The Mission

Keepn' It REAL (Realistic Education about AIDS and Living) which is an outreach campaign targeting urban youth under 25 years old and is designed to reach urban youth with a realistic approach to HIV prevention and healthy living.

The Components

• The Phases:
  Phase I: Links with area merchants such as, barber shops hair/nail salons, family owner restaurants, record stores and independent clothing stores to place HIV prevention materials in these places of business frequented by urban youth.
  
  Phase II: Our small social gatherings or house parties where participates have open and honest discussions about HIV prevention.
  
  Phase III: Educates and mobilizes the community on a large scale by attending concerts, community events, cultural festivals, parades, health fairs, in addition to planning events such as bowling parties, basketball tournaments and youth gatherings.
  
  Phase IV: Expands on phase I to link with residential facilities such as group homes, homeless shelters, half-way houses, to provide their clients with HIV prevention education.
  
  
• Mobile Outreach:
  This part of the program goes out to the community to provide youth with HIV prevention material which includes a list of free testing sites, condoms and information on upcoming Keepn' It REAL events. Mobile Outreach targets area high schools and middle schools, popular neighborhoods, and community centers.
  
  
• Community Educators:
  Community Educators are youth who partake in an ongoing HIV prevention training program. The youth are involved in the planning of Keepn' It REAL events, mobile outreach, in addition to co-facilitating presentations, and attending health fairs and conferences. Community Educators are sometimes paid for their work.
  
  Have any questions or if you want more information about the program? Please contact us about Keepn" It REAL at mail@aidsprojecthartford.org