Sexy and smart this force of nature's name is Abdur-Rahim Briggs. He wants to personally thank you for accepting the challenge and volunteering your time, talent and passion in the awareness of HIV/AIDS within the African-American community. He also wants to take a moment to share with you his personal journey for this cause……….

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA where I was a member and a volunteer for the Watts/Willowbrook Boys & Girls Club. My role model during that time was the late Roy W. Roberts, III who taught me the value of community service. I am a graduate of California State University at Bakersfield with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. I relocated to Washington, DC to pursue both professional opportunities and my true passion, community service. I currently serve as Vice-President of Programs for the Greater Washington DC ARMA Chapter.

My journey began in the summer of 1997, my identical twin brother Mark L. Briggs, disclosed to me that he had tested positive with the HIV virus. I was devastated. Two years later, as infection rates continued to soar among African-Americans; I channeled my hurt and pain into positive energy and began to wage a war against the HIV virus. My desire and determination to fight back led to the idea of brothers and sister coming together and wearing all white as a symbol of unity to raise awareness and funds to help fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic within the African-American community.

The "White Party" was born in 1999 and began as a "backyard barbeque". It started with 151 supporters in my backyard on Grant Place in Washington, DC. The following year, the event quickly outgrew the backyard attracting 251 people. In 2001, 355 people crowded into K.C. Ortiz's home on Buchanan Street N.W. outgrowing that space in its first year. For all three years, proceeds from the fundraisers were donated to Us Helping Us, Inc., an organization that provides HIV/AIDS services to the African-American GLBT community.

After the third year, I reached out for help. The vision that I had borne out of my hurt and pain had grown beyond my wildest dreams. I called on an old friend: Clyde H. Penn, Jr. Clyde whom heeded the call to assist me in forming a non-profit organization to wage a war on HIV/AIDS within the African-American community. The Ummah Endowment Fund, Inc. was incorporated on January 29, 2002. Together along with three other founding board members, Alvin B. King, Garrick R. Goode and Shaun W. Jones, started a movement and continued a dream that has changed lives and built consciousness.

The true impact really began on a magical night at the Warner Building in Washington DC in July 20, 2002. Alvin B. King of "Kind and I Productions" helped launch a new era in Social Marketing. The 4th Annual White Attire Affair - "A Sunset Fantasy". Once again, proceeds from the White Party were donated to Us Helping Us, Inc. The event shattered previous attendance records with over 800 participants! The following years, The 5th Annual White Attire Affair - "A Mask in White" was held at the Ronald Reagan Building, and attracted 1,350 participants. The 6th Annual White Attire Affair - "Ummah Carnival" at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium and the 7th Annual White Attire Affair - "A Return to Elegance" at Zanzibar on the Waterfront both attracted 1, 600 participants. The 8th Annual White Attire Affair - "Models of Perfection - Always Tested, Always Aware' smashed all previous attendance records with over 2,000 participants. And last year's event, the 9th Annual White Attire Affair - "007: The Mission!" was a huge social marketing success!

My journey was reborn in the spring of 2008 when my dear friend Patrick S. Kahozi, a volunteer with The Ummah Endowment Fund, Inc. passed away on Friday February 25, 2008. Upon Patrick S. Kahozi's death, I once again channeled my pain and created Al Sura, an organization geared towards Renewing, Reconnecting and Recommitting the belief that we can once again rise to this challenge as a community and raise awareness in the fight against HIV/AIDS. With a brief hiatus in 2008, Al Sura is now gearing up for 2009 White Attire Affair: "A Family Reunion". With your support, our journey continues........... Founder & Chairman,  Mr. Abdur-Rahim Briggs

Interview with Rahim-Abdur Briggs Part I

Interview with Rahim-Abdur Briggs Part II

Interview with Rahim-Abdur Briggs Part III