To commemorate the World AIDS Day 2010 season, Houston -based Concept 2 Resource MCS is collaborating with The Community Education Group, a national HIV prevention organization and a host of local HIV service providers to present the stage production of “You Better Ask Somebody”. The show will premiere on Saturday, December 4, 2010 at St. Johns United Methodist Church Downtown, at 8p.m. The play, written and directed by Fierce Productions, explores the personal relationships between men and women that put us all at risk for contracting HIV.

“We are excited to welcome this show to Houston. Its time that we really start thinking outside of the box about HIV and how to prevent its spread,” said Concept 2 Resource founder, Dena Gray. “This play really captures important information about relationships and behaviors that we have to discuss if we are going to really talk about the disease.”



Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States and currently boasts one of the highest HIV infection rates in the country. Annually, 56,000 new infections are diagnosed in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. African American men and women rank highest among populations infected with HIV. In 2009, approximately 58% of all new infections were among African Americans and nearly 70% of all women living with HIV/AIDS are Black.

To bring attention to the epidemic, the CDC began a campaign emphasizing the fact that every 35 minutes, a woman is diagnosed with HIV. “These statistics are devastating our community,“ said Ms. Gray. “We have tried both convention and nonconventional methods to stem the tide yet it seems like we are still missing the boat. We have to continue to collaborate with our community, business and religious leaders in this fight and not let up. Community participation is critical to increasing knowledge about the disease and how to prevent it,” she said.

To this end, local and national organizations have signed on to participate in bringing the show to Houston including Houston Area Community Services, Legacy Community Health Center and Coalition for the Homeless Houston. These organizations provide counseling, testing, and care services to over 3,000 Houstonians annually. In addition to the nonprofit community, local businesses also see the relevance in promoting events that increase awareness. Minority businesses have a key role to play in promoting HIV prevention methods.

“If we don’t do something now, the workforce will be impacted. In this economy, we cannot afford to lose viable potential employees to HIV,” said Dallas Jones, President of World AIDS Day partner, Elite Change, LLC.

“We all have an invested interest in learning how to care for ourselves and one another as a community. HIV is a tough subject to talk about. This play is a great avenue to engage the community through the theatre arts,” said Amber David, HIV Prevention Director for St. Johns United Methodist Church, participating sponsor.

Sponsoring organizations will be on hand before and after the performance to offer additional information, education and resources for testing. For more information on the play or other World AIDS Day activities, visit http://www.worldaidsdayhouston.com/