“Why: The Breakdown of Anacostia” Press Release
Washington (August 8, 2008) - “Why: The Breakdown of Anacostia” is a documentary film on HIV/AIDS in the Anacostia neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Featuring interviews with community residents and HIV/AIDS Activists, the film will first premiere on DCTV during the months of August and September, beginning Friday night (August 8th). Please review DCTV’s listings at www.dctvonline.net for additional scheduling information. In September, the Women’s Collective – a Washington, D.C. based non-profit organization led by women with HIV, will host a screening. Further information about the Women’s Collective can be obtained by visiting their website at www.womenscollective.org

“Why: The Breakdown of Anacostia” is a ground breaking film that was produced by Black Aesthetics Institute, Inc. and created by District of Columbia youth who talk about HIV/AIDS from their own perspective. As the story enfolds viewers are treated to a rare look at the creative development of the Youth Vanguard Program (YVP) participants and their project, “Perspectives on Anacostia – A Visual Narrative.”

From October 2007 through May 2008, Black Aesthetics, together with the Neighborhood Investment Fund (NIF) the National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC), the United Black Fund (UBF), the Safeway Foundation and the Covenant Full Potential Development Center facilitated Perspectives on Anacostia – A Visual Narrative. Perspectives on Anacostia offered 20 District of Columbia youth participants the opportunity to receive the resources and guidance to use technology as a tool for documenting people and places within the Anacostia neighborhood of Ward 8 through documentary film making. Youth participants used their creativity by expressing themselves through the development of this documentary film.

“In the United States, half of all new HIV infections occur in people under the age of 25. The District of Columbia has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS transmission in the nation among African Americans. It is estimated that one out of every twenty individuals within the District of Columbia is positive for HIV or AIDS, and one in every seven individuals in Anacostia is HIV/AIDS positive, which is why this documentary film is so important,” said founding president of Black Aesthetics Institute, Denise Erskine-Meusa. “I am extremely delighted with the film”, said BAI Chairperson, Kay Sibetta, “We will all get the chance to see how much the youth participants learned about making a film.” “I am absolutely delighted and elated about how the film turned out and its impact on the community in terms of helping to reduce the risky behavior that leads to HIV or AIDS in the first place,” said Erskine-Meusa. “We also partnered with DCTV and Park Triangle Productions, who assisted us with making this film possible and I can’t wait for everyone to see how hard everyone worked,” she continued.

***************************

ABOUT BAI
Black Aesthetics Institute, Inc. (BAI) is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 youth development and media arts production organization. BAI is designed to encourage the appreciation of artistic aesthetics among young men and women in the community. We provide jobs and strive to motivate our youth to achieve their fullest potential through exposure to the photography and, television and film industries. We teach youth the beauty of how to be through self esteem building media arts training programs that focus on Black culture and self pride.