Albany State University
Release: 02/05/08
Albany, GA  

National HIV/AIDS activist to speak at ASU on Thursday

A nationally renown HIV/AIDS activist will bring her message to Albany State University this week as part of the First and Second Year Experience Program Lecture Series.

Cathy Robinson-Pickett, founder of Friends Together Inc., will speak at 10 a.m. Thursday in the ACAD Auditorium.

During a routine life insurance exam in 1991, Robinson Pickett discovered that she had HIV. At the time, she had just celebrated her third wedding anniversary, was the mother of a 1-year-old daughter and was pregnant with a son.

The source of her infection was eventually traced back to a rape that occurred in 1984. By the time Robinson-Pickett had identified the source of her infection and located 14 other survivors of the rapist, two of the women had died of AIDS. This injustice led Cathy to begin a crusade to change the state’s laws and protect victims’ rights.

With her background in political science and sociology, Cathy marshaled her skills and knowledge to influence state and national HIV/AIDS policy-making and became an advocate for the voiceless victims and patients. Today she is often called upon to testify before U.S. congressional committees and serve as a local or state representative for HIV/AIDS issues.

Robinson-Pickett, a career HIV educator and advocate since 1992, drives an average of 70,000 miles a year speaking to classes, student assemblies, conferences and small gatherings. Although she fights her own daily battle with AIDS, she's a tireless advocate, doing extensive work on AIDS policy and law, lobbing for patient rights, producing educational videos and finding extra time to talk one-on-one to anyone who is interested.

Many organizations have recognized her selfless service. In 2001 she was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Americans (TOYA), she's been named a Daily National Point of Light, Young Floridian of the Year (by the Florida Jaycees) and Humanitarian of the Year (by The River Fund). Other honors include a Partners in Education Award from The Collier Education Foundation, and Knighted the Arch Angel of Michael Award from The International Police Chief Association.

For more information, contact Little Merritt-Hayslip at 430-2811. More information about Robinson-Pickett is also available at www.cathyrobinson.org.