Philadelphia FIGHT has launched its annual AIDS Education Month, with a wealth of events planned for the coming weeks, including one new concert to empower youth to know their HIV status. Hip Hop for Philly, hosted by FIGHT, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and other community partners, will be held June 27, National HIV Testing Day, at Trocadero Theater, headlined by hip-hop artist Fabolous. Free tickets to the event will only be available to those ages 13-24, who get an HIV test from FIGHT or a partner organization or at one of three upcoming free testing events. There are 1,200 tickets available on a first-come, first-serve basis. “Over the past several years, we have seen increased numbers of young people with newly infected statuses, but young people erroneously think the AIDS epidemic happened in the previous generation,” said FIGHT executive director Jane Shull. “The idea of the concert is to get youth’s attention and one way of doing that is doing a free concert. It gives us the ability to talk about risk behaviors and encourage them to stay safe.” The June 1 kick-off event for the initiative at the Wilson Park Community Center brought 80 youth to be tested. FIGHT director of education Juliet Fink said she hopes all 1,200 tickets will be claimed by the end of the month. AIDS Education Month itself kicked off with an opening reception and awards ceremony from 5:30-7:30 p.m. June 4 at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia, a new venue for the event. Fink said organizers normally change the venue for the opening reception every few years. The annual Kiyoshi Kuromiya Award for Prevention, Treatment and Justice went to Prevention Point Philadelphia executive director Jose Benitez. Kuromiya was an influential local civil-rights and HIV/AIDS activist. “[Kuromiya] was really involved in information access and activism and fighting for the rights of people and was influential in the larger world,” Fink said. “We have named this award in honor of people who we feel are not just active in the HIV/AIDS community, but are activists, and Jose has been on the forefront of the most difficult issues surrounding HIV/AIDS and drug use.” FIGHT and The Colours Organization will host the Legendary Crystal Ball from 7 p.m.-midnight June 8 in Hamilton Hall at the University of the Arts, 320 S. Broad St. The free event is one of the most popular house/ballroom community events in the region. Free HIV testing will be available there. “We usually get 600-700 people, and it is an incredible experience to see the different houses competing against each other and using prevention messages and understanding the importance of testing,” Fink said. Following the ball, Philadelphia FIGHT and Philadelphia Freedom from AIDS Campaign will host Gospel Concert 2013 from 7-10 p.m. June 9 at the Triumph Baptist Church, 1648 W. Hunting Park Ave. Gospel acts will include Bishop Ernest McNear, True Gospel Tabernacle Choir and Philadelphia FIGHT Gospel Choir. June 12 will bring the 14th Annual Prevention and Outreach Summit from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, 13th and Arch streets. The summit will feature the Rev. Al Sharpton as keynote speaker as well as a diverse range of speakers, panels and discussions. Fink said Sharpton’s support for the HIV/AIDS community has not wavered. “We always look for a dynamic person to speak to the community during the summit and Al Sharpton has a number of thoughts around HIV/AIDS that most people in his position aren’t talking about. It really is important because a lot of politicians won’t talk about it,” Fink said. The Faith Leaders and Community Summit will be held at 8 a.m. June 15 at the DoubleTree Hotel, 237 S. Broad St. Actor and HIV/AIDS activist LisaRaye McCoy will be this year’s keynote speaker. AEM will close with a community cookout from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. June 27 at Fairmount Park, 33rd and Cecil B. Moore Avenue. Schull said she hopes AEM raises awareness of the continuing epidemic as well as promotes treatment options. “The epidemic is not over, it’s not a thing of the past,” she said. “We also want people to know that we have effective treatment that works and not to be reluctant to learn their status, because then they can get into treatment and live a long and healthy life.” For more information about AIDS Education Month, visit www.aidseducationmonth.org. Tickets to “Hip Hop for Philly” can be obtained with HIV tests from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 8 at the York House, 5325 Old York Road, or 11 a.m.-4 p.m. June 15 and 22 at Meyers Recreation Center, 57th Street and Kingsessing Avenue, and Cobbs Creek Recreation Center, 63rd and Walnut streets, respectively.