Earlier this summer, the American National Red Cross and the St. Louis Area Chapter partnered with the National Baptist Convention to attend their annual meeting.
Delegates traveled from across the country to fellowship with family, friends, and their fellow congregants in Detroit, Michigan for the 104th session of the Christian Education Congress of the National Baptist Convention. The meeting was hosted June 22 – 26 and attracted well over 25,000 members.
I was excited to be a part of this educational experience!! -- An invitation from the National Baptist Convention to the American Red Cross National Headquarters and the St. Louis Area Chapter to participate and educate its delegates about our programs and services, specifically
HIV/AIDS. This partnership began in St. Louis when the group hosted its annual convention in 2007 and St. Louis welcomed approximately 40,000 delegates!!
Congress of Christian Education President Dr. R. B. Holmes, Jr. and Rev. Dr. Jimmy Brown, pastor of the St. Luke Memorial Missionary Baptist Church, in St. Louis, sought to have a Red Cross presence among the delegates.
At this year’s convention, children, youth, adults, seniors, families, pastors, and lay members sought to not only gain biblical training in Detroit, but to increase their knowledge about the Red Cross. In addition to an HIV/AIDS presentation by St. Louis Red Crosser Simone Phillips, HIV/AIDS Associate in Health and Safety, the Red Cross displayed and distributed program materials. The annual health fair attracted vendors from across the country and networking possibilities were in air! I believe that the attendees felt that they were receiving a well-rounded education and information about how to really serve their communities through their faith-based connections.
Anna Lopez, director of corporate diversity, at National Red Cross, Simone Phillips and I were pleased to maximize our efforts with our assigned convention coordinators, Evelyn Mason and Tommy Frieson. The HIV/AIDS presentation was a hit with the 125 attendees. Simone Phillips captivated an audience of teens, adults, seniors and clergy. She presented the prevention facts about HIV/AIDS in a straight forward manner that generated comments, excitement, and requests for additional presentation in several cities.
The National Baptist Convention is aware of the devastating affects of HIV/AIDS in the world, but specifically in the African-American community. The information shared in the workshop and at the health fair helped to address myths, reality, and provided a platform for the delegates to take information back to their communities.
The St. Louis Area Chapter’s participation in this event promoted greater visibility of our organization as a leader in HIV/AIDS instruction and an agency of first choice for volunteerism, donations, and training opportunities.
See a few photos from the event below!
Yvonne Berry is the manager of volunteer resources for the St. Louis Area Chapter.