PROCLAMATION

THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF MARCH 2 – 8, 2008 AS

THE BLACK CHURCH WEEK OF PRAYER

FOR THE HEALING OF AIDS

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PROCLAIMED, by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo, State of California, that

WHEREAS, the BLACK CHURCH WEEK OF PRAYER FOR THE HEALING OF AIDS is modeled after the groundbreaking Harlem Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS established in 1989 by Pernessa C. Seele, Founder and CEO of the Balm In Gilead; and

WHEREAS, the Balm In Gilead is the only organization in the United States dedicated exclusively to empowering churches in the struggle against the devastation of HIV/AIDS in the Black community and their pioneering achievements have enabled thousands of churches to become leaders in preventing HIV by providing comprehensive educational programs and offering compassionate support to encourage those infected to seek and maintain treatment; and

WHEREAS, the BLACK CHURCH WEEK OF PRAYER FOR THE HEALING OF AIDS, now in its nineteenth year, has grown to become the largest AIDS awareness program in the United States targeting the Black community and, in doing so, it raises the awareness of the community at-large to the unique strengths of the Black church in addressing HIV/AIDS through culturally appropriate programs; and

WHEREAS, on Saturday, March 8, 2008, over 10,000 churches across our nation will accept the call to use the power of the Black pulpit to educate their communities about HIV/AIDS and to heal hearts and minds of denial, silence and the stigma that continues to suffocate effective interventions regarding prevention, treatment and testing in Black communities,

NOW, THEREFORE, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors does hereby proclaim the week of March 2 – 8, 2008 the BLACK CHURCH WEEK OF PRAYER FOR THE HEALING OF AIDS in San Mateo County and invites all citizens to participate in related activities and events.

Dated: March 8, 2008

SUPERVISORS:

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ADRIENNE J. TISSIER, President

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MARK CHURCH

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JERRY HILL

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RICHARD S. GORDON

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ROSE JACOBS GIBSON

Attest:

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Deputy Clerk of the Board of Supervisors