FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: James Karagon

Associate Professor of Social Work

(313) 927-1484

Marygrove College Students Target African-American Churches for

AIDS/HIV Prevention

Detroit, Michigan—October 27, 2004—Students at Marygrove College are responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic by facilitating workshops about the deadly and devastating disease at local African-Americans churches. The goal is to educate and inform people about the importance of safe sex practices, and to help them become advocates for HIV/AIDS prevention.

“Through an academic service learning project, Marygrove College students are talking with church members and enlisting their support in the distribution of literature to their congregations,” said James Karagon, associate professor of social work at Marygrove College.

African-American churches are targeted because of the influence they have in their communities. The students focus on knowledge and prevention. They also talk about the importance of treating HIV/AIDS patients with understanding, compassion and inclusion. They emphasize HIV/AIDS as a health care issue that is having a devastating impact on minority communities, as opposed to a moral issue.

The objectives of the academic outreach program is to:

· Collaborate outreach services to the church community

· Identify sources for communicating with persons in the community

· Experience the value of diversity in their own personal and professional lives

· Engage in evaluation as a tool to change behavior

· Address community needs and apply appropriate community resources

· Synthesize course content by reflecting on service activities

· Use technology as a resource for further development of activities.

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Students have facilitated workshops at several churches in the metropolitan Detroit area, including Greater Apostolic Church, Messiah Baptist Church, New Calvary Baptist Church, Hope United Methodist Church, Christ Church-Redford, and Martyrs of Uganda Catholic Church. Members of these and other churches have been receptive and supportive of the students. The following are a few responses from church members who attended workshops:

“This presentation could help save lives.”

“Continue to educate.”

“It provided a lot of information and discussion that probably would not have occurred.”

“We are all part of a community and it is good to know the strengths and weaknesses we all face so that we can become an asset to others in need.”

This program is supported by three grants from Michigan Campus Compact. The grant was awarded to Karagon to infuse HIV/AIDS information into the Marygrove curriculum. The course, POL/SOC/SW 385 Community and Organizational Change, is an interdisciplinary course in community and organizational dynamics. For more information, call James Karagon at (313) 927-1484.

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