LILA Los Feliz went red on December 4^th to commemorate World AIDS Day.  Parents, students, and teachers alike all wore red outfits as well as red ribbons as our 6^th-12^th-grade students engaged in activities and presentations that focused on awareness and prevention.

First, the LILA Los Feliz Choir performed a multi-lingual version of “We Are The World.”  Next, youth motivational speaker and break-dancer, Patrick Perez, and friend, Gabriel, entertained our students with their dance moves before Patrick presented on STD and pregnancy prevention.  Thanks to two motivated 11^th-grade students, Marion Sotin and Lucie Gareton, we have an exhibit on HIV/AIDS statistics and information given in an effort to destroy the stigma surrounding this disease.  Wrapping up the commemoration, former LILA teacher and speaker, Sam Donlavy gave a sobering speech to our high-school students on the significance and consequences that one solitary decision can make on their lives. 

Our students are currently recording their takeaway thoughts and feelings on this experience in a special cahier.  And, through our fundraiser of selling red ribbons this entire week, we have raised $283.92.  LILA mother, Giselle Noguera, was integral in this event and has found a generous donor who will match the funds raised by LILA and 100% of all funds raised is going to APLA (The AIDS Project of Los Angeles).  We have been both moved and educated as a community through this event and we look forward to making this a yearly tradition in an effort to continually inform our students about HIV/AIDS facts and prevention.