Paul A. Kawata

National Minority AIDS Council

1931 13th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009

Dear Paul,

According to the recent White House Report on HIV/AIDS and youth of 40,000 new HIV infections each year more than 50% occur in young people ages 13-25. This translates into an alarming rate of 2 youth per hour. As a result of the lack of youth representation, USCA has failed to meet the expectations of many of the youth participants. Historically the USCA has not been a conference for young people; but, as the dynamic of this virus begins to represent an age bias and older professionals begin to age or burn out, USCA can provide youth (especially service providers under the age of 25) with the opportunity to network and develop those professional skills that will sustain them and their community efforts. Some suggestions that youth of this conference have are: 1. Increase youth representation in the planning of USCA. 2. Increase resources available specifically for youth and young professionals to attend this conference 3. Increase Skills building workshops for youth attending the conference.

Increase youth representation in the planning of USCA: As long as USCA continues to look at youth as objects or recipients, and not as partners that need skills development, USCA will remain a stagnant entity.

Increase resources available: A conference that cost $500.00 plus hotel, travel, and living expenses is just not cost effective for youth that are beginning their professional careers or would like to become active in this field. One option to overcome this difficulty is to open up the organizational scholarships to 1 additional scholarship specifically for a youth representative.

Increase Skills building workshops: The current Youth Institute could possibly be the space for this endeavor. This Institute is currently misconstrued, because it is not clear whether it is for youth themselves, their advocates, or service providers. A youth track is needed; in which there is, in the planning stage, a request for abstracts for workshops that are youth focused, lead, and intended for.

Our recommendations for improvement of current USCA infrastructure include: a full day Youth Institute in a larger room; acknowledgment and identification of the ever diversifying youth population (i.e. youth of color, queer youth, youth living with HIV/AIDS); a youth lounge where youth can caucus, network, and socialize among themselves; and sensitivity toward youth from presenters, exhibitors, and others associated with the conference (this sensitivity includes open and frank dialogue about relevant youth issues ).

We would like to thank you for meeting with a group of us on Tuesday, October 3, 2000, so that we could begin talking and thinking out this process. We appreciate your recognition of the importance of our involvement. We look forward to future discussions with you and other conference coordinators.

This letter was a joint collaboration between from Advocates for Youth, NYAC, SMAAC, and other youth attending this conference.

On behalf of the youth at the USCA,

Yours sincerely,

Advocates for Youth, NYAC, and SMAAC and youth attending the conference

cc: Participants of the USCA 2000

Planning Committee ? USCA 2000

Conference Partners ? USCA 2000

Government Co-Sponsors ? USCA 2000

Board of Directors ? National Minority AIDS Council