The Northeastern Illinois University Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, Queer/Questioning Alliance (GLBTQA) has been around for several years. Recently, they have been on a roll co-sponsoring events and holding bake sales. The GLBTQA National Aids Day Fundraiser, held on Dec. 1 in SU-115, was nothing short of great.
The GLBTQA, in collaboration with Latinas in Power, Sigma Gamma Rho, Feminist Collective, Northeastern Programming Board and the Sociology Club, hosted a Feevha class, also known as zumba, for the fundraiser. In addition to the Feevha class, they passed out condoms and ribbons to promote HIV/AIDS awareness and the Asian Human Services performed rapid AIDS/HIV testing. The Feevha class, which went from 1:40 p.m. to 3 p.m. and had a break for giveaways, had several people sweating it out to learn about AIDS. Angela Starr, a freshman art major, said a highlight of the event was her learning more about what HIV/AIDS is and how it affects different cultures. After the Feevha class, the GLBTQA held a raffle and several lucky students walked away with gift cards to several stores including Starbucks and BestBuy, among several other stores and vendors throughout Chicago.
All the procceeds collected will be going to the Broadway Youth Center, which is located on 3179 N. Broadway near the intersection of Broadway and Belmont. The center was founded in 1974 and provides assistance for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and HIV-impacted adolescent and adult communities. As well as providing free HIV testing, the center also provides programs for individuals in primary medical care, behavioral health services, case management and research. TheBroadway Youth Center is a wonderful organization which could use any assistance possible, whether it is a monetary donation or volunteer work. If you would like to volunteer your time the application is available via their website at: www.howardbrown.org/hb_volunteer.asp.