact of HIV in our community.
- We provide 100 Thanksgiving Day meals to people living with HIV/AIDS .
We organize and conduct culturally appropriate activities within the African American community for the purpose of creating awareness and participation and building collaboration in the battles of HIV.
Why We Do What We Do
The African American community within Summit County is experiencing high rates of HIV among women and men.
We believe in uplifting and amplifying African American, LGBTQ+ voices within Summit county and surrounding areas. We are here to provide support & testing for all people during this pandemic, and we want an equitable share of
Federal and State funding coming to Summit county to specifically target the African American community. We are committed to providing services, supporting resiliency and ending generational patterns of stigma among youth.