Contributed report

REGION-The second annual Health and Wellness Black belt Tour expands on the original concept of increasing HIV/AIDS awareness to include other diseases which disproportionately affect African Americans in the Black Belt of Alabama including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity. The tour will be held at various Alabama community colleges and smaller academic institutions as well as high schools throughout the Black Belt.

Guests for this years tour will include Sonya Lockett, Public Affairs Director and manager of the BET Rap-It-Up program and Mercedes Fudnerburk, talent executive in charge of booking celebrities for shows such as 106 and Park, who will both speak as part of the tour. On Monday, Lynda Dorman, Executive Director of the BET foundation will address BET’s focus on women’s health and obesity. The tour will also feature nationally recognized motivational speaker Denise Stokes, a young, dynamic woman affected by HIV/AIDS and Brotha’s Keepa, spoken word artists from Memphis. Memphis television producer and host Yvette George will serve as a moderator and host for the tour and Mistress of Ceremonies for Sunday’s Gospel concert Extravaganza. The concert, which will culminate the weeklong tour, will feature various popular gospel performers, including Valley Girls, Highly Favored, Elaine Thorton and the Tribe of Judah featuring Cinque Cullar.

Schedule:

Monday Oct. 24

11 a.m.-1 p.m.-Press Conference at the Tuskegee Municipal Complex

1 p.m.-3 p.m.-HIV/AIDS Educational Session-Southern Community College at Tuskegee Municipal Complex

Tuesday Oct. 25

HIV/AIDS Educational Session-Concordia College

Wednesday Oct. 26

9:40 a.m.-11:10 p.m.-HIV/AIDS Educational Sessions-Livingston High School

Thursday Oct. 27

HIV/AIDS Educational Session-Wilcox Central High School

Friday Oct. 28

HIV/AIDS Educational Session-Treholm Community College-Montgomery

Saturday Oct. 29

Health and Wellness Gospel Concert-TBA

For more information please call the project EXPORT office at (334) 725-2347.