HEAT Program Observes World AIDS Day with Community Symposium at SUNY Downstate

The Health and Education Alternatives for Teens Program observed World AIDS Day with a powerful community symposium held at SUNY Downstate’s Alumni Auditorium on December 5, 2025. The event brought together youth, community members, clinicians, advocates, and partners to reflect on the impact of HIV, honor decades of service, and reaffirm a shared commitment to compassionate and equitable care.

The symposium featured a thoughtfully curated program that included live performances, a panel discussion, visual tributes, and moments of collective reflection. Guests were invited to engage with a Wall of Remembrance honoring lives lost to HIV, view the STAR Survivors’ Quilt, and participate in a lantern lighting ceremony in recognition of World AIDS Day.

A central part of the evening was the formal recognition of long-standing contributors to the HEAT Program. Honorees included Damian Bird, Tom Panzella, Charles Shepherd, Phyllis Jones, Tiffanie Patterson, Steven Daly, Dorothea Golden, and Dr. Jeffrey M. Birnbaum, Executive Director at HEAT. Each was acknowledged for their decades of dedication to advancing HIV care, prevention, and advocacy for young people in Brooklyn and beyond.

Performances included spoken word by Rhue Rosa, LMSW, whose work guided attendees into a shared moment of reflection during the lantern lighting ceremony, as well as music by Unison Steel and a dynamic performance by Keki. Together, these performances underscored the role of art in healing, remembrance, and community connection.

Breanna Watson, Deputy Executive Director of the HEAT Program, delivered opening and closing remarks that emphasized the importance of observing World AIDS Day even amid shifting political and social climates. She reaffirmed HEAT’s commitment to serving youth with dignity, consistency, and care, and thanked the many individuals who contributed to the success of the event.

The HEAT Program extends its gratitude to SUNY Downstate for its continued partnership and use of the Alumni Auditorium, to the THEO Program volunteers, and to all staff and community members who worked behind the scenes to bring the event to life.

World AIDS Day remains a vital opportunity to remember those lost, honor those living with HIV, and recommit to the work ahead. The HEAT Program is proud to continue this mission alongside its community.

About the HEAT Program

Health and Education Alternatives for Teens is a comprehensive HIV prevention and care program based in Brooklyn, serving youth and young adults through medical care, mental health services, case management, education, and community outreach.

For more information about the HEAT Program, please visit their website at heatprogram.org.