The Mpowerment Project has been active in Charleston since March/April of 2004 and has been going strong ever since under the name of CHAMP (Charleston Area Mpowerment Project). This community-building initiative was created in UC-San Francisco and more detailed information about how the project functions can be found at www.mpowerment.org. We are the only AIDS Service Organization in the state that offers this intervention. One of the few community-level prevention interventions studied and proven effective by the CDC, Mpowerment is also the only initiative around the country that is as effective in reducing the rate of HIV transmission among its target population-young gay, bisexual, and curious men ages 18-30.

The group supports young men in creating their own community outside of the bar scene, with members conducting various social, fund raising, and outreach initiatives. Each year the group reaches hundreds of young men and women, distributes thousands of condoms and encourages their peers to get tested.

For further information about the group please contact Stuart at 843.744.4062 or email the group at CHAMPowerment@gmail.com.

"CHArleston Area Mpowerment Project", (CHAMP) is the local initiative of a national program called the "Mpowerment Project". This program, originally implemented in 2004, seeks out and attracts young leaders (ages 18-30) among the gay/bi/curious community and gives them the opportunity to create their own alternatives to the bar scene. LAS provides a meeting space and the tools for the peer-led group to plan and implement activities as diverse as miniature golfing to movie nights, barbeques to beach trips.

CHAMP is not only a social event; the Mpowerment Project uses these events as time to reach out to those disproportionately affected by HIV (and among the least receptive to prevention messages)-young gay men. The Project creates a comfortable social atmosphere where condoms are readily available and safer sex-positive discussions are the norm, which helps participants change unsafe sexual behaviors (a phenomenon well documented by university-level and CDC research).

Members of the group work hand in hand with the program coordinator to conduct formal outreach events at bars and parties to distribute safe sex packets (condoms, lubes, info) and the public is encouraged to be tested. Since its inception CHAMP has not only met outreach goals set by DHEC to sustain funding, but it has exceeded them time and again.

Though it is the only project of its kind in the state of South Carolina, CHAMP has a proven track record of excellence. Thus far in 2008 alone CHAMP had already reached 373 White men who have sex with men and 138 African American men who have sex with men-all from target populations, all well over DHEC yearly goal (which has increased each year since 2004).

CHAMP also conducts a once-monthly safe sex education seminar for small groups of young men. These seminars teach about safer choices, condom negotiation, and relationships-they empower the young men to not only use the knowledge themselves but to encourage their friends to use condoms as well.