By Larry Tate
December 8, 2003

The U.S. Conference of Mayors has provided awards of more than $520,000 in HIV/AIDS prevention grants to eight community-based groups throughout the country. These awards represent the Conference's 20th round of grants since 1985, all to non-profit organizations and local health departments for prevention programs for high-risk populations.

This year five of these organizations will conduct HIV prevention programs for gay/bisexual men of color. The other three organizations will conduct HIV prevention programs for Native Americans. All of the funded programs have started or will start work in early 2004.

Competitive one-year grants for HIV/AIDS prevention for gay/bisexual men of color were awarded to the following organizations:

• El Centro Hispano of Durham (NC) will use its grant of $67,092 to target young Latino gay/bisexual men.
• Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services of Dearborn (MI) will use its grant of $65,000 to target Arab gay/bisexual men.
• South Beach AIDS Project of Miami Beach will use its grant of $67,373 to target transgendered individuals of color.
• In the Meantime Men's Group of Los Angeles will use its grant of $68,167 to target African American gay/bisexual men.
• Mazzoni Center of Philadelphia will use its grant of $65,697 to target gay/bisexual men and transgendered individuals of color involved with the "ballroom" community.
• Competitive one-year grants for HIV/AIDS prevention for Native Americans were awarded to the following organizations:
• Native Images of Tucson will use its grant of $60,000 to target Native American gay/bisexual men and injection drug users.
• Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa (OK) will use its grant of $60,000 to target Native American gay/bisexual men.
• Kuia Na Mamo of Honolulu will use its grant of $68,000 to target Native Hawaiian transgendered individuals.

Since 1985, The United States Conference of Mayors, in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has awarded nearly $13.1 million in HIV/AIDS prevention grants. Since 1992, the Conference has taken the lead in issues affecting gay/bisexual men of color, funding a national HIV prevention needs assessment as well as 54 local HIV prevention projects. And, since 1995, the Conference has funded 20 local programs for Native Americans, a neglected group whose unique needs are inadequately addressed in many areas. Other priorities have included HIV prevention needs assessments and prevention programs for high-risk women. Another round of HIV prevention grants will be awarded in late 2004.

In addition to grants, the Conference offers technical assistance through an HIV prevention publications program and has conducted various studies on topics such as HIV Prevention Community Planning and the impact of AIDS on smaller cities. Recent publications and general information about the Conference's AIDS program are available on the Conference website, usmayors.org.