APLA Hosts Dec. 5 Testing Event for WAD

On Friday, December 5, APLA Health & Wellness invites everyone -- and particularly African-American and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) ages 18-24 -- to join the R3VNG (Reshaping 3 Letters through the Voice of the Now Generation) program team at an HIV testing event at the Gleicher/Chen Health Center in Baldwin Hills.

In recognition of World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, APLAHW encourages young men to "take revenge on HIV" by getting tested and knowing their statuses. In addition to free HIV tests, the event offers attendees STD screenings and linkage to treatment, as well as access to a health care plan enrollment specialist and a medical provider from the Pendleton/Goldman PrEP Program, who will be available to answer questions and schedule appointments for those interested in PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis.

Also included are free food, a live DJ and giveaways of both concert tickets and gift cards. The atmosphere will be fun and relaxed, yet educational. Parking is available in the shopping center lot for free.

The event is part of R3VNG, an HIV testing, education and prevention initiative for young African-American and Latino MSM between the ages of 18-24. R3VNG provides rapid HIV testing, HIV education workshops, and safer sex materials. Additionally, R3VNG offers support and linkage to care for both newly diagnosed and out-of-care HIV-positive young men.

APLA Health & Wellness (APLAHW) provides primary medical and oral health care, behavioral health services, HIV testing, PrEP counseling and management of eligible clients, STD screening/treatment, and health education and HIV-prevention services, with a specific focus on low-income gay and bisexual men of color and transgender individuals living in Los Angeles County.

APLAHW is a federally qualified health center that includes: the Gleicher/Chen Health Center in South Los Angeles; the Wilshire Dental Clinic downtown; Behavioral Health Services at the David Geffen Center in Mid-City; as well as a mobile dental facility. The S. Mark Taper Foundation Dental Clinic in South Los Angeles is also part of APLAHW. APLAHW serves more than 8,000 people each year.

The APLA HIV Testing Event will be held from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Friday, December 5, at the Gleicher/Chen Health Center at Coliseum Street in the Baldwin Hills Shopping Center, 3743 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90016.