NorCal AIDS Cycle, which raised a record-setting quarter-million dollars for local HIV/AIDS service agencies in 2011, has more than doubled in number of cyclists and crew members leading into the May 2012 ride. The Sacramento-based four-day, 330-mile HIV/AIDS fundraising ride registered a record number of cyclists and volunteer crew members—85 cyclists and 61 volunteer crew members—in a one-day Dec. 1 World AIDS Day campaign. With another three cyclists signing up since Dec. 1, the 2012 ride, which will be held May 17-20, now has a total of 212 participants registered. In comparison, only 72 cyclists and crew had registered for the 2011 ride as of Dec. 15, 2010. In a Facebook-organized d

Communities across the globe observed World Aids Day to reflect on the catastrophic toll HIV/AIDS has created. World Aids Day was honored in Sacramento thanks to the partnership of The Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center and St. John's Lutheran Church. The theme of this year's World AIDS Day memorial is "Never Forget," highlighting the still continuing struggle of HIV/AIDS in our Sacramento community, said Ken Pierce, Equality Action NOW - Chairman of the Board - Communications Director. Yesterday The Center hosted a participatory and interactive memorial in the Panepento Family Main Room at the Center from noon to 6pm. Community members came in, writing messages honoring those lost to

NorCal AIDS Cycle, the Sacramento-based four-day, 330-mile HIV/AIDS cycling fundraiser, will mark the 23rd annual World AIDS Day by waiving the $75 registration fee for cyclists or crew volunteers who sign up on December 1. To qualify for the free registration, simply visit norcalaidscycle.org on Dec. 1, click on Register Now, and enter code CURE. Ride organizers hope the opportunity to register free will inspire cyclists and volunteer crew members to sign up, get a jump on training and help the event exceed last year’s record-breaking success. The 2012 NorCal AIDS Cycle will be held May 17-20. With nearly 100 cyclists, NorCal AIDS Cycle (NCAC) had its most successful year in 2011, rais

CARES (the Center for AIDS Research, Education & Services) is across the street from the Townhouse, which is quiet at 4:00pm on a Monday afternoon long before they open up for Open-Mic night. I walk there after my obligatory after-work nap, still a little groggy, stopping at Old Soul for a mocha to keep my hands warm and bumping into customers who find it strange to see me on the other side of the counter. Mocha in hand, I’m heading across Midtown through the alleyways and wondering if the sun-turned-overcast sky is going to turn to rain, which would put a damper on the bonfire plans I’ve set in motion for later in the day. Over at 21st, I make a right and tell a homeless man I’ll help him

For the second year in a row, Kaiser Permanente is supporting the Center for AIDS Research Education and Services (CARES) in their HIV and STI testing campaign geared towards African American and Latino youth age 15-26. The program trains youth peer educators to reach out to minority youth through social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook and MySpace and gets them out in to the community to do counseling, HIV testing and education. “We’re seeing a very high rate of new HIV cases among minority youth,” said Amanda Chi, CARES Manager for Outreach, Education and Prevention. “This program is unique in that it uses new ways to connect with youth who otherwise wouldn’t be seeing or hearin

Sacramento, CA - On October 12, 2009, Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the highly controversial bill (S.B. 572) establishing “Harvey Milk Day” to take place each May 22nd, Milk’s birthday. The signing came on the heels of President Obama awarding Harvey Milk posthumously, the Presidential Medal of Freedom last August. Equality Action Now, a local grassroots civil rights organization wanted to make sure Sacramento wasn’t left out in providing community-based affordable events commemorating Harvey Milk’s 80th Birthday, his Presidential Medal of Freedom award, and the California’s first official Harvey Milk Day. During the last several months EAN’s leadership and volunteers collaborated with se

Millions of people from around the globe marked World AIDS Day on December 1. In Sacramento, local HIV/AIDS organizations worked hard to make the day about not only remembering lives lost, but also advocating for the 34,000 Californians who have HIV/AIDS. Many of those people are currently at risk of losing funding for their medications. As California continues to face a state budget crisis, HIV/AIDS organizations statewide are fearful of more cuts to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). Funded by the federal and state government, ADAP provides essential anti-HIV medications to low-income people who are uninsured or underinsured. The potential cuts to ADAP come after Governor Schwarze

Three local non-profit organizations were featured in a Sacramento Social Media Club panel on Tuesday evening hosted by the Sacramento State College of Continuing Education. The panel included Celia Cortez, Projects and Event Manager for the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Jordan Blair, Board Member for River City Food Bank; and Jon Benorden, Program Coordinator for the Center for AIDS Research, Education and Service (CARES). Lesley Miller, Media Director for 3Fold Communication, also sat on the panel. Moderator Josh Morgan, principal at Morgan/Dorado and program director for the Sacramento Social Media Club, focused the discussion on how non-profits are using social media to educ

Saturday, Sept. 12 No events are scheduled for this day. Sunday, Sept. 13 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Capitol City Aids Fund will be holding their annual walk and rally at the Capitol. Those who wish to walk or run the 5K course around the Capitol can register at Fleet Feet Sports, 2311 J St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The group will also be holding a health fair on the west steps of the Capitol will provide healthy snacks and drinks.  

Wednesday, June 10 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. The San Francisco AIDS Foundation is holding a rally entitled "Fight For Your Life" on the north steps of the Capitol to address budget cuts to HIV/AIDS services. "HIV prevention, care, and treatment [are] in peril," due to state leaders slashing funds for HIV programs, says the event's flier. The event is expected to draw 1,000 people. 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Chrysler's Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) division has paired up with the Governor's office to display their new "Peapod" car on the east steps of the Capitol. The all-electric vehicle is made of over 95% recycled and recyclable material. "It can go on any road with a posted speed limit of 35 mil

Saturday, May 16 8-11 a.m. Roughneck Motorcycle Club will be holding a charity motorcycle run for the Firefighters Cancer Awareness Support Network near the firefighter's memorial. 250 people are expected. 9 a.m.-Noon Alternatives Pregnancy Center will be holding a 2K "Walk for Life" and according to its website, will offer free pregnancy tests, counseling, information, ultrasounds, maternity and baby supplies, and more. Located on the west steps of the Capitol, the event is expected to draw around 300 people. 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. UC Davis' Vietnamese Student Association will be holding a Bike-A-Thon which will begin on the UC Davis Campus and end at the State Capitol just south of the fish p

The statistics are staggering. There are nearly 200,000 people currently living with HIV/AIDS in California. In the United States, 1.1 million people have HIV. Throughout the world, 33 million people live with the virus. These statistics, taken from a number of sources, including the Joint United Nations Program on AIDS and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention also say that the estimated cost of treatment for a person with HIV is $20,000 dollars per year. Funding -- for services and treatment for those who have HIV/AIDS, not to mention prevention for at-risk groups -- is much needed. A number of Sacramentans, including friends Danny Gutierrez and Douglas Vincent, will be doin