Since “Don’t Make Me Over” topped music charts in 1962, Dionne Warwick has been one to watch for her pioneering endeavors in Entertainment, and now community as she stands against HIV. See below the inspiration behind her partnership with NYC based, Harlem United Community Center for HIV/AIDS and their Sept. 26th Town Hall Meeting to address the disease. –candy shields
What prompted you to champion this social call, despite the stigma attached?
Stigmas, as far as I’m concerned, are no concern of mine. Wherever I feel I can be useful, in certain areas, I make myself available to do so.
What personal experience called for you to act?
It was my valet who passed away many, many years ago from it. At that time, nobody knew what the disease was, until doctors put a face on it and it became known as AIDS. Like so many others, who rarely talked about it, I thought it was cancer. So scientists finally came up with a name for it and I thought it was time to stop talking and start doing.
How will you use your influence to raise awareness and help with funding research?
I can speak from the heart and the issue. I pound education into the heads of those listening because that’s the beginning of it all, learning what we’re up against and how to combat it.
What do you hope to gain in speaking to this generation about such an epidemic?
I’m hoping we’ll have people who are inquisitive about their health and how to do things in regard to medication and programs that can be helpful in treating the illness. I’m sure we’ll be doing more of these events and once we do enough, we can expect more conversations to be held regarding this and hopefully some fruition will come from it. I want this generation to take notice of what’s being done, what’s not being done, and what they can do to make things happen in a proper way. This disease doesn’t care if you’re 3 or 103, if you’re white, black, yellow, brown, or your station in life. This is a disease that we should all be aware of and work very diligently to get rid of.
Going forward, what can the community expect from the Dionne Warwick Institute of Economics & Entrepreneurship?
Some brilliant, young children. That’s what you can expect.
Having been in entertainment for over 50 years, what would you say is your biggest accomplishment?
Being in the business for fifty years [laughing hysterically]. That in itself is an accomplishment.
