By Tom McClimon
July 12, 2004

The Conference of Mayors historic mission to Africa last summer to study the AIDS/HIV pandemic was captured on tape and produced into a thirty minute documentary. The film was shown for the first time during the annual meeting. Click here to view the video.

"The United States Conference of Mayors AIDS Mission: Changing Lives, Saving Lives" documents the largest mayoral international delegation visit ever undertaken by the Conference. Lead by Conference President Hempstead (NY) Mayor James Garner, the mayors traveled first to Cape Town, South Africa and then divided into three mayoral delegations which traveled to three countries - Namibia, Uganda, and Swaziland. The film documents the mayors visits with their African counterparts, children left as orphans due to the AIDS epidemic, and the work of health care providers.

Mayors featured on the film and members of the delegation are: Conference President Hempstead (NY) Mayor James A. Garner, Victor Ashe, then mayor of Knoxville and Past President, Gary Mayor Scott King, Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera Orbendorf, Dearborn Mayor Michael Guido, Richmond (CA) Mayor Irma Anderson, Jackson (MS) Mayor Harvey Johnson, Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth Kautz, and Macon Mayor C. Jack Ellis.

Narrated by Conference Executive Director Tom Cochran, the film captures the Conference's long involvement with fighting apartheid in South Africa and evolves into the mayors' visit to Robbin Island prison where South African political rights activist Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. Following the visit, the mayors met with Cape Town Mayor Nomaindia Mfeketo and discussed partnership efforts with her.

The film captures the anguished shown on the faces of young children left as orphans due to the loss of their parents due to AIDS. As one 15 year old female stated, "I have to now take care of two younger brothers and I don't fear death anymore, in fact I actually welcome it." After visiting with the children, all the mayors expressed their intentions to do things to help address the problem. The film points out the things mayors have done upon their return such as Johnson's establishment of a student exchange program with the University of Namibia; and Ellis' local fundraising efforts to help the children of Jinja, Uganda.

The film concludes with Cochran and Garner discussing the steps the Conference is taking to continue to address the AIDS pandemic including a mayors' African IADS/HIV Task Force, participation in sessions on AIDS at international gatherings, and continued partnership efforts with African mayors.

Kautz seemed to sum up the feelings of the delegation members. "It was a life changing experience for all of us."