Grammy Winner Common, MTV, and Kaiser Family Foundation Launch Lyrics Contest to Promote H...( Young People Compete By Submittin...),Health

Young People Compete By Submitting Original Lyrics About the Importance of Getting Tested

Common to Perform Winning Entry on MTV2, mtvU, and itsyoursexlife.com

NEW YORK, Feb. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, hip-hop artist and actor Common, in collaboration with It's Your (Sex) Life, a public information partnership between the Kaiser Family Foundation and MTV, and the Common Ground Foundation, with support from Youth Speaks, is launching "A Minute" - a new lyrics contest to encourage young people to get tested for HIV. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends routine HIV screening for all adults and adolescents (ages 13-64) in the United States. Through this new initiative, Common, MTV and Kaiser are encouraging young people to take a minute to inform themselves and others about HIV testing.

The competition kicks off today on MTV's TRL (Total Request Live) and is intended to engage and inspire young people across the country to learn more about HIV and the importance of knowing your HIV status. The CDC estimates that among the more than one million people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States, approximately 1 in 4 do not know they are infected with the virus. The "A Minute" contest offers young people the opportunity to submit an original poem, lyrics, or writing that addresses why getting tested for HIV is important. The winning entry will be performed by Common in a special public service announcement (PSA) that will premiere on National HIV Testing Day (June 27, 2008) and air throughout the summer on MTV2 and mtvU, MTV's college network, as well as be available on demand at http://www.itsyoursexlife.com. To learn more about the contest or apply, visit http://www.itsyoursexlife.com or http://www.aminutecontest.com.
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