Welcome to Institute for HIV Prevention Leadership 10th Anniversary Celebration

For the past ten years, the Institute for HIV Prevention Leadership has provided valuable skills development and capacity-building training to HIV prevention professionals working in community-based organizations (CBOs). Nationwide, the Institute now has a network of over 300 graduated participants, known as Fellows. To celebrate this exciting 10 year milestone, we are planning an IHPL Tenth Anniversary celebration for our Scholars, Fellows, faculty, staff, and friends.

This event will be an opportunity for professional development, networking, and the rekindling of old friendships. It will also serve as a reminder of the strides our Scholars have made in HIV prevention and the struggle still ahead of us in eradicating this disease.

To be held in conjunction with the 2009 National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, the celebration will showcase the Institute’s positive impact on HIV prevention, as well as the success of IHPL Fellows’ prevention efforts from the streets to the legislature. The events and activities for our 10th Anniversary celebration will include:

Roberta Shields will be the Keynote Speaker for the Institute for HIV Prevention Leadership’s Tenth Anniversary Gala Celebration. Ms. Shields will speak on the evening of Saturday, August 22, 2009, at the Gala Dinner.

After 20 years in a successful career at a Fortune 50 financial institution, Ms. Shields chose to redirect her talents and skills to help her son, Christopher Bridges (better known as the hip-hop artist “Ludacris”), develop his growing empire. Her greatest passion is her role as President of The Ludacris Foundation.

Roberta Shields Established in 2001, The Ludacris Foundation takes pride in “helping youth help themselves.” The Ludacris Foundation has donated over $750,000 to support grassroots organizations that work to help our youth live their dreams. The programs and support of the foundation have impacted over 7,000 lives. In addition, more than 3,500 hours have been invested in hands-on service to our youth. In her time as President, Ms. Shields has formed strategic partnerships with organizations such as The National Coalition of 100 Black Men, Essence Cares, National Hip-Hop Summit Action Network and United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) to better service communities at large. Ms. Shields and the Ludacris Foundation work effectively with community leaders, politicians and school administrators to effect change in the community. In February of 2006, the Foundation was recognized by Black Enterprise as one of the leading black philanthropic organizations.

In addition to leading the Ludacris Foundation, Ms. Shields sits on a profit – nonprofit board with Pepsi Executives, Dr. Ben Chavis of the National Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, and Rush Philanthropic. She is an entrepreneur, COO and CFO of Bridges Enterprises, which includes entities in music, real estate, aviation, publishing, fashion and the non-profit sector. Ms. Shields holds an MBA from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Illinois.

More information on the Tenth Anniversary celebration events and location will be coming soon. Please click here to update your contact information, and receive notifications on plans for the celebration.