Showcase: Dr. Parker and HIV

Photo courtesy of Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services Office of Public Information

On Tuesday, May 31, 2012, La Shonda Worthey and Dr. Kimberly Parker, members of the Texas Black Women’s Health Initiative, along with Zachary Thompson, Director, Dallas County Health and Human Services, were presented with a Resolution during Dallas County Commissioner’s Court for the Community Mobilization and Empowerment Conference.  

An estimated 1.2 million people were living with HIV/AIDS in 2008 and although Blacks account for only 13% of the population, Blacks represent almost half (49%) of those living with  this disease. The Texas Black Women’s Initiative (TXBWI) was created in 2010 to address the impact of HIV/AIDS across the state of Texas.  As a new initiative, the Dallas Regional Team will offer a Community Mobilization conference on June 15, 2012. The conference theme is “Community Mobilization: Working Together for Change” and the goal of the conference is to mobilize and empower community members - men and women - by providing them with the resources and skills necessary to address HIV/AIDS and other health disparities faced by Black women.

Attendees will participate in information sessions and will learn the skills needed to mobilize community members to address health disparities faced by Black women. Participants will also develop a community mobilization plan to share as an empowerment tool. The event will include a screening of the documentary “Many Women, One Voice” and each participant will receive items from Greater Than AIDS to help implement their community mobilization plan. The conference will conclude with a “Change Makers” network event for all participants, speakers, invited guest, and policy makers in the North Texas area.

During the Commissioner’s Court session, Dr. Kimberly A. Parker, Assistant Professor of Health Studies at Texas Woman’s University, spoke about the impact of HIV/AIDS among African American women across the nation and in Dallas County. She also stated that if we provide community members with the tools, skills, and resources necessary to mobilize around this disease, Dallas area residents will be empowered to address factors that influence HIV transmission. 

You can read more about Dr. Parker's and other faculty research interests and efforts here.

June 27th is National HIV Testing Day 

http://aids.gov/news-and-events/awareness-days/hiv-testing-day/

Dallas County Health and Human Services press release

Focus Daily News