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The Lowndes County Board of Education Head Start observed World AIDS Day Dec. 2 with a program featuring keynote speaker Ashlynn James, educator supervisor from Selma AIR.

“Lowndes County Board of Education Head Start would like to thank Ms. Ashlynn James-Educator,” said Laura James-Hunter, family and community partnerships manager for Lowndes County Board of Education Head Start.

In the textbook, “Basic and Applied Social Psychology,” Gregory M. Herek and John P. Capitanio referred to the “instrumental” and “symbolic” stigma of AIDS: 

“While ‘symbolic’ stigma is based on negative moral judgement and therefore is value-laden, ‘instrumental stigma’ is based on inflated fears and represents self-preservation from a perceived threat.”

World AIDS Day is observed annually on Dec. 1 and James-Hunter said that while the emphasis is not not embraced in some communities, it was imperative that the agency provide the information and resources for families. 

“The [AIDS] pandemic still exists, and we must pray to eliminate it,” she said. “Our agency released balloons to remember individuals who have transitioned.

“Our agency would like to personally thank Lowndes County Commission; Hope Inspired Ministries; Hayneville/Lowndes Public Library; Selma AIR; Mr. Terranocie Bennett, a Central Head Start (CHS) parent; Ms. Patricia Bennet Williams, CHS grandparent and Mrs. Chequita Surles-Johnson, a Jackson-Steele Head Start parent for attending.”