Event Planning Guide

Considerations as you Start

• How can you raise awareness to reach those most at risk and affected by HIV? What interests your local audience?
• Don’t reinvent the wheel. The lead organizations for the days offer tools, fact sheets, graphics, and more. Use the national theme to reinforce common messages.
• Research what’s happening. Reach beyond your traditional local partners.
• Plan ahead for media relations, digital communication and evaluation.

10 Event Ideas

• public forum or town hall meeting on local impact
• essay contest
• news conference
• visit to local AIDS service organization
• proclamation
• cultural or faith based events with speakers
• editorial
• PSAs or media campaign
• Health fair with HIV testing
• Award ceremony

Promote Your Event

• Ask local media to report on the local impact of HIV/AIDS
• Offer to speak on local radio or TV shows.
• Issue a media advisory and press release
• Register your event on the national lead organization’s site for the observance Day.
• Promote your event on your website, on social media, list servs and in newsletters and local calendars.

Encourage Individual Action

Events succeed when individuals are encouraged to take action in response to HIV. Here are some actions to suggest.

• Get tested for HIV. Talk with your health care provider about your risks for HIV.
• Talk with family, friends, and colleagues, about HIV prevention, about why this day matters to you and about HIV’s impact on your community.
• Provide support to people living with HIV/AIDS. Volunteer at a local service organization.
• Ask community leaders to increase their response to addressing the epidemic.
• Get involved with or host an event for the awareness day.
• Visit AIDS.gov for information from the Federal government about HIV prevention, testing, treatment, research.
• Learn about using digital communication in response to HIV.