Don Bruner

Don Bruner

Don Bruner was born and raised in Rochester, New York. He is the founder and executive director of Black Men Latino Men Health Crisis, Inc. (BMLMHC) which was founded in 2001 as a 501(c)(3) corporation, located in Rochester. BMLMHC's mission and focus is to engage heterosexual men and, women of Color, their families, and the community-at-large in designing and facilitating an active role in HIV/STD prevention planning. Some of BMLMHC innovative projects include:

*The Get it Done Initiative- A Community-level HIV/STD prevention intervention that utilizes African American and Hispanic barbers and hairdresser as key opinion leaders to deliver health promotion and disease risk reduction messages to patrons of their shops.
*Jackie's Call to Women of Color Social Gathering- A HIV/STD group-level prevention intervention designed to reach women of color, primarily African American and Hispanic, that have limited history with traditional HIV at-risk groups and HIV prevention services.

Bruner is a former member of the New York State HIV Prevention Planning Group (PPG or CPG) having served for seven years. Positions held during that time include: member of the executive committee, co-chair of the criminal justice and PLWHIV/PLWAS sub-committees. He has provided leadership advocating for the prevention needs of heterosexual men of color in New York State resulting in the PPG allocating supplemental dollars during its 2001 priority session, for the creation of prevention services for heterosexual men of color.

During 1999 Bruner attended the Community Planning Leadership Summit in Pittsburgh, PA. He was among 11 African American males that came together and affectionately deemed themselves "The Pittsburgh 11." During the summit "The Pittsburgh 11" met twice to dialogue about local, state and national HIV prevention planning bodies not being inclusive of the needs of heterosexual men.

Among "The Pittsburgh 11" there was representation from cities such as Atlanta GA, Buffalo NY, Chicago IL, Detroit MI., Los Angeles CA, New York NY, and Rochester NY. These were cities cited in the Congressional Black Caucus and former President Clinton's video detailing high rates of HIV infection among African American males. Based on these high rates of HIV infection, Clinton declared HIV/AIDS a state of emergency in the African American community nationally. "The Pittsburgh 11" unanimously agreed to continue to advocate for the HIV prevention needs of heterosexual men of color in their perspective localities as well as nationally.

For the past several years Bruner has facilitated several workshops and discussion groups at local, state and national conferences. For more information: dbruner@bmlmhc.org www.bmlmhc.org