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07/31/2008

www.nnaapc.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Warren Jimenez, (720)382-2244

National Native American AIDS Prevention Center

To Honor HIV/AIDS Advocate

Trudie Jackson will receive 2008 Mary Prairie Award

July 30, 2008 - Denver, CO - The National Native American AIDS Prevention Center (NNAAPC) is proud to announce that Trudie Jackson (Dine), Underserved Population Prevention Specialist for the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS, Phoenix, AZ, will receive the 2008 Marty Prairie Award for her continuing leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the Native Community.

The award ceremony will be held September 18, 2008, 6pm at the United States Conference on AIDS (USCA) at the Fontainebleau in Miami Beach, Florida.

Ms. Jackson has worked as an invaluable resource to the Native American HIV community. Trudie has worked with high risk populations and goes into areas where the underserved live, work and play to be available to pass out condoms, to educate and to network with other services so her clients' unique challenges can be met. She has facilitated support groups and focused her outreach efforts at Native events. Her targeted audience is Native Americans and the transgender community.

When Trudie first entered the field, she was the only Transgender person at the table. By overcoming her discomfort with a 'move forward' philosophy, she feels she has opened doors for other Native American Transgender persons of every tribal affiliation.

One of the nominations Trudie received stated, "For the morning event for Native American HIV/AIDS Awareness, Trudie was able to get pharmaceutical sponsors, bring in speakers and Native American entertainment to make the celebration culturally sensitive and educationally relevant for all who attended."

Veronica Berger, a colleague at SWHIV, states, "Trudie is an inspiration and role model".

About the Marty Prairie Award

Marty Lynn Prairie (1958 - 2001) (Lakota) was a long time friend and ally of the NNAAPC. Through his tireless commitment to HIV/AIDS education and prevention in Indian Country, and also throughout the United States, he became a well-known HIV/AIDS and harm reduction advocate. Marty's commitment to Action, his strong Voice, and his fearless Leadership within the Native community inspired NNAAPC to honor his legacy by presenting an annual Marty Prairie Award to a Native American community member who demonstrates Action, Voice, and Leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Some of the past award recipients have been Ron Rowell, Melvin Harrison and, last year's recipient, Marie Kirk.

About NNAAPC

The National Native American AIDS Prevention Center(NNAAPC), located in Denver, CO, is a non-profit organization founded in 1987 to address the impact of HIV/AIDS on American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians through culturally appropriate advocacy, research, education, and policy development in support of healthy Indigenous people. NNAAPC provides capacity building assistance to tribal and urban health organizations and communities, community-based organizations serving Native people, and agencies that administer federal HIV/AIDS policy. Over the last 20 years, NNAAPC has conducted work in community mobilization, training and technical assistance in HIV/AIDS prevention, intervention and case management, communications and media development, outreach and recruitment, developing technologies with HIV applications, and forging a policy agenda that ensures the inclusion of Native people. NNAAPC is the only national HIV/AIDS-specific Native organization in the United States.

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