Tears of Blood: Walk the Runway Fashion Show #BreakTheStigma

Tears of Blood Walk The Runway Fashion Show is an explosive educational artistic expression that takes a look at the realities of HIV/Aids in the African American and Latino Community from a youthful perspective. This Fashion Show showcases the effect the disease has on the youth of our communities; whether it be direct infection or affected by those who are family members or friends of those infected. It shows you, from the youthful perspective, how the disease looks , what they do know about the disease as well as what they don't, what they feel they need to know, and the importance of continuing education in the community about HIV/Aids in general.

This Fashion Show will present a host of artistic expressions about the disease in the way of Dance, Song/Music, Rap/Spoken Word, Dramatic Monologues, and Visual Arts. In addition to the artistic expressions, there will be data and statistics about the disease in the community given to the audience by Doctors of an Infectious Disease Program at Howard Brown Hospital and another Hospital in the community. There will also be information about where one could go to get help to build understanding and fortify awareness when coping with their HIV/Aids status by Service Providers. To show that life continues after diagnosis, there will also be personal testimonies given by long term survivors of the disease sharing their struggles and triumphs, advice on adhering to medications, as well as their Mental Wellness journey.

All of the clothes, hair, and make up in the fashion show will reflect the look of the cells. Both, in the body in a colorful, bright, and vibrant healthy immune system and how they function in the body as well as an abstract look when the immune system has been compromised by the HIV virus.

This is a very vital and important event because it provides a platform for artistic expression and education, it is crafted to promote better health awareness and practices, and at its nucleus, it is an opportunity to potentially save a life. This event will provide free testing services as well as information on places to be tested, it will provide resources to information where there are group therapy services and private therapy services that can help one cope with this disease and to cope with themselves in general. We hope that it will help people to know that they are not alone and can live longer lives even if they are HIV Positive. We also hope that with proper education we can fight the rise of HIV and encourage HIV Prevention. Our biggest wish with this event is ultimately to break stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS, as we recognize and acknowledge that stigma is what keeps people from getting the services they need and taking the necessary precautionary and preventative actions.