Berkeley

Black AIDS Institute Celebrates 15th Anniversary in Hollywood

Published

12 years ago

June 2, 2014

Hollywood rolled out the red carpet to fight HIV/AIDS as the Black AIDS Institute celebrated its 15^th anniversary. The gala, held in Hollywood at the Director’s Guild of America, included a reception, silent auction and awards presentation of “Heroes in the Struggle”.

“Heroes in the Struggle” is a photographic tribute to Black Americans and their allies who have made heroic contributions to the fight against HIV/AIDS. Since its debut, the exhibit has traveled around the world, raising awareness, challenging individuals and institutions to get involved in their communities, and generating critical conversation about HIV testing, treatment and prevention.

The collection started with 20 photos and has grown to 80. Past honorees have been President Bill Clinton, Activist Sheryl Lee Ralph and in 2010, Congressperson Barbara Lee.

This year’s honorees were longtime supporter, actress, comedienne and talk show host Mo’Nique; Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; and Jamar Rodgers, finalist on “The Voice” and an HIV advocate.

Mo’Nique and husband Sidney Hicks.

The motto, “Our People, Our Problem, Our Solution,” was the driving force that led Phil Wilson to found The Black AIDS Institute in May 1999. The organization is the only national HIV/AIDS think tank in the United States focused exclusively on Black people.

Speaking at the event, Wilson said that at the beginning, “We had no money, no office space, no staff. As my mother says, we had no pot to piss in, or a window to throw it out of.”

Today the Institute has chapters in 15 cities.

The Institute’s mission is to stop the AIDS pandemic in Black communities by engaging and mobilizing Black institutions, leaders and individuals in efforts to confront HIV. The Institute interprets public and private sector HIV policies, conducts trainings, offers technical assistance, disseminates information and provides advocacy and mobilization – from a uniquely and unapologetically Black point of view.

Actress Vanessa Williams and POST reporter Jesse Brooks.

Hosts at the Hollywood event were Vanessa Williams, best known for her role in the TV series “Soul Food” and the blockbuster movie “New Jack City,” and Alimi Ballard, television and screen actor who has a recurring role on “CSI”.

Williams says the face of AIDS has changed. “We have to take care of ourselves, we must take care of our own,” she said, focusing on the disproportionate transmissions rates of HIV in the community.

Receiving her award, Mo’Nique said she felt the heroes were people who lived with the disease every day, with their head held high. She acknowledged Jamar Rodgers’ mother, who attended the gala with her son.

Jamar Rodgers and his mother Danielle. After 6 years clean from meth, Rodgers auditioned for “The Voice” and found his voice by nationally disclosing his HIV status.

Rodgers became famous when he appeared on the TV show “The Voice” in 2012. “Before that, I was just walking dogs for a living,” he said. “So much has happened, because I told the truth.”

Rodgers encourages his brothers and sisters to tell the truth about their status, and get free. Since finding his voice, he has toured South Africa, made numerous television appearances and has an upcoming music project.

Dr. Fauci being interviewed by Karamo Brown (OWN Network). Photos by Jesse Brooks.

Dr. Fauci, a leading researcher in the country, reflected on the advances since the time when AIDS equaled death. “It is the stigma of homosexuality that gets in the way of people getting tested,” Fauci said. “It’s time to embrace people. It’s a disease – it’s time to take away the judgment.”

The Institute also honored Walgreens Corporation and the work it does for the community. Alvin “Alabama” Lovett and his wife Joyce, who own a local Kia dealership, were heroes who donated a car to be raffled off. Lovett says he is committed to driving out AIDS, one car at a time.

Other attending celebrities were Terrell Tilford and his wife Victoria Platt (CW’s star-crossed). Platt was vocal about losing her own brother to AIDS.

Other celebrities were Anna Marie Horsford, TC Carson and serving as presenters were Kevin Daniels (USA Sirens), Nelsan Ellis (HBO’s True Blood ), Shanola Hampton (Showtime’s Shameless), Jussie Smollett (Fox’s Empire), Tracie Thoms (Annie, Showtime’s VEEP) and J. August Richards.

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Activism

Black Repertory Group Needs Volunteers to Help Shape the Next Generation of Artists and Leaders

Legendary performers such as Whoopi Goldberg and Danny Glover worked with and were inspired by BRG’s founders. More recently, Grammy award-winning artist Kehlani attended the Black Repertory Group Summer Day Camp for several years.

Published

3 weeks ago

June 26, 2026

Oakland Post

Courtesy image.

By Sean Vaughn Scott, Special to The Post

For more than 60 years, the Black Repertory Group (BRG) has changed lives through the arts.

Founded in 1964 by educators and visionaries Birel L. Vaughn and Nora Vaughn, BRG has become one of America’s oldest continuously operating Black theater institutions. For generations, it has preserved culture, developed talent, and provided opportunities for young people to discover their voices and their potential.

The results speak for themselves.

Long before international recognition, Kehlani performed on the BRG stage. During a summer day camp production of “Princess and da Frog,” she portrayed Ray, the lovable firefly whose light guided others through the darkness. Her journey is proof that today’s camper may become tomorrow’s artist, entrepreneur, educator, or leader.

Located at 3201 Adeline St. in Berkeley, BRG continues that mission through its Youth Summer Day Camp of the Arts.

BRG is currently accepting applications and maintains an open enrollment program. Students may enroll throughout the summer as space permits and immediately become part of the BRG family.

We are also proud to be a multicultural opportunity program, welcoming children and families from all backgrounds, cultures, and communities. Through theater, music, dance, public speaking, visual arts, technical theater, and leadership development, students gain confidence, discipline, creativity, and lifelong skills.

As our programs grow, so does our need for volunteers.

We are seeking community members to assist with youth mentoring, registration, costumes, set construction, painting, props, ushering, photography, social media, marketing, technical theater, and fundraising activities. Whether you volunteer for a few hours or throughout the season, your support directly impacts the lives of young people.

BRG also partners with churches, civic organizations, alumni associations, fraternities, sororities, and community groups through theater party fundraisers, group sales, and buy-out performances. These partnerships have helped organizations raise funds while supporting arts and cultural programming.

The theater also serves as the home of the Berkeley NAACP Chapter, which meets every second Saturday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m.

For more than six decades, the Black Repertory Group has remained committed to one belief: every child deserves an opportunity to shine.

The next great artist may already be among us.

The next Kehlani may already be walking through our doors.

We invite you to volunteer, enroll, participate, and become part of the legacy.

For more information please go to www.blackrepertorygroup.com, call (510) 652-2120, or email info@blackrepertorygroup.com

Sean Vaughn Scott is the director of the Black Repertory Group.

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Bay Area

UC Berkeley Named Top Public University in the U.S. and No. 7 in the World by ‘U.S. News’

Berkeley has been consistently awarded the distinction of the U.S.’s top public university since the Best Global Universities list was first published in 2014. “A strong position in the Best Global Universities rankings recognizes a school’s profound commitment to world-class research and cross-border academic excellence,” said LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News.

Published

3 weeks ago

June 24, 2026

Oakland Post

Photo by Keegan Houser/UC Berkeley.

The 2026 Best Global Universities rankings evaluated 2,250 research institutions from more than 100 countries

By Lila Thulin

U.S. News & World Report has ranked UC Berkeley No. 7 in its 2026 list of the best global universities, which assesses more than 2,250 research institutions worldwide.

Berkeley also claimed the honor of top public university in the U.S.

Released on Monday, the list evaluates universities from more than 100 countries on 13 metrics such as global and research reputation (as reported by academics and peers) and number of highly cited scholarly papers.

Berkeley has been consistently awarded the distinction of the U.S.’s top public university since the Best Global Universities list was first published in 2014.

“A strong position in the Best Global Universities rankings recognizes a school’s profound commitment to world-class research and cross-border academic excellence,” said LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News.

The rankings also assess a university’s strength in various subject areas; these assessments are separate from U.S. News’ 2026 Best Graduate Programs rankings released in April.

This year, Berkeley was named in the top three nationally in seven subject areas – environment/ecology, ecology, water resources, physics, computer science, chemistry, and engineering – and in the top five for a total of 17 subjects. Subject rankings are based heavily on scholarly publications and citations as well as reputation.

In September, U.S. News also released its 2026 Best Colleges list, in which Berkeley was also named the No. 1 public institution among American universities.

That honor joins other accolades judging campus to be the best public university in the country, such as those from Forbes, The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education.

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Arts and Culture

Farwest Region Deltas Celebrate Centennial With “September Breakfast” Honoring Vivian Osborne Marsh

The region was established in 1925 under the leadership of Vivian Osborne Marsh, who became its first Regional Director. Marsh was a pioneering scholar and civic leader, earning recognition as the first Black woman to receive both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in anthropology from UC Berkeley.

Published

10 months ago

September 14, 2025

Oakland Post

Farwest Regional Director, Kimberly Usher, Mayor Barbara Lee, US Representative Lateefah Simon, and Farwest Regional Representative, Radiya Ajibade. Photo courtesy of Farwest Regional Photographer Vicki P. Love.

By Antoinette Porter

Hundreds of members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and their guests gathered at the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union at the University of California, Berkeley, to mark the 100th anniversary of the sorority’s Farwest Region.

Marsh went on to serve as Delta Sigma Theta’s 7th National President, where she launched the sorority’s National Library Project to expand access to books in underserved Black communities in the South. During her presidency, the organization also became a prominent voice in the civil rights movement, lobbying Congress to pass anti-lynching legislation.

Bak in the Bay Area, Marsh devoted her career to advancing educational opportunities, mentoring young people, and strengthening community life. That commitment continues to shape the region, which supports initiatives in education, social justice, and economic development. Current projects include raising scholarship funds for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, voter education campaigns, and health and wellness programs.

A century after its founding, the Farwest Region of Delta Sigma Theta remains active across California and other western states, carrying forward Marsh’s vision of service and advocacy.