According to the Center for Disease Control, Fort Greene has the highest number of HIV-infected youth in Brooklyn, yet the community is one of the most underserved neighborhoods in the five boroughs of N.Y.C.  Without ongoing education about HIV, and without proper support to help families educate themselves and their children, the HIV/AIDS epidemic will continue to spiral out of control.

    At the end of 1999, New York City's Minority AIDS Task Force summarized the Fort Greene situation as follows:

"Through September of 1998, 3,852 cumulative cases of AIDS were reported in adults and adolescents in Fort Greene.  Approximately 66% of these individuals have already died... Fort Greene has more people living with AIDS than the states of Arkansas and 18 other states [combined]."

    In less than three years we became a respected force for positive change in the Fort Greene community.  We have formed linkages with:

• The Brooklyn Medical Center (where we have been given space and phones)
• New York City Department of Health
• Citizens Committee of New York
• Lawyers Alliance
• New York Cares
• Other local Fort Greene businesses

    The only thing that stops us from enrolling many more young people and families in our programs is limited resources.  We need support for four programs.

1. Families Working Together offers workshops that give parents and children a better understanding of HIV/AIDS.  The workshops provide a forum for parents and children to get more comfortable talking about the virus and other health risks.  Support groups are provided for children whose parent(s) are infected with the virus.  The workshops are ongoing, and information and presentations are tailored to the children's ages.



2. Peer Education Workshops provide peer education to young adults 18-25 years of age.  The workshops are geared towards training youth to become Peer Educators.  After completion of the program, young people are referred to the New York City Department of Health for more training in pre- and post-testing and counseling.  The program also offers escort services to youth and adults who decide to be tested, and to young people who may be referred to medical facilities for early intervention treatment.




four Youth Action Group members

3. The Youth Action Group introduces children of all ages to the arts.  Children and young people are given the opportunity to organize and lead on our youth advisory board, which organizes different projects throughout the year.  Projects may range from essay writing to dance contests to mural painting.  Our drama club gives young people an opportunity to act out their fears about the virus and to negotiate safer sex practices.



4. The Just For Girls Support Group has its web page with information.

Just For Girls Support Group

• donations, grants, and other suggested funding sources
• toys for our Kiddy Program Christmas Project
• volunteers for our arts program - dance, arts and crafts teachers
• art materials and other program materials - crayons, paints, books
• copy machine or a commitment to copy materials for us ; digital camera
• fundraising ideas and/or funding for a grant writer and donor database software
• a decent van for safe transportation of youth

Our Volunteers

    People interested in volunteering for other one-time events such as fundraising functions (like parties) may contact us directly.  We appreciate the help of our volunteers.


    We love questions!  Please call us:

• for public relations inquiry, call Betsy Rhame at (212) 645-7731
• parents, including those with STD questions, may call Andrea Evans at (718) 462-7917
• for emergencies, contact our affiliated institution, Brooklyn Hospital, at (718) 250-8000
• for other inquiries call Ms. Evans at (718) 462-7917