Society

[Audio] Paducah's OMHA Hosts Panel and Testing Event for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

WKMS | By Tracy Ross,

Published February 8, 2017 at 1:05 PM CST

Tracy Ross speaks with organizer Albert Parker about activities happening this Saturday in Paducah as part of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

Parker says Paducah'sOutreach Ministries for the Healing of AIDS has been observing the national awareness day in his community for 10 years. This year the organization is hosting a panel discussion on February 11 at 1:00 p.m. at the J.O. Griffin Chapel and Learning Center. Parker says the objective of the event is to raise awareness, educate, and encourage people to get tested.

Heartland CARESwill also offer free testing at the event from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Heartland CARES is a full service HIV/AIDS program based in Paducah. It maintains satellite offices in Hopkinsville, Kentucky and Murphysboro, Illinois. The organization provides case management services, food support, full clinical care, and an on-site pharmacy. Parker says the objective of the event is to raise awareness, educate, and encourage people to get tested.

Tags

Tracy Ross

Tracy started working for WKMS in 1994 while attending Murray State University. After receiving his Bachelors and Masters degrees from MSU he was hired as Operations/Web/Sports Director in 2000. Tracy hosted All Things Considered from 2004-2012 and has served as host/producer of several music shows including Cafe Jazz, and Jazz Horizons. In 2001, Tracy revived Beyond The Edge, a legacy alternative music program that had been on hiatus for several years. Tracy was named Program Director in 2011 and created the midday music and conversation program Sounds Good in 2012 which he hosts Monday-Thursday. Tracy lives in Murray with his wife, son and daughter.

See stories by Tracy Ross

Allison Crawford

A proud native of Murray, Kentucky, Allison grew up roaming the forests of western Kentucky and visiting national parks across the country. She graduated in 2014 from Murray State University where she studied Environmental Sustainability, Television Production, and Spanish. She loves meeting new people, questioning everything, and dancing through the sun and the rain. She hopes to make a positive impact in this world several endeavors at a time.

See stories by Allison Crawford