BISMARCK, N.D. – In observance of World AIDS Day December 1, the North Dakota
Department of Health is urging people at risk for HIV/AIDS to get tested, according
to Denise Larson, HIV prevention coordinator for the Department of Health.

2008 marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. Established by the World Health
Organization in 1988, World AIDS Day serves to further global awareness and focus
prevention efforts on the devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Observation
of this day provides an opportunity for governments, national AIDS programs,
churches, community organizations and individuals to come together to demonstrate
commitment and action in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

December 1 serves to remind everyone that the U.S. – like other nations around the
world – is deeply affected by this epidemic.  Over one million people in the United
States are HIV positive, and approximately 56,300 new infections occur every year.
As of Dec. 31, 2007, 413 cases of HIV/AIDS have been reported in North Dakota since
HIV/AIDS surveillance began in 1984.
About one-fourth of the people estimated to be HIV positive are believed to be
unaware of their infections, underscoring the need for increased efforts to reach
at-risk populations with HIV testing and prevention services.

“World AIDS day is great opportunity to raise awareness about the impact the disease
has on people, families and communities,” Larson said. “If you do not know if you
are infected with HIV, you could be spreading it to others. People need to know how
to keep themselves from becoming infected with HIV so we can reduce the spread of
this disease in our communities. The only way to know if you have HIV is to get
tested.”

To support this year’s 2008 World AIDS Day theme, Lead-Empower-Deliver, the
Department of Health urges North Dakotans to take charge of their health and get
tested for HIV, especially anyone who has ever put himself or herself at risk for
HIV by engaging in risky behavior.

Risky behavior includes unprotected sex, needle-sharing for drug use, or tattooing
and body piercing. HIV testing is available at test sites throughout the state. The
test sites are staffed by trained personnel who offer free and confidential HIV
testing, pre- and post-test counseling, and referrals to those at risk. HIV can be
prevented by avoiding or not engaging in risky behaviors.

For information about HIV testing and other HIV/AIDS services, call the North Dakota
Department of Health HIV/AIDS Program hotline at 800.70.NDHIV or visit the program’s
website at www.ndhealth.gov/hiv

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Minot, North Dakota

Jazmine Wolff was a featured entertainer at Pride Fest 2008.

Jazmine Wolff is a North Dakotan, both born and raised, and native of the Burlington/ Minot area. She graduated from high school in 2005 from Des-Lacs/ Burlington senior high.  Since then, she has been attending Minot State University, pursuing degrees in both elementary education and theatre arts.

Professionally, Jazmine had the opportunity to work as a camp counselor and a camp director, and now, while attending school, she works part time, rolling sushi on Saturdays and making gourmet coffee drinks the rest of the week.  Recently Jazmine co-founded Pangea House, a community center, whose main purpose is to provide opportunities for youth in the community to grow through art, education, and the exploration of their unique talents and abilities.

Music is an integral part of describing Wolff and is one of the most important driving factors behind starting Pangea House.  Her first singing performance took place during a school wide talent show in third grade. You could say she was born with a music gene and from there everything snowballed.  Somewhere around her eighth grade year she decided to supplement her singing by picking up the guitar, and last, but certainly not the final step in her musical evolution, she performed a song she wrote, for her graduation, officially becoming a singer-songwriter- and guitarist.

Since 2005, Wolff has written many songs.  Fifteen of which she took on a successful first tour to the East Coast, during Christmas break 2007.  Over the past year, she has performed with artists: Jason Ricci, Paul Baribeau, and Robert Sarzin Blake, to name a few, and she had the opportunity to play at a number of events, including:  Urban Harvest, The Garlic and Grape Festival, ND Capital Pride Fest, Rock the Leaves Off the Trees (a cancer benefit concert), That Takes Ovaries, Applefest, the Abused Adult Resource Center’s State Convention, Minot’s Arts in the Park Idol Competition, and many more which she was delighted to have the opportunity to play.

Jazmine Wolff’s first full album entitled Love and Stuff will be out this Christmas.

Preview 2 Tracks Below:

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