Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Around LA: AIDS Walk LA 2010 is Teen-Driven with Infinite Future

The white NOH8 balloon in the back of this photo floats over dozens of surrounding teens; just a small section of groups of younger kids who drove and energized the 26th annual AIDS Walk in LA last Sunday, October 17.

Over 30,000 people participated and $2.8 Million was raised. But the real accomplishment and encouragement was the participation of so many teens and young adults. The AIDS Walk in LA is effortlessly a powerful demonstration of unity that will last well throughout future generations.


Making the top 25 of groups representing teens, Crossroads Teen AIDS Ambassadors raised $7,397. Following closely behind were CBS Families & Friends and Milken School/Kids Who Care. It was a remarkably super family-attended event. More like walking through Disneyland than a gay pride march, AIDS Walk LA was unlike anything I have ever seen in support of any cause.



Hollywood High marches down
Santa Monica Blvd (left) at 10am.
The 6 mile track cut to Melrose Ave,
turned on La Brea Ave, then up
Beverly Blvd and back to West Hollywood Park.

Almost all of the volunteers were teens of all races and cultures who made noise along the route and handed out water and oranges. The enthusiasm of the young people working and participating stole the show.

Young Latino and Asian groups were everywhere; walking behind school banners, wearing school sweatshirts, and representing youth groups. Young punks, fashion freaks, jocks, nerdier kids, gays and straights stepped on that wet morning, coloring the overcast day.


The AIDS Walk LA looked as if all the homes, businesses, schools and visitors in the area got up and took over the streets. There was no demographic element that made anyone over or under represented. It was a real example of unity power - in a peaceful and orderly way, except for the holloring.

The money will benefit AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) and other AIDS service organizations throughout Los Angeles County. There is more info on that at http://www.aidswalk.net/losangeles/eventinfo/faq.html, the AIDS Walk LA website. Millions of dollars is an abstract idea to most of that even makes us laugh. But thousands of people all around you for miles, taking over public streets is overwhelmingly real.

The fact that so many of those people who participated on Sunday were teens, makes the future of AIDS Walk LA just as real.


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