Today is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Every 47 minutes, a woman will be diagnosed with HIV in the United States. This epidemic is not just about the woman next door, on the bus, in your office, or down the street. This is about us. Not only should we as women empower ourselves with knowledge but we must show support for our sisters both infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

While rocking red pumps may seem like an attempt to make a simple fashion statement, we can promise you that it is much more than that. We #RockTheRedPump as a symbol of solidarity, of boldness, and of power. This epidemic started one person at a time and that is the same way that it will end.

Today, we challenge you to not only #RockTheRedPump on your feet but through your actions. Talk about this disease within your networks, locate your nearest testing center, get involved with an AIDS service organization near you, share a Facebook update, or dedicate a tweet. There are so many ways that we can all make a difference.

To all of our sisters living with HIV/AIDS, we stand with you.

To all of our sisters affected by HIV/AIDS, we stand with you.

We are proud to #RockTheRedPump with all of you today – and every day.

Karyn and Luvvie
Co-Founders, The Red Pump Project

The post Why Do We #RockTheRedPump? appeared first on The Red Pump Project.

We are 46 days out from National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD) so we’re asking you for the FIFTH year in a row to #RockTheRedPump with us. We are working hard to make this year our biggest year yet, and we hope that you will join in this mission.

In the days leading up to March 10th, we will engage with you in a variety of ways designed to get you thinking AND to inspire you to take action on NWGHAAD and every day after. On March 10^th, we are going to paint the Internet (and beyond) red with blog posts, images, tweets, and events ALL dedicated to raising awareness about the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls.

Fired up yet? Awesome.

Here’s how you can #RocktheRedPump:

• Register your website here and download one of five custom badges to boldly display on your page.
• Follow us on Facebook for shareable image cards and cover photos that you can share or download for posting on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
• Participate in #RockTheRedPump Twitter chats in February and March
• Wear red pumps (or other red shoes) on March 10 and upload photos to The Red Pump Project Facebook page.
• Pledge to share HIV/AIDS information with five women before March 10.
• Join us for Red Pump events in Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Dallas and Washington D.C.

Do you have questions about the campaign? This FAQ sheet should help. Whether you are a first-time participant or an “old” pro, we thank you in advance for supporting this movement!

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Event Details

What: Rock the RED: Bold. Fashion. Awareness. fashion show
Who: The Red Pump Project (@redpumpproj), with host Kim Coles (@kimcoles)
When: Saturday, March 24, 2012
Where: Society Art Gallery; 2140 W. Fulton St., Chicago, IL 60612
Time: 6 – 9 p.m. (6 p.m.- Cocktail Hour; 7 p.m. Show begins)

Tickets are $25 regular and $50 VIP (early bird). On March 1, 2012, regular tics will be $30, and $60 VIP (if any remain). VIPs receive designated seating, complimentary drinks during cocktail hour and a gift bag of goodies. Get them at http://rockthered2012.eventbrite.com.

Our Sponsors

So far, these are our show sponsors:

Be a sponsor for Rock the RED

We’re currently seeking sponsors for our show. Your organization can lend a hand in our efforts by making a donation – either monetary or in the form of product or services. As a sponsor, you’ll have a great opportunity to increase its visibility in the Chicagoland area, in front of over 250 professionals. You will also receive recognition across the web, through our very active social networks and in our eNewsletter.

More importantly, you will be helping us to continue the work we do in our communities where the presence of HIV/AIDS has made a significant impact, devastating the lives of children, women, other minorities and their families.

If you’re interested and would like to receive our sponsorship package, please email us at info at redpump dot org.

The post Get Tickets for the “Rock the Red” Fashion Show Hosted by Kim Coles appeared first on The Red Pump Project.

Today, we launch our fourth annual Rock the Red Pump™ bloggers campaign, in recognition of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD), which is March 10th annually. The campaign’s goal is to generate conversation in blogosphere about the issue of HIV/AIDS and how it affects women. In the 50 days leading up to NWGHAAD, we ask bloggers to place one of our 5 badges on their websites to represent the strength and courage of women fighting HIV/AIDS or affected by the disease. Then on NWGHAAD, people across blogosphere dedicate their posts to talking about the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls. Well, this year, we’d like to paint blogosphere red on March 9, 2012, a Friday. And then on March 10th, we’ll be having events in cities across the country (details to come on those!).

Last year, with the support of BlogHer, the largest community of women who blog, over 1,250 blogs were involved in the campaign. This year we are raising the bar (with their help once again)! Not only do our badges feature a custom illustration from Veronica Miller, but we are also challenging ourselves to “Rock the Red Pump” on 2,500 BLOGS on March 9, 2012!

Whether you are a first-time participant or an “old” pro, we thank you for supporting this movement! There are also other ways for you to demonstrate your involvement in the 50 days leading up to March 10th.

• Sign up to “Rock the Red Pump” and embed one of our five custom badges in the sidebar of your website and/or blog.

• Dedicate a post to the important issue of HIV/AIDS and women on March 9, 2012 (We’re choosing to paint blogosphere FIERCE on this day because March 10 is a Saturday this year). Need some statistics to get started? Check out our HIV/AIDS 101 page.

• Participate in our weekly #RedPumpDiaries Twitter discussions on a variety of important sexual health topics

• Snap a photo in your favorite pair of red shoes and share with us via our Facebook page, Twitter, and/or Tumblr.

• Spread the word and tell a friend!

Thank you for your support and we look forward to joining us to “Rock the Red Pump” in 2012! Official hashtag: #RocktheRedPump! SIGN UP FOR THE CAMPAIGN.

SIGN UP TO JOIN THE CAMPAIGN HERE

Help us spread the word! Tweet

The post Announcing the launch of the 4th annual Rock the Red Pump Campaign! appeared first on The Red Pump Project.

Rock the Red will also showcase the newest fashions by upcoming designers and boutiques from around the city of Chicago, as well as a very special guest host!

It’s our pleasure to announce that actress, comedian and motivational speaker, Kim Coles, best-known for her role on the hit show “Living Single” will be presiding over the festivities! Using laughter and love, Kim will also be helping us honor the recipient of the Ultimate Red Pump Rocker Award, who will be chosen for their work in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

So join The Red Pump Project on March 24th for a fantastic evening where we bring together social justice and fashion to Rock the RED BOLDLY, FASHIONABLY while being AWARE of the impact of HIV/AIDS on our community.

Event Details

What: Rock the RED: Bold. Fashion. Awareness. fashion show
Who: The Red Pump Project (@redpumpproj), with host Kim Coles (@kimcoles)
When: Saturday, March 24, 2012
Where: TBD, Chicago, IL
Time: 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. (6:00 p.m.- Cocktail Hour; 7 p.m. Show begins)

More information on the show, designers and sponsors will come on January 30, 2012! Tickets will also go on sale then.

So join us on March 24th for a fantastic evening where we bring together social justice and fashion to Rock the RED BOLDLY, FASHIONABLY while being AWARE of the impact of HIV/AIDS on our community.

Be A Sponsor for Rock the RED

We’re currently seeking sponsors for our show. Your organization can lend a hand in our efforts by making a donation – either monetary or in the form of product or services. As a sponsor, you’ll have a great opportunity to increase its visibility in the Chicagoland area, in front of over 250 professionals. You will also receive recognition across the web, through our very active social networks and in our eNewsletter.

More importantly, you will be helping us to continue the work we do in our communities where the presence of HIV/AIDS has made a significant impact, devastating the lives of children, women, other minorities and their families.

If you’re interested and would like to receive our sponsorship package, please email us at info at redpump dot org.

Follow @redpumpproj

The post Announcing the 3rd Annual “Rock the Red: Bold. Fashion. Awareness.” Show With Special Host appeared first on The Red Pump Project.

On January 18, 2012, The Red Pump Project will launch its 4th annual Rock the Red Pump™ campaign. It’s an initiative to commemorate National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD), which is March 10th every year. In fact, that’s how Red Pump got started almost 3 years ago!

The Rock the Red Pump™ campaign’s goal is to generate conversation in blogosphere about the issue of HIV/AIDS and how it affects women. In the 50 days leading up to March 10th, Red Pump asks bloggers to place one of the campaign badges on their websites to represent the strength and courage of women fighting HIV/AIDS or affected by the disease. Then on NWGHAAD, people across blogosphere dedicate their posts to talking about the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls. Also, put on your favorite pair of red shoes on NWGHAAD and be fierce!

Our last campaign, we had a goal of getting 500 bloggers, but we more than doubled it and got over 1,200 blogs to Rock the Red Pump™! This year, our goal is to get 2,500 bloggers to join us in raising awareness about the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 50 days leading up to NWGHAAD. Well, this year, we’d like to paint blogosphere red on March 9, 2012, a Friday. And then on March 10th, we’ll be having events in cities across the country. Details to come on those!

We’re so excited to have BlogHer, the biggest community of women bloggers join us as a supporter for a 2nd year in a row!

Help is kick off our campaign on January 18, 2012! You’ll be able to sign up and grab a badge of your choice that day. We’re really looking forward to being 2,500 strong on March 9, 2012!

Official hashtag: #RocktheRedPump!

Follow @redpumpproj

The post Save the Date: Launch of the 4th Annual Rock the Red Pump™ Campaign appeared first on The Red Pump Project.

Follow Red Pump on Twitter at: @RedPumpProj

The post The Tweets Are Talking: National Women & Girls’ HIV/AIDS Awareness Day appeared first on The Red Pump Project.

Today is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD) and we’re proudly and fiercely Rocking the Red Pump with over 1,200 bloggers from around the country (and the world).

Every 35 minutes, a woman tests positive for HIV in the United States. Though much progress has been made in the areas of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, women still represent 27 percent of all new AIDS diagnoses, with African-American women making up an overwhelming 66 percent of that number. In 2006, teen girls represented 39% of AIDS cases reported among 13–19 year-olds. Black teens represented 69% of cases reported among 13–19 year-olds; Latino teens represented 19%. These startling statistics are the driving force behind Red Pump’s message.

Fifty days ago, we launched our 3rd Annual “Rock the Red Pump” campaign with the goal of getting 500 blogs involved. Today, we’re ecstatic to be standing over 1,200 blogs strong, all uniting to represent the courage of all the women and girls who are infected and affected with HIV/AIDS.

In addition to commemorating NWGHAAD today, we are also recognizing the 2nd Anniversary of The Red Pump Project. What started as a small idea has blossomed into a movement that has grown beyond any of our expectations. We’d like to thank all the bloggers who are “Rocking the Red Pump” on their websites today and are using their voice and influence to shine a light on this issue. We’d also like to thank the women everywhere who are rocking their favorite pair of red pumps (or flats) today. We created a video thank you all!

To commemorate the day, we’re having official Red Pump events around the country. Please read more about them on our events page.

We will be hosting a Twitter Townhall from 1:30-3:00pm CST. Please join us as we ask people to talk about why they find it important to recognize NWGHAAD. Follow us on Twitter (@RedPumpProj).

Today, we will be tracking the use of the hashtag #RocktheRedPump and #NWGHAAD on our website.

As you honor NWGHAAD, we ask that you take the time to ask a friend and/or family member when is the last time that they’ve been tested. Knowing your status is such an important step in the fight against HIV/AIDS. For a list of HIV testing sites, you can visit hivtest.org.

Thank you again for all of support of The Red Pump Project and, more importantly, your commitment to the fight against AIDS. We’re all making a difference one red pump (or flat) at a time. And we’ll continue to do work that shows that “Awareness is Always in Style!™”

Luvvie & Karyn
The Red Pump Project Co-Founders

P.S. We’re really looking forward to seeing the red pumps (or flats) you’re all wearing today! Please upload pics to our Facebook Fan page!

The post We’re Proudly “Rocking the Red Pump” for NWGHAAD! appeared first on The Red Pump Project.

Online

Join us on March 10, 2011, for our Twitter Townhall in commemoration of National Women & Girls’ HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD). Starting at 1:30pm CST, we will kick off a discussion on Twitter surrounding issues around HIV/AIDS and women. We want to hear what you have to say about the epidemic and its effect on women. Be sure to use the hashtag #redpump.

It also culminates our 3rd annual “Rock the Red Pump™” campaign, which has so far gotten 850 bloggers signed up!

Follow us on Twitter (@RedPumpProj).

Charlotte, NC

On March 10, 2011, in commemoration of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, join Red Pump’s Charlotte ambassadors as they Paint the Night RED. This fundraiser event will take place at Vertical Tease (Tease Fitness Boutique). Come out and learn more about The Red Pump Project.

The night will be filled with food, laughter, education, fun and a special tease pole party. Vertical Tease will teach basic pole techniques, a sexy chair routine and give you a great workout all at the same time.

For more information, email Brittani Menina at redpumpcharlotte@redpump.org

Atlanta, GA

On the evening of March 11, 2011, Red Pump Project Atlanta will host a wine tasting- fundraiser in conjunction with National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day as well as to introduce Red Pump Project Atlanta to the city as we forge alliances in preparation of hitting the pavement educating, testing, and raising awareness. Atlanta ranks eighth among the nation’s metro areas in its ratio of HIV infections to overall population and Georgia ranks 2nd in the rate of HIV infections for teens ages 13-19. Stems and Stilettos is a perfect event to raise both funds and awareness in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Red Pump will host mainstream Atlanta ranging from ages 21-40, both men and women alike. Guest will include Atlanta’s socialites, community partners, as well as public health professionals. Along with wine-tasting, music, giveaways, and entertainment will be provided. So Taste-T cupcakes will share their signature cupcake benefiting our chosen community partner, Aniz, Inc.

For more information and to RSVP, go HERE

Dallas, TX

The Red Pump Project’s Dallas ambassador presents: DIVA SWAP on March 13, 2011. DIVA SWAP is a women’s clothing exchange that is being held in recognition of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (March 10th). Clothing swaps are fashionable, fun, and a charitable way to refresh your wardrobe. De-clutter that closet! Bring all your unwanted but AWESOME items that you no longer wear (or never got to wear). Swap and bring home some new favorites for FREE!

All un-swapped clothing will be donated to LifeNetTexas.org!

For more information and to RSVP, go HERE

Chicago, IL

On the evening of March 24, 2011, The Red Pump Project is having the 2nd annual “Rock the RED: Bold. Fashion. Awareness.” Fashion Show in commemoration of annual National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Rock the RED will also be a celebration of the 2nd anniversary of The Red Pump Project, which was founded in March 2009 to raise awareness about the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls. The event will begin with a “Happy Hour” at 6:00pm, and Rock the Red beginning promptly at 7:00pm. It will showcase the newest fashions by upcoming designers and boutiques from around the city. So join us for a fantastic evening where we bring together social justice and fashion to Rock the RED BOLDLY, FASHIONABLY while being AWARE of the impact of HIV/AIDS on our community.

For more information and to RSVP, go HERE

If you’re in any of these cities, we hope you can support and attend.

The post Upcoming Official Red Pump Events for Nat’l Women & Girls AIDS Day appeared first on The Red Pump Project.

NPIN regularly conducts TwitterViews through its Twitter account @cdcnpin) with leaders in the prevention community, organizations doing unique work, and individuals who are making a difference in HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, STD, and tuberculosis prevention and care.

Wednesday’s TwitterView will be on the topic of The Red Pump Project’s campaign and social media outreach surrounding NWGHAAD. You can follow along on the CDC NPIN Twitter page or read the transcript later on the NPIN Facebook Fan page.

In return, we had a chance to ask Melissa Beaupierre, Senior Director of CDC NPIN, who has been involved in HIV prevention herself for over 20 years, a few questions.

Luvvie: What made you decide to start doing TwitterViews?
Melissa: We wanted to communicate with people who were making a difference in the prevention community and share their efforts with others. Twitter is such a great forum to immediately connect with people from around the country who may live far apart, but who are all working together for a common cause.

Luvvie: What made you pick The Red Pump Project as the subject of the TwitterView for March 10th?
Melissa: NPIN has been following the social media outreach efforts of the Red Pump Project since before NWGHAAD 2010. The Red Pump Project’s work was a huge part of our inspiration for the National HIV Testing Day Twitter Town Hall we did last year and we greatly appreciated the tips that we received from you based on your work for NWGHAAD
2010. We have our own NPIN Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages, and we appreciate having the other organizations like the Red Pump Project with whom we can interact and share information. Essentially, we think that The Red Pump Project is doing a great job engaging followers!

Luvvie: Why is it important that we recognize Women & Girls’ HIV/AIDS Awareness Day?
Melissa: It is so important for agencies and organizations to come together to raise awareness of HIV prevention and care needs of women and to teach women and girls about prevention of HIV, the importance of getting tested for HIV, and how to live with and manage HIV/AIDS if they are already HIV positive. We need to work together to spread the message to women about what puts them at risk, how to protect themselves, fight stigma, and the importance of getting tested! NPIN’s mission is to connect public health prevention partners and provide tools and resources to help them do great prevention work.

Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions, Melissa! We’re honored to have been chosen for NPIN’s TwitterView, and we’re very much looking forward to it.

Follow The Red Pump Project on Twitter (@RedPumpProj)

About CDC NPIN

The CDC National Prevention Information Network (NPIN) is the U.S. reference and referral service for information on HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and tuberculosis (TB). NPIN collects, catalogs, processes, and electronically disseminates materials and information on HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, STDs, and TB to organizations and people working in those disease fields in national, state, and local settings. All NPIN services are designed to facilitate sharing of information and resources on education and prevention services, published materials, research findings, and trends among users. For more information about NPIN, please visit www.cdcnpin.org.

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