There were only 10 of these caps (pictured below) made, and you could get your hands on one of them!!! 
To be in with a chance, tell us what you’d do with a Staying Alive Grant… What kind of project would you set up in your community to make sure you really got the HIV/AIDS message out there?
Leave your response in the comments section below…
On Friday Travie will pick the best - and if yours is chosen, we’ll send the cap right over to ya…
Get thinking - and get creative!
Post to 
With a Grant from the staying Alive Organization, I would come up with unique ways to get the word of HIV/AIDS awareness out. People have heard the story and often are not impressed. One must really reach out and touch people. I’d research statistic, real stories, find photographs or make a trip to take them myself. I’d contact and encourage political leaders and celebrities to make statements and reach out to their loyal fans. In addition, I live in a Military Community in Europe, where prostitution is legal in several places. I would organize a team to create eye catching pamphlets, signs, flyers (With the MTV logo to help get attention) and spread them in Family advocacy buildings, and local clinics. Another method would be to partner up with local clubs that the younger, more active crowd attends. We’d pass ideas such as creating a website where one could fill out a simple survey informing them about HIV/AIDS, and they could receive a coupon or get in free pass to the club/bar. Another attention grabber would be to rename drinks for one night a week or month. At “Awareness Night” Drinks could be renamed, “The 411, Protection, A Cure, Staying Alive, The Trojan, The Antidote…ect.” Just small things to grab local attention.
Being in Germany, the students I go to High school with, most under 18 are already going to clubs legally, and this is a concern because HIV/AIDS is not a pressing issue in the military community and schools. Which is why I’d use the grant to ensure the students get aware about HIV/AIDS not only in those countries less fortunate, but also in the United States, where most will be going back to after high school. I’d reach the students where they’re most attentive, during pep rallies, in the teen centers, via MySpace, or Facebook. Tell my friends to tell their friends. Word of mouth is a powerful and quick force. If we could change gossip to HIV/AIDS awareness talk, we could make a large and noticeable impact. Even setting up booths at College Night, Flea Markets, Bazaars or even car washes.
Put it in the military papers or the popular annual, telephone directory that is sold everywhere within my community. Set up signs at roundabouts and major intersections. Request to put statistics and a website to find more information on the Radio Broadcast in between traffic and News. Make a documentary comparing and contrasting life without aids and life with it and post it on school websites or social networking websites. Making a request at the TV station to play commercials in the evening and at night when younger audiences are watching.
A campaign like this would not only touch my community but many within Europe, where HIV/AIDS needs to be taught about. Just little efforts that don’t require much money can make a big difference. These are just a few ideas I have that would inform my community both military, and Germany about HIV/AIDS with a Staying Alive Grant. Thank you. =]
I would make a big advertising campaign, To spread the word as much as possible about HIV/AIDS..I would Have adverts on the TV,Hand out leaflets, Make clothes with the AIDS logo on but in a fashionable way, So kids know it’s cool to have safe sex, More education in school, and have people who are personally suffering from the disease to talk about what effect it has on them, to shock the kid’s into staying safe! More awareness to the older generation by using my advertising campaign! Have event’s that are made fun, where people can hear live music, and have a free HIV/AIDS test done, and buy special rings and bracelets to show they belive in safe sex and make it cool, So the kid’s can be proud of who they are. And grow up and pass there good morals onto there kid’s one day. Spread awareness not the disease.
Education would need to be key. People need to know more about it I think. How it’s contracted, what it does to the body, all of it.
The more people know, the better.
It needs to be viewed in a more serious light in my opinion. Too many young adults and teens out there seem to hang onto the “it won’t happen to me” attitude.
Next, would naturally be prevention (again tied in with education)
making sure people are aware of things as simple as: birth control pills only prevent pregnancy, not STD’s. The use of a condom, however, helps prevent; yet is still not 100% at preventing the spread of disease.
It’s no-one’s place to tell those infected with HIV or AIDS that they can no longer have a love life. I do think, however, that those who already do have it take responsibility in being as safe as possible to prevent the spread of it further, as well as informing their potential partner’s prior to sexual relations with them.
I also believe that those infected with HIV or AIDS who knowingly are infected and go about having unprotected sex without informing their partner/s about it should be charged with some form of criminal intent.
Read that carefully, those who KNOWINGLY have it and continue to put others at risk without informing them of those risks.
In short, my answer to your question is: Education, if I could do anything it would be to educate people all over the world about it as much as possible.
:D 
So first it’s necessary to inform the young people at school! Make advertising on the magazine, on tv, everywhere! It’s important to educate the everyone! We can stop it! I think free condoms and free screening test will be better to the people! And I think the donations it’s necessary so people have to think about it ! More there will be donations more the research will advance and stop this!
-teach people the basis of this thing called hiv/aids letting them see how it effects them, what exactly it targets in your body such as the immune system.
-prevention little things can help protect you.
-i would set up testing sites within my community for people to get tested at no cost
-speak to the youth!!!! teenagers especially..getting guest living with it and people who where has or had a loved one with it
-i would also do a rally that would combine all of these and set up a benefits concert
-I’d create a line of clothing that promotes
-Make it cool to wear a braclet, and have safe sex.
These are my views, I think the main thing is to raise awerness so people can have safe sex! Get people intrested in the disease, and therefore make more money to research this disease and make it stop!!!!!!!!!
I think you should probably campaign HIV/AIDS, by attracting people with an interest among the community.
Maybe get quotes, or support from icons, bands, respectable celebrities, people the community respect and take a strong interest in. This will show a good example for people, especially the younger, for they know that someone they look up to, is campaigning it.
Or, you could make t-shirts, with celebrities, bands, people the community will recognize, and place a picture of them, doing something to campaign against aids. Like, maybe even a simple shirt with, say, Panic At The Disco all wearing HIV/AIDS shirts.
Or possibly sending a famous person, or have a concert, to support AIDS/HIV and fund raise money.
That’s all. Travis, you are a legend
To get the message across about HIV and AIDS we need more than lectures and essays on how to prevent them or why they are bad. We need people to see that HIV/AIDS are not things that come and go, we cannot know for sure if we have these diseases and once we have them it’s more likely that we will go, instead of the disease itself. With a staying alive grant I wouldn’t simply organize an event where people can come and collect some goodies, a few facts and go home with a slightly widened mind, I would first of all get a small group of people together, preferably the younger generation and we would organize and advertise a festival including all types of bands, food stalls, information booths on HIV and AIDS and sell designed merchandise all to raise money for the diseases, for the people who are suffering, new equipment and to help prevent others from getting it. I would make it compulsory for everyone before entering the festival they must fill in a form so that information packs and condoms can be sent to their doorstep. I would do this because if people can choose whether or not to use a condom and put their lives at risk, then what’s to stop them from taking absolutely nothing away from this event, so to ensure that they do, at the end of the day we would have an informative speaker who would talk to them and get their minds working and hopefully help to reduce the victims of HIV and AIDS around the world.
Travis you’re my hero, absolutely love you mannn.
If I got a grant I would set up some sort of event to raise awareness like a carnival.
In this carnival there would be booths. For example:
-to get tested
-awareness memorabilia such as tees and bracelets ect.
-a donation booth (going toward research)
-a contest booth (with questions people can answer that most people may not know about HIV/AIDS. That way it’ll show how much people really know and hopfully get rid of some of the ignorce people have towards people with HIV/AIDS)
-a booth where people with loved ones who lost a person with HIV/AIDS honor their love ones with photos, stories, ect.
-and a concert on stage to draw people in (G.C.H’s perhaps =]).
I would advertise weeks in advance and invite the news to broadcast so as many people as possible could see the effort being put forth.
All the money from the carnival would go towards HIV/AIDS research.
My idea would accomplish two major things that need to be done when it comes to HIV/AIDS. It would raise awareness so people can prevent it from spreading and raise money to help the people who are afflicted.
With almost 75 percent of today’s youth going onto higher education, i believe that the target should be focused to colleges and universities. Putting on different events such as lectures and concerts. I know you think that lectures are boring, however when you get celebrities to put on or speak at these lectures it draws a large percentage of the students at each of these institutions. By getting the celebrities to speak or come and play their music in support of HIV and AIDS education, the students will take a better understanding and idea of the impact that it has on our global society. This is a proven winner, as if you were to ask a student what they remember more, The AIDS/HIV lecture they heard in their general health education class at 8am their freshman year or the concert where they saw the Gym Class Heroes playing in support of AIDS/HIV awareness, 99 out of 100 times a student will say the concert or the lecture they heard from the celebrity.
After raising the awareness, it is essential to follow up and take all interested parties to form local teams to support and campaign AIDS/HIV Awareness in the college communities and surrounding areas. These teams can distribute materials, organize events and stay in touch with the group of celebrities to keep ‘Hip” on what types of awareness work in communities. These groups could work with the local hospitals, clinics, High School and any other means to spread the awareness to as many youth as possible. I feel that the Live8 concerts are a good start, but there is absolutely no follow up and thee needs to be more follow up by the celebrities who support the prevention of the spread of AIDS/HIV.
In order to come up with a reasonable solution to get the message out about HIV/AIDS, one has to realize what the problem really is. In the U.S. approximately 75% of people infected with HIV/AIDS are men with more than two thirds being infected by male-to-male sexual contact. Also, people under the age of 25 account for half of all new HIV infections worldwide. While HIV/AIDS is obviously not restricted to these categories, they do make up a large number of people to target in an attempt to educate the public about HIV/AIDS.
While handing out pamphlets , bringing in speakers to address the public, and handing out condoms may seem like a practical idea; we need to begin coming up with novel methods to not only reach the people, but to have an effect on how they live to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and other STD’s.
With this in mind, I believe the best place to start is on College and University campuses. Here, you can attract a number of students from a diverse population to educate them on the seriousness of HIV/AIDS. I think being able to keep these students interested will be extremely beneficial and possibly spread the awareness throughout the community. For example, the importance of recycling has not become an important public issue until recently. If a person feels that the majority of the public is participating in something (recycling), they will be more likely to become a part of the majority as well (and begin recycling). This has been shown in numerous studies and has been published in Time Magazine as well as other media outlets. If we can use the same strategy when addressing HIV/AIDS prevention, we can seriously affect the way that people live and make decisions to have a safer and healthier life.
what i would do is i would set up a huge hip hop show. this show would be put together with all my friends and people in my community. This Hip hop show would be an easy way to raise money for the kids who have aids all around the world. at this show i would have a street crew handing out flyers on ways how to avoid getting aids and how to be safe. this show would be really good exposure to all teens around the world because most teens these days listen to hip hop music and go by with the hip hop culture. i would try to get bigger bands like Gym Class Heroes to play at this venue to attract more people. Travis Mccoy would definitely be a good person for this show because he really shows and proves to teens why you should stay safe and avoid AIDS. i think having a music show would really attract a lot of teens and the support of the community would really help out a lot on collecting money for all the kids who have AIDS.
SEV-ONE
Being a local emcee in my area, I’d probably get a bunch of local artists to make different tracks informing people about the HIV/AIDS and how we can help. I’d make a mixtape to release on the internet. I’d rent out a park and have all these people on the mixtape to play like a Warped tour type thing with bands, food, different activities revolving around awareness of HIV/AIDS etc. and let people be more aware of what is going on and how we can stop it.
I’d create a line of clothing that promotes safe sex and a drug free existence. The clothing will mimic the lastest fashions, but have a positive messages with the coolest designs. Get the local hip hop, skateboard, tattoo shops, and the health center together and have a fashion show to promote awareness for the HIV/AIDS cause. Poster’s with lots of glitter! The age of children who are sexually active and experimenting with drugs is getting lower every year. I feel those are great starting points/targets in my community to start at.
Well if I was given a Staying Alive Grant I would help make my community and other close communities more aware of HIV/AIDS. I would focus more towards the kids and teens in my area and adults who were unaware because HIV/AIDS isn’t really talked about or learned about around here. I think most people in my area think it couldn’t happen to them and I would help to teach that it can and that it can happen to anyone. I would also go to my local community center or park and set up a day of HIV/AIDS awareness with information booths. I would get some local bands to play and speak to have people help and become aware. I would bring in speakers and people who have HIV or AIDS to talk about what a live is like day to day and their own personal story. Also I would help raise money for a local foundation for HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. I would also talk about other STDs how you can get them and prevention but focus mostly on the HIV/AIDS virus and what others can do to help. I would like to get my whole community or town to do something and help and raise money to go to finding a cure one day. Many people still today don’t know whats going on in the world so I would also give info about what HIV and AIDS is doing and how it its hurting the people in other countries and what we can do to help.
I would first start a website promoting safe sex that would inform people more about aids/hiv along with other STD’s. Then I would contact the local news station about covering a story that would gain the website more exposure. Then I would contact the city officials about putting together some kind of festival with local bands playing along with many games for people to play or even just set up a theme for one of the fests in the area. Where there would be booths to get information and buy t-shirts, hats, wrist bands… etc. that promote safe sex. I would even contact one of the local motorcycle shops about putting together a bike run where I would give shirts to the riders that promote safe sex something like a think red kind of thing. There are many possible ways to get the word out in a community and I would take full advantage of each and every way.
What would I do??
So simple, I’d organise a festival, there’s so much people going there. It’s important to get as many people as possible, and concerts attract people !
Here in Belgium, most of the youth go to festival so it’s the best way to aware of HIV/AIDS, to do that : we should give condoms for free, and give speeches between each concert, a living condom could cross the festival to aware the youngest.
A HIV/AIDS place should be standing in the festival, with people who have to live with the ill staying there to speak about their experiences.
Another great thing to do, is putting ads on every milk bottle, or water bottle, kind of products that everyone is using.
I think that the current generation is so dependent on nonessential things with no value that a lot have stopped caring about what kind of world we live in now. Getting the word out would kind of give them an insight on how things are going right now and who needs their help now more then ever. It’s crucial to, at first, talk to them about it. However sitting them down in a room and lecturing them won’t get anyone anywhere. To them it’ll be another excuse to get out of class. There are ways of reaching out to them, like grabbing their attention by relating what we’re talking about to what their interested in. Music, sports, or just life in general. Basically explaining to them about what we’re talking about and crucial things like protection and STDs. Also we could spread the word by getting lines of clothing which no doubt costs money which could be raised with a fundraise. This could consist of a concert by local bands or maybe gch(:. Also there could be booths such as booths where you can actually get tested or a booth where people with HIV/AIDS or other STDs can talk about it or about loved ones. Even a booth about peoples opinions would help spread the word and I bet teens would relate more if they heard people their age or people they look up to talking about what we are trying to spread. We can even get people to submit works of art or poems or lyrics even to represent how they’re feeling or what’s happening. The town I live in ( Cliffside Park, NJ ) is a homely town where everyone almost knows everyone. Fundraisers here are always a success and could help out a lot. It would have contests, games, or anything that involves donations, even a car wash. So I guess that’s all my brain can come up with right now lol. Btw, on a creepy note, I’m crazy about you travie lol.
I would set up a campaign/festival and it would of coarse be about help preventing AIDS/HIV. I would have different booths one telling people the statistics about people dieing from having AIDS/HIV or another booth just passing out condoms and showing them how to use them correctly. Everyone has sex one time or another and they really need to be safe and learn what could happen to them if there not being safe. And especcially in every town you know that some girl that has been with some guy that has been with 7 or 8 different girls. You definitely need to be safe about that. I think a speaker at this convention would be very helpful. Someone you can ask questions to or anything because a lot of people are not that comfortable asking their parents about having sex and being safe. If anyone goes around having sex not knowing what there doing and not using a condom they could get AIDS/HIV. Everyone in the town could help! There would be a donation box to help raise money to help fight for these disease’s. Sadly you have to scare people about getting AIDS/HIV. Some people think that it will be fine if they get it because they think they can just go to the doctor and get some medicine for it and it is even worse some people don’t know that you can get very ill from having AIDS/HIV.If every town had some sort of convention or something to help aware people about AIDS/HIV or just having sex in general there would probably be more percautions about just having sex. The age for having sex is decreasing. More and more younger kids are starting to experience sexual activities and they need to know what can happen to them. I also agree with the girl Crystal who said that if there was a line of clothing that would help raise money for the AIDS/HIV benefit. If the shirts had positive messages it would give off a good vibe and more people would at least be more aware of AIDS/HIV. Plus when you have a role model or someone you look up to (like Travis McCoy) that is helping with such a thing as the AIDS/HIV awarness it makes you want to help! And that starts a chain reaction. =]
I think that we need to educate our communities more. I know we already do that but it kills me when i still talk to people my age & they think that they don’t have to use condom for sex. They make up all the excuses in the book but still don’t think it’s neccessary…They either trust that the person they’re with would be truthful with them (which they may be, & still not realize they have STD’s or STI’s) or honestly don’t think it will happen to them. That they are smarter then that. I’m not questioning their intelligence but it’s extremely stupid what they’re doing. If I were to receive a grant I would make a program to inform kids (preteens, teens) about all of the risks. Not make the program Anti-Sex by any means but to stress how important it is to be careful. It’s said over & over again but I still feel like it needs to be. To be more specific, I want to aim it at those age groups & use music as an outlet. Maybe try to get bands involved who they would care about to just say SOMETHING, anything at all.
Or maybe even use some type of online campaign where you don’t know what it is about until a certain date at a certain time. You could use clues & stuff to lead people to the site & then on the date/time you could announce something like an event. The event would have all proceeds going to AIDS/HIV research & would be cheap to buy tickets. You could even give tickets away on radio/websites/contests just to get people to GO to it.
lol well i’m rambling so just think about it, ok? I have LOTS of ideas. thanks
I would gather local bands and set up information booths. Write a letter to mayor to ask him to come do a speech about AIDS/HIV, and other STDS’ awareness. Get the parents to be involved, to tell their kids the best way to not get an STD is to not have sex but if they do wear a condom. Pass out free condoms do activites. Have local resturants come out and set up booths having a percentage of their profits goto reserch. If you just throw pamplets at them there more than likey to throw it away! Just Keep it simple. But make sure the point gets across! Its cool even if i dont get a chance to win the hat I just wanted to throw out my opinion! To you and yours!
If I got a Staying Alive Grant, I would write, produce and direct a movie about HIV/AIDS prevention. I’d get people from my neighborhood to help out. It would include comedy, drama, and action because thats what people respond to. But it would also teach about HIV/AIDS by using comedy and drama and action. When it was all done, I would premiere it in my community for free and ask anybody who wished to donate money to the cause could.
i would use the money to get together a bunch of different bands and have a huge concert. i would have organizations such as planned parenthood and trogen condoms to come to the show. i would invite guess speakers such as people who are living with HIV/AIDS or people who have been affected by the disease. i would also use some of the money to promote( mostly in urban and low-income areas). i would also like to come up with a slogan so we can have merchandise made and all profits can go to an organization to prevent HIV/AIDS.
I would need to have some connections in the music industry (hey! You have that…), but I would make t-shirts that have funky sayings like “HIV Positive (and still kickin’ ass)” or “Ask my band about AIDS” and then get musicians (I’m sure all the FBR bands would be down) to wear them to their shows. Afterward, the shirts could be signed and auctioned off, with proceeds going toward the Staying Alive campaign. This would get kids thinking about HIV and AIDS, and, quite honestly, anything that bands wear automatically gives it a level of cool unachievable anywhere else. (Look at Snakes and Suits!) Kids are so impressionable that they would want to get the dirty details about HIV and AIDS, since their favorite bands are promoting survival and the search for knowledge.
Also, this is quite the commendable thing you’re doing, sir. Thank you for the work you’re putting toward this campaign.
I feel that the one of the most effective ways of getting a message across on any subject is to do it through music. What i personally would do is a project that would reach across the whole country and not just my community alone as this is a global issue. i do understand that you will be doing a song for the staying alive campaign. My idea would be to do a musical project whereby we scout talented teens in disadvantaged communities that are affected by the pendamic to also have a say on the song, it could be seen as a bit of a remix so to speak. I feel that this would get the message across as it would be coming from other youngsters that our peers can relate to. This would also help us to realise that the epidemic is our problem and we as young people need to take ownership, be accountable and be responsible enough to make sure that awareness is created and something is being done. In fact to make it that much more effective the song could also include young budding musicians from the other countries that you visited as well such as India. HIV and AIDS are a global problem and one of the few things that young people have in common all over the world are music and MTV and the these two for me would be the perfect platform to reach everbody across the world and create a common message for staying alive
and ensure that the message is dispersed in synergy no matter which youth from which country will be recieving it.
Cookie Jar is a global phenomenon and i do believe that the staying alive song will have the same effect with young people viocing their opinions and taking ownership, not only of the song but also the problem of HIV and AIDS.
Lastly i’d like to thank you Mr McCoy for your contribution and effort, from my side it has been wonderfull to follow your journey to my country (South Africa) and India. Not only are you a Gym Class Heroe but in my eyes you are a World Citizen Heroe period. Travie you ROCK……..YEZZIR!!!
While it’s important to reach out to young adults attending college it is just as important, if not more so, to teach teenagers and children while they’re still young. This approach would cause them to grow up already knowing about safe sex before it’s “too late.” That being said, if I were given a Staying Alive Grant, and a little organizational help, I’d go to the elementary schools and possibly hischools of Harrisburg School District and have talk backs with the kids. In my community, inner city Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, teenagers ARE having sex. I don’t believe there is much anyone can do to suppress the epidemic, but I do believe that it’s possible to make every sexual exeperience a safe one. Imagine the effect of holding a seminar where you’re not being talked at, but talked to and listened to; in an intimate space decorated with HIV/AIDS facts sheets and statistics. Imagine that at this seminar condoms are passed out and opened to be observed first hand by the attendees. Can you picture the looks on their faces as they follow instruction to strecth the condom over their hands/fingers and feel the “difference” between wearing, and not wearing one? I can. This little lesson could help to put the old “I can’t feel anything” stereotype to rest; which in turn would encourage the teenagers in my community to practice safe sex so not to contract the HIV/AIDS virus. Granted, simply visiting schools would not reach everyone, but it’s a start that would help to spread awareness. Knowledge is key. ;] PS: Travie, you’re sooo inspirational and I MEAN that!
If I received a Staying Alive Grant to spread the word about HIV/AIDS, I would put on a fashion show. If possible, I would make admission prices for the event very low-cost. A simple proof of HIV/AIDS testing (no matter the outcome) would suffice. Or if I charged money, I would donate all (or most) of the proceeds to the Global AIDS Alliance or other needy AIDS awareness charity. I would choose to hold this event on December 1st, World AIDS Day. All fashions displayed would have a symbolic “RED” theme, the designated color of HIV/AIDS awareness. As additional entertainment, maybe notable HIV/AIDS advocates could perform. Advocates such as, Rihanna, Fall Out Boy, Jennifer Hudson, and my personal favorite Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes.
I think this would be an excellent idea to educate my community of young people about this pandemic. Being a young person myself (age 16), I know that when a middle-aged woman who remembers graduating with your parents walks into your class and tries to inform you about HIV by handing out pamphlets, your not going to listen and will probably throw the pamphlet out on the hallway floor. By producing this event, not only would attendees see the big picture about HIV/AIDS, but they also experience great entertainment in the process.
Thank you for your time and consideration. The world really needs more people like you helping others. God bless.
I would like to make a big tour with cool bands of Fueled By Ramen and DecayDance . These bands could attract a lot of people at concerts. At the concerts, in addition to performances, would be talks about Hiv / AIDS and other STD’s. We ought to teach people what is this thing called HIV/AIDS letting them see how it effects them, what exactly it targets in body such as the immune system. We could give out free condoms. Too many people seems that not happen to them. We have to educate that people that can happen to anyone. We need to say people what are the ways to prevent HIV / AIDS.
Also I would make clothing line, and the bands on the tour would wear these clothes, to promote safe sex. I would make a big advertising campaign to promote the tour . Some cool bands could be incorporated in campaign and make it cool to wear these clothes and have safe sex. At the concerts people could buy these clothes and I would transfer income for MTV Staying Alive Foundation.
Travie, you’re my hero! I love you and GCH
Okay,
Now, I believe connecting with people must be done with the arts. What I see as the most ancient form of expression. I would hold a concert with local and hopefully larger more well known bands (Ex. Gym Class Heroes, My Chemical Romance, Eminem) this would bring much more people in and would hopefully have an even bigger outcome. Anyone that had something to say about how this epidemic has affected their lives could share and I would encourage all to get involved. We would encourage people to not donate money, but time and wisdom to everyone they know on HIV/AIDS and the massive dilemma modern humanity faces with it. We would encourage safe-sex, and teach people before they start having sex, the risks that come with it. I also would like to further educate already sexually active people. There would be an art auction to raise more money to donate to the MTV Staying Alive Foundation as well as the (RED) Global Fund. These funds have already been seen through the media and have been pushed through music to spread the word already.
I believe art is the window to expression, connection and communication. So, we must use art to spread education, wisdom and love. It already saves lives every day, so let’s make it save even more.
That’s my opinion- Juliana. And thank you for helping out via MTV Staying Alive Foundation. It means a lot to me considering the devastation it has caused worldwide. Every little thing helps.
If i received the Stay Alive Grant I would host a Staying Alive Carnival. It would produce an environment our youth would want to go to yet have an important message embedded in this get together. It would have some traditional aspects of a carnival but it would also have guest speakers who will advocate the message of safe sex and have people who have dealt with living with AIDS or HIV. Also there would be booths with information and facts about statistics on HIV and AIDS. A booth with free condoms and a list of places where you can get free condoms because people use dumb excuses like i don’t feel like paying for condoms why not to use them. Also having a booth where you can getting free testing for HIV and AIDS. Also there would be bands there who will play but also talk about how HIV had affected them in some way. Kids look up to musicians more than people realize and having them advocate safe sex is important because most times it would never enter their lyrics. Also if some musicians wrote a few songs relating to safe sex and stories of what can happen it would prove effective because sometimes lyrics are more powerful than just words. I think having contests available like whoever spreads HIV awareness and their school and proves to be the most effective will get free concert tickets or something of that nature. Also having activities to sign up for HIV walks and other activities relating to HIV they may never heard of before. Also having a HIV donation box to raise money for this great cause would prove successful. I think giving pins to people saying i have now helped the cause may give kids the feeling they make a difference and want to do more. I also think although far fetched if we could get a soda or water company to put HIV facts on the inside of the caps for a certain amount of time it would give a subtle reminder of what can happen to anyone if they are not safe. The last thing is when you go to a concert you want a t-shirt of your favorite band, dont you? But if each band creates a shirt with their logo and something about HIV awareness it creates free advertisement to tons of thousands of other kids who will see the message hopefully sparking a message that celebrities can help, your friends can help, and guess what so can you. Thank you for taking time to read this and hopefully something in this article even if not chosen can be done somewhere and make a difference because that is what is truly important
ily<3gch
If I were to set up a project in community. First I would have speakers who have HIV/AIDS to come and speak to college and high school students. Because I think that would really make it real to them that everyday people, their age get this terrible disease. I would also set up a website and an online campaign since most people in high school and college are on the internet. I would set up fun events in the community to get people’s attention, these event’s would have concerts etc. if they see their favorite artist’s supporting the movement i think that would influence them to do that same.
i would also arrange for classes about sexually transmited diseases to held at local high schools and universities. and of course at these events and classes there would be free condoms would be passed out. If your going to be sexually active you should atleast protect yourself and your partner. also giving them free is good, because condoms are expensive and some people can’t afford them.
If I were awarded a Staying Alive Grant I would create a mobile education center with testing available to the public as well as condoms. The reason I would create a mobile center is so the education is not limited to who the education goes to. Everyone no matter what age, race, ect.. should have the opportunity to learn about HIV/AIDS and to be tested. With a mobile unit you would be able to bring it to school, community events, concerts or where it’s requested to come to. HIV/AIDS is still such a taboo topic with many people by creating this mobile unit and bringing it to community events get people talking and making it a little less taboo to the world. This would be able to educate more then just a community it could educate America with cross country trips. If able to go cross-country it would be amazing to get celebrities to drive it and bring attention to it or appear at places the center will be. There is so many amazing things something like this could bring to the education of what HIV/AIDS is and the prevention in contracting this disease or the spreading of it.
If I was given Staying Alive grant money I would use it to produce small shows in different communities that are statistically “high-risk.” I would get local bands, street performers, and other entertainers to perform and stage plays that focus on the issues of sex and prevention. I would recruit local kids to be in the plays and offer them recorded copies of the play so they could show their friends. The goal would be to get kids an opportunity to be involved, to spread the word in a way that doesn’t make them uncomfortable, and to make the education process fun and interactive. That’s the gist of it.
I would campaign the war against aids/hiv and the promotion of safe sex very strategically. first an foremost analytically speaking, we (the community) would start with the young bloods, and the very 1st with this pressure on their shoulders.Of course, the pressure im referring to is unprotected sex and what actions can be taken to avoid such harmful and deadly diseases. You know of course there has already been attempts(and success) that have been made, perhaps we can try different approaches, such as like i said earlier about the youths in the community. Target media projections, public events, community interactions, so on so forth. Im pretty sure there are many a people who wish they could take back certain situations and precautions if they could, but unfortunatly the world doesnt revolve on that axis, where there is a time machine and a gray haired scientist named doc. Moral of the story is that we are the next generation, if any thing we want to better ourselves, no rise and fall like human kind. The funny thing is that we can do something, and do something we shall. Overcome…..
raz
Everyone says campaigns, education, sex education, and so on. All those are necessary, but one thing has to be said. My point is simple; we gotta get to the people themselves. They need the ambitions, the dreams, the desire for something better or to do better. I’m gonna give an example without trying to sound like a douche. Sex is tempting. Here in our country and other places (including African countries), we have sex ed. But people still have early sex, get pregnant, AIDS, STDs, etc. Why? You need ambitions, goals, etc. I saw some documentary about poor Tanzanian kids (I’m half Tanzanian). An example was this young, poor girl who had no home. So like many other woman, she sells herself into prostitution. But at the same time, she was forced by other big boys that are also poor, occasionally raped too. HAVING GOALS CAN HELP STRENGTHEN PEOPLE TO SAY NO TO UNSAFE SEX, ETC; CAUSE YOU DON’T WANT TO DO SOMETHING TO MESS UP YOUR DREAMS. Now, I’m aware that even if this young girl had goals, it would be very tough to fulfill them when no one, including the government (that’s the why it is in some african countries, my parents know and have experienced it for a fact) care who you are or your existence.
Now that we addressed that, we the Staying Alive grant, I would do two things. One, I agree with people that music touches everyone. You can dance, sing along, etc. So I would tour and perform concerts in places where poverty, AIDS, etc is very common and big. In addition, get someone who has experienced or continues to live in these conditions to talk to the crowd for a while. But you will still have you skeptics and not-so-touched people. So show them some proof, such as someone had to have a surgery due to AIDS, etc and maybe has a big scar, raspy voice. Or show pictures of extreme poverty that you have seen. Second, I would use the money to educate and help the people (they need the opportunities once they got the dreams). Provide them with education. get to their hearts and tell them what they’ve wanted to do, to achieve. Tell them they can and encourage them!! Maybe show them examples of their dreams. Set up a support group in the community so people can continue to inspire each other and comfort each other when they’re down. There’s still hope, we can solve our problems in this world where people walk a blistered path on the marching feet (was about how people are blinded by what they see, i write lyrics)
And I heard that there’s something about your ablum artwork, so here’s my lyrics. Something about a nerd, since your “as cruel as school children” ablum involved school.
He’s starched and dresses in lines
Just like his favorite hero from an Atari
But they diss and say
You ain’t no classic boy
You just a cheap technicolor TV
GCH rules!
If I were selected to receive a Staying Alive Grant I would set up a mobile testing/education center. The center would offer free testing and condoms to the public as well as education them on what HIV/AIDS is and the prevention. Resources would all so be available for people that are suffering from HIV/AIDS. Drug treatment program information will all so be available because many people don’t talk about intravenous drug use as an issue with HIV/AIDS. A mobile education center wouldn’t just stick with one demographic like setting up a school program and its more then just a weekend even like a concert. The center can go to schools from middle school to collages as well as go to community event, retirement communities, and fairs and be a on going services available all year long. HIV/AIDS doesn’t see age or race that’s why I would set up this center so everyone is educated properly on something that is so preventable.
*RING RING RING* Yes finally second to last class, almost time to get OUT OF HERE. Oh wait.. we have that dumb guest speaker, I hope it isn’t too boring. I guess its a good time to get some sleep. *1 hour later* Ahhh haven’t slept so good in days! We should have more guest speakers like that. After all, I’ll NEVER get AIDS anyway, so why should I listen?
Alright, so here’s the deal. If I got the grant, I would NOT go to schools to try to get the word across. There are programs like that in school, there has been for as long as I can remember. Think back to when you were in school. When you had a guest speaker, what was most of the crowd doing? Snoozing or having a staring contest with the ceiling or the wall. Kids spend all day in school getting talked to about math, science, blah blah blah, and the ugly truth is, after about 4 or 5 hours, most of the kids just don’t care. So I think using the money for a school type venue of getting the word across is outdated and inefficient.
I would do one of two things. First, hold something similar to a fair or party type deal. When someone is having fun, that’s when they are most receptive and its most likely to sink in. Hand out pamphlets and all that good stuff, you know, the usual, and I think kids would think “well hot damn, I had a blast tonight, maybe this thing IS worth looking at. Lets face it, kids are impressionable. They see someone at a school going on and on like all their “lame” teachers, they aren’t going to pay much heed, but if the person hosts something like a ballin party, they are going to listen.
If not that, I think I would pull a page out of Maury’s book. Ever watched a special where its about abusive boyfriends or pregnant girls? How those teens get sent to a prison, boot camp, or something, and when they get done, they had changed, BIG TIME. What if the money was used for something like that? Find willing people who are going through the late stages of HIV/AIDS, where the disease is affecting the body, and have them talk to kids. Talk about how bad it will get, have the kids SEE what will happen.
I realize it’s not a perfect idea but its a start, and everything has to have a beginning somewhere. This is a really great way to get people to come up with some really great ideas. You’re an inspiration to all of us Travis.
With a Staying Alive Grant I would try and set up an exhibit/festival working directly with AIDS Rochester. This festival would be directed towards educating the community about the global fight. There would be events throughout the festival and exhibits that would teach about aids and common misconceptions as well as show ways to prevent and what sources of support there are available to those who are affected by the virus.
Along with a weekend exhibit possibly held at the convention center, I would try and pursue someone like Travis to help give back to the local community and speak to local schools about his travels to South Africa, or any celebrity who has worked with the (RED) project.
This would be an opportunity to bring about more awareness to a problem that many people are unaware of. According to the AIDS Rochester Website “14,000 people are infected globally each day, 280,000 Americans are unaware of their infection, and 40 million people are infected globally.” These are facts that everyone should gain knowledge of and with a Staying Alive Grant, something like this IS possible.
The lesson was long and informative as we sat sweating in the flaming classroom. I numbly watched *Coach Crouch (no joke) gingerly roll a condom over a banana as he sluggishly explained the purpose of the exercise. You would almost think this was the first sex lesson he had ever given. The rest of the class was a blur. Somewhere between the “how to apply protection” exercise, the sweltering heat, and being grossly intrigued by Coach’s chest hair overlapping his polo shirt (I am shuddering as I recall this) the lesson had ended.
*Name changed because I don’t enjoy purposely embarrassing people despite the hell they may have given me in gym class.
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The above story is meant to illustrate problems that we have in many classes today- boring lessons, adults that cannot relay lessons in a manner that interests students, and students that are easily distracted. We all know that HIV/AIDS is severe disease. We all know that STDs do not stand for Stunningly Transferable Diamonds, but how many people are thoroughly informed about the dangers of getting and spreading STDs?
I think the most effective way to reach people is to show them how close to home STDs and HIV/AIDS really are. I think we could use Facebook’s idea of using people that you already know in ads on their site, but with a twist. Instead of seeing pictures of your friends you would see banners with your own face on them- with a message that says you may know/have slept with someone you is infected with an STD or HIV/AIDS. The purpose is not to arouse false alarm, but to bring the message directly to the Facebook user. When they click the banner they would be redirected to a site that gives them the needed information about safe sex, STDs, and so on.
Another idea: Through a free GYM CLASS HEROES promotion fans can sign up for free text messages that inform them about up-and-coming tour dates, news, meet and greets, and other GCH news. However, GCH and other artists that are involved with the Staying Alive campaign can routinely send texts that contain Staying Alive messages. Seemingly direct text messages from artists such as Travis to Kelly Rowland is sure to grab anyone’s attention (I’m already daydreaming. . .
Last idea: I read an article about how Amnesty International has created a set of ads that target domestic violence. The ads are pretty high-tech. When a person is looking at the ad they see a happy, loving couple. As soon as their eyes are off the ad the image turns to one of violence. The ad reads “It happens when nobody is watching.” Simply brilliant.
Here is my version of that ad: When eye contact is made with the ad we see an attractive man and an attractive women. When they turn away the ad changes to the same two people but they look extremely sick. Again, the point is not to create false alarm but to get people to notice. Once we have the attention of people we can deal with the stigmas associated with HIV/AIDS, but first we have to get people to want to be informed.
I think it would be best to have the ad around high schools, college campuses, CLUBS (!!!) and even retiring homes (I read an article about how rates of STDS are increasing between senior citizens. . . whoa 0_0).
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Alright. One more thing:
Travis thank you for being yourself and sharing your view of the world with others. Your music has changed my life for the better, and the more that I listen to you the more I am encouraged to live my life to the fullest. THANKS TO YOU AND THE WHOLE GCH CREW!
If i received the stay alive grant i would donate it to the HIV/AIDS Foundation so that they could get a little closer in trying to find a cure. I would start a community awareness and let everyone know how serious HIV/AIDS is in real life. I would also teach the teenagers the way they can contract this serious STD. Although many people think it is just an STD it is contracted in so many other ways too. I had a friend and she had it not knowing. She found out that she had it when she went to the doctors and they tested her for and came back positive for HIV. Although people are aware They may not be fully aware of the situtation of the deadly disease.
With the grant, I would do everything that I could. At my school, I would bring in speakers to talk about HIV/AIDS, set up some kind of awareness week, and have the counselors be prepared to help students learn more. In my community, I would have a benefit concert with local artists to promote the awareness of HIV/AIDS and give the proceeds to a program trying to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. I would also work with businesses in my community to set up an awareness… convention so to speak. A couple of days would be spent (in different places around me) educating people in a fun way. No one wants to be scared out of knowing about HIV/AIDS, so the would learn the truth, but would get to enjoy the day as well. These days would include entertainment, booths, speakers, and so much more. I believe that people need to know that HIV/AIDS is out there and is spreading.
It’s difficult to say and plan out more of what I would do without knowing much about what I can actually do to help. But if I was given a grant, I would do everything in my power and capabilities to learn and teach. I would travel if the need be, either to learn or to educate people; I would sit with my teachers, doctors, and possibly even people who have the disease to educate, be educated, and to spread word of my plans to help.
These are some of the things I would do with a Staying Alive Grant. It is difficutlt to write out what I would do, so the ideas may be vague, but they would be very well-thought out in real life. I really do think that I could help raise awareness and possibly even prevent some cases of HIV/AIDS with a Staying Alive Grant.
Most American adults know about aids, but there are still a few who don’t. I believe the best way to let people know about it in America to inform people any where anything about sex is. Also make condoms and other contraceptives more available. On their packaging they could put a little tid-bit of info on Aids and a website URL where they can get more information.
I would also make some really eye catching pamphlets with information about Aids and testimonials(and pics) from people with aids (again with a website URL) in Adult stores (aka Porn shops) Whether or not we like to admit it a majority of the urban population has visited one. I used to hear ads. on the local radio station all the time.
I would also try and put these pamphlets in clubs and at shows with a free condom attached to them. I know lots of people who are too lazy/embarrassed to buy them and not only would it help stop unwanted pregnancies (another growing concern) but it helps stop the spread of aids and other S.T.Ds.
I would also make T-shirts with information printed all over-them in a cool script. I would make them available through the internet and shows/big events.(like warped tour)
Not only will kids be rockin a cool looking shirt, but people that take the time to read it would become more informed.
I truly believe that kids are the ones that we should try to focus on. Its also very hard to inform them with out parents getting offended. So I would put together a presentation that could be shown to kids. I would then go around to public schools all across the country and have them show it. A cool thing to include in that is have music artists, actors, and others to not only support it but guest speak at them. This way all the kids get excited about it and will pay attention.
I would start a club for teenagers to connect with people who have HIV or Aids, so they can see the consequences of HIV and Aids. It would also be a great way to offer people with HIV/Aids support. People in society often isolate HIV-Aids-infected people in stead of giving them the support and love they need and I think that’s just wrong. Love is the answer to solving today’s problems.
Well in order to stop the problem, you should attack it at the source. With that being said, I would start a program, for kids as young as middle school, warning them about the dangers of having unprtected sex. And I would also try and get commericals like the truth compaign, cause thoose are really eye catching and they get the point across so it would probably have the same effect, right? Or I would throw a big huge festival on penns landing(in philadelphia)it would be fun for the whole family while also sparking awarness in kids and teens while also getting parents to talk to their childern about the dangers of unprotected sex/HIV/AIDS. The main focus of my campaign would be to make awarness fun, cause people pay more attention when they’re doing something they like, its a fact!!
i would have tshirts with the hiv/aids logo and have tv advertisments and leaflets and posters hung up everywhere telling about hiv/aids and talking about safe sex and would have it handed out to every school in the coutry and have people with hiv/aids come in and talk about how hard it is and explain why u should have safe sex and set up research centers set up to try and find the cure for hiv/aids and also have like celebritys come in and explain why u should have safe sex becus everyone wants to be like celebritys and publish a book to give to adults that they can read to their children telling about how to have safe sex.
I influence alot of people around me and that’s why I know my whole communnity or most of it. I have connections throughout this whole city and I have a small t-shirt company its just starting to get launched and people are head over heels waiting for it to drop. I’m actually going to do a fashion show and I could at the same time talk about HIV/AIDS at the show and give handouts and whatever else I can make or get my hands on. I could also put messages on the shirts and use that to help people notice How serious this HIV/AIDS eppidemic is while still giving them what they want.I have an art show coming up but I’m willing to team up again with some artist in my community to make an art show but this time make its main concept towards HIV/AIDS and tell people how to prevent it at the same time. Then I could use that money towards helping and also the profit from the t-shirt company and fashion show can go towards helping aswell. At the same time I could be teaching people (I know alot) how to protect themselves from getting HIV/AIDS. There’s just so many things I could do and that we all can do that it’s ridiculous. I got more idea’s and tricks up my sleeve but these are just the tip of the iceberg. That’ll get the ball rollin’. Hope you guys liked my idea. much love and keep staying alive going cause you guys got a good thing going never let it go under the radar. xoxo- Oly
Too often people forget that HIV/AIDS can reach out and touch ANYONE. It seems as though they have forgot that it doesnt matter who you are or what you do. I would use the grant to remind them of that. Get in touch with th figures in our society that it has touched that will make an impression. A good example of that would be Magic Johnson. At the top of his game and of the world at the time of his contraction of the disease. It seems like people need to be reminded that people like that can get it. It is something that can happen to anyone. So my use would be to get the most famous people who are positive to talk to the community and remind them that the disease does not discriminate for any reason and that it doesnt matter who you are or where you are in your life if you are not careful you will get caught up.
Dude ill do whatever to get one of those hats. Ill post Aids/HIV awarness poster things on my mail boxes were everyone goes at least once a week. I love Gym Class and it would be awesome to have one of those hats. Ha i dont really know what else im suppose to say but i hope you pick me.
First off, Gym Class Heroes is my favorite band ever. i have all their albums on my ipod and i have seen them 3 times in concert. I’d be way stoked to win this hat. For real though, to get the message out there about HIV/AIDS I would talk to some higher ranked people in my city such as the Mayor, well I’d try and send a letter. I’d ask if i could put on a fundraiser for the cause of HIV/AIDS and in this I’d have a parade, i would try to get speakers who would talk on the subject such as people who may have this disease, and get plenty of pins and posters made to be put up all around the city for everyone to see. I’m probably not the best at convincing people to believe something or to fllow me to do something but i know this disease is not something to joke about so I’d sure as hell try my best to get people to atleast listen and maybe help out.
With a staying alive grant I would set up a live show. It would have people talking about the things you can do to prevent getting AIDS and dealing with HIV. It would also have Local bands, and entertainers to not only keep the people interested, but also share their feelings on these topics. There would be no fee, but all proceeds that we would get from snacks, and drinks would go to an HIV/AIDS foundation. There would also be sections set up where people can learn more about HIV and AIDS.
Although this paragraph is short I feel this is what would get to the community the most.
Having the Staying Alive Grant, I would set up some type of awareness program in my nieghborhood and surrounding ‘hoods becuase they are alot of teen pregnancies I have seen and alot of STDs being spreaded around without proper knowledge of what to do after you have contracted one. Set up a fun way to become active and protecting yourself from the HIV/AIDS virus, because people are unaware of how you can still live a healthy lifestyle if you have HIV. Its about getting the word out, not in a lecture, but in a way young people and old would respond to. Thats what I would do
With a staying alive grant, I would get T-shirts made saying “Staying alive FREE HUGS” I would start In my own town center and ever week for an hour walk around with the shirt on giving out hugs and telling passing out information about HIV and AIDS. I would tell people that they can get a free shirt if they come back ever week just for an hour a week walking around giving out hugs and telling people about staying alive organization. After getting a steady group in my own town ever week, I would recruit friends and families to get it going in other cities around the US, to spread the the word around the country. I feel just getting every day people involved with just a little time commitment it is something that would get attention and help spread the word and peace.