No community is immune to the AIDS epidemic, but now thanks to the opening of a new service site, Los Angeles’ hardest hit area gets a much better chance at preventing AIDS from reaching larger proportions.
On Monday, AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) opened the doors to its Vance North Health and Wellness Center on the 3700 block of South La Brea Avenue in Baldwin Hills. The new building is named for philanthropist Bob North’s son, Vance, who died from AIDS-related complications in 1995.
“The site’s opening comes at a crucial point in the epidemic,” said Craig Thompson, APLA’s executive director. “Thirty years in, we’re still seeing new data showing that HIV continues to disproportionately plague MSM (men who have sex with men) and rates are on the rise.”
In regions like South Los Angeles, the crisis is worsened by a crippling lack of resources, particularly for MSM and transgender communities, said Thompson.
During Monday’s event, AIDS Project LA (APLA) announced a legacy gift from Bob North who has committed to donating his estate to the agency. APLA will also be renaming its “Necessities of Life” food pantry program in honor of Vance North, according to an agency spokesman.
The opening event coincides with National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, marked annually on Sept. 27. It also comes just before AIDS Walk Los Angeles, APLA’s biggest annual fundraiser on Oct. 16
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