• Listen to this segment

• Listen to the entire program

World AIDS Day, observed every December the first, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS epidemic caused by the spread of HIV. The concept originated in 1988 at the World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programmes for AIDS Prevention. Since then, it’s been taken up by governments, organizations and charities worldwide. Today, elected and other officials will give speeches and lead forums on HIV/AIDS, and lead memorials to honor those who have died of AIDS. Here in Los Angeles, events include free rapid HIV tests at a Rite-Aid in Baldwin Hills, and the 16th Annual Noche de las Memorias tonight in Lincoln Park. This year’s theme for World AIDS Day is “Stop AIDS: Keep The Promise.” One LA-based community activist has been keeping a promise for more than ten years. In 1995 from behind the front desk of the Palms Motel in the Vermont Knolls neighborhood, Kevin Pickett along with his co-owner Cora King had a close-up look at homelessness, drug use, and AIDS. Although the AIDS epidemic at that time was moving rapidly from gay white enclaves into neighborhoods of color, there were few treatment facilities in these areas. So Kevin and Cora closed their motel and with private and government funding, reopened a year later as a state-licensed residential facility for men chronically ill with AIDS or infected with HIV. In 2003 Kevin Pickett received an Essence Magazine Award recognizing his role as a Community Street Warrior and today he continues his fight as Executive Director of the Palms Residential Care Facility.

GUEST: Kevin Pickett, founder and Executive Director of the Palms Residential Care Facility

The Palms Residential Care Facility is located at 8480 S Figueroa in Los Angeles. Phone number is 323-751-3330.