C Virginia Fields
As President of the National Black Leadership Commission On AIDS, Inc, C. Virginia Fields has a resume that proves she is more than qualified for the position.
Hard work and dedication is by no means unfamiliar to Fields, as she is quite accustomed to setting records and stand out against the masses.
Her previous position as the President of the Manhattan Borough, in New York City, carried the responsibility of making sure the needs of 1.5 million residents were met. She was also the mastermind behind establishing the first Banking Development District in Harlem; Carver Bank.
Throughout the course of her career, Fields has maintained her commitments to building communities, revitalizing neighborhoods and empowering citizens; and as the current President of the NBLCA she has no plans of slowing down her efforts to restore and empower the black community. -christian johnson
What initially prompted the formation of the NBLCA?
Back in the mid 80‘s there was a number of blacks dying from symptoms that couldn’t be diagnosed. After seeing a pattern a group of leaders decided something need to be done, so they came together. There needed to be a focus on this new issue that no one fully understood. That is what led to the establishment of the National Black Leadership Commission on Aids.
What propelled you to get involved?
When I was approached about this position back in 2007, I was astounded and amazed by the impact that HIV/AIDS had in the black community. I had been in elected office for 16 years allocating money to various programs;
I thought that this was a good time for me to become involved with this organization, especially with me knowing how to move things in government. I also knew how to get things done through policy development.
What kind of impact do you think the HR 1964 policy will have on the black community if it’s passed?
It would have an enormous impact because it would direct resources to those areas of greatest need. It calls for more research to be done that focuses primarily on African Americans, behavior issues, and other factors that may help us better understand why we’ve seen such an increase in numbers primarily in the black community.
What kind of changes do you hope to see now that we have BLACA?
More engagement among leaders across the board, not only your clergy but policy makers, elected officials business communities people living with AIDS, and service providers. I want to see great attention given to funded needs especially in communities of greatest need and we need to increase awareness.
C. Virginia Fields, president of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS Inc., is leading a herculean effort to help black leaders fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic that is devastating black communities across the country. The former president of Manhattan Borough in New York City spoke with rolling out about the organization’s work to defeat this pernicious disease. –christian johnson
C. Virginia Fields, president of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS Inc., is leading a herculean effort to help black leaders fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic that is devastating black communities across the country. The former president of Manhattan Borough in New York City spoke with rolling out about the organization’s work to defeat this pernicious disease. –christian johnson
What prompted the formation of the NBLCA?
Back in the mid ’80s there were a number of blacks dying from symptoms that couldn’t be diagnosed. After seeing a pattern, a group of leaders decided something need to be done, so they came together. There needed to be a focus on this new issue that no one fully understood. That is what led to the establishment of the National Black Leadership Commission on Aids.
What compelled you to get involved?
When I was approached about this position back in 2007, I was astounded and amazed by the impact that HIV/AIDS had in the black community. I had been in elected office for 16 years allocating money to various programs; I thought that this was a good time for me to become involved with this organization, especially [because I know] how to move things in government. I also know how to get things done through policy development.
What kind of impact do you think the H.R. 1964 bill will have on the black community if it’s passed?
It
would have an enormous impact because it would direct resources to
those areas of greatest need. It calls for more research to be done
that focuses primarily on African Americans, behavior[al] issues, and other
factors that may help us better understand why we’ve seen such an
increase in [HIV/AIDS] numbers primarily in the black community.
What kind of changes do you hope to see through NBLCA’s efforts?
More engagement among leaders across the board, not only … clergy but policy makers, elected officials, business communities, people living with AIDS and service providers. I want to see attention given to … communities [in the] greatest need, and we need to increase awareness.
It
would have an enormous impact because it would direct resources to
those areas of greatest need. It calls for more research to be done
that focuses primarily on African Americans, behavior[al] issues, and other
factors that may help us better understand why we’ve seen such an
increase in [HIV/AIDS] numbers primarily in the black community.
What kind of changes do you hope to see through NBLCA’s efforts?
More engagement among leaders across the board, not only … clergy but policy makers, elected officials, business communities, people living with AIDS and service providers. I want to see attention given to … communities [in the] greatest need, and we need to increase awareness.
