AFC Mourns the Loss of Charles Clifton
Mon. August 16, 2004 12:00 AM
Chicago, IL -
Responding to news of the death of HIV/AIDS advocate Charles Clifton, AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) Executive Director Mark Ishaug issued the following statement:
On behalf of AFC and the Service Providers Council, I extend my deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Charles Clifton, and to the board, staff, clients, and volunteers of Test Positive Aware Network.
Today the world lost a great leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Under Charles’ guidance as executive director, Test Positive Aware Network has become a national and international leader in HIV treatment advocacy and prevention issues and efforts to empower people living with HIV/AIDS.
Charles was also an integral part of AFC’s Service Providers Council, serving as co-chair of the Policy Committee and as a member of the Executive Committee for the past several years. Charles brought an exceptional intelligence, warmth, and dedication to his work, and made important contributions that are reflected in AFC’s HIV/AIDS policy and legislative priorities.
It is shocking to lose yet another friend and colleague in the fight against AIDS. It seems like only yesterday when the world mourned the death of Keith Cylar, another prominent African-American AIDS activist. Statistics highlight this tragic trend: In 2002, almost twice as many African Americans with AIDS died compared with whites, a gap that has been increasing since 1998.
The U.S. cannot afford to be silent about the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS on African Americans. We owe it to the millions of Americans at risk for HIV to continue Charles’ legacy and fight for prevention education, treatment, and an end to this terrible disease.
On behalf of AFC and the Service Providers Council, I extend my deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Charles Clifton, and to the board, staff, clients, and volunteers of Test Positive Aware Network.
Today the world lost a great leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Under Charles’ guidance as executive director, Test Positive Aware Network has become a national and international leader in HIV treatment advocacy and prevention issues and efforts to empower people living with HIV/AIDS.
Charles was also an integral part of AFC’s Service Providers Council, serving as co-chair of the Policy Committee and as a member of the Executive Committee for the past several years. Charles brought an exceptional intelligence, warmth, and dedication to his work, and made important contributions that are reflected in AFC’s HIV/AIDS policy and legislative priorities.
It is shocking to lose yet another friend and colleague in the fight against AIDS. It seems like only yesterday when the world mourned the death of Keith Cylar, another prominent African-American AIDS activist. Statistics highlight this tragic trend: In 2002, almost twice as many African Americans with AIDS died compared with whites, a gap that has been increasing since 1998.
The U.S. cannot afford to be silent about the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS on African Americans. We owe it to the millions of Americans at risk for HIV to continue Charles’ legacy and fight for prevention education, treatment, and an end to this terrible disease.