The leaders who join NHAP know that leadership is about responsibility, not privilege.
Because they are respected for their insight, wisdom, and judgment, leaders are in a position to provide guidance to those around them. They can be instrumental in creating awareness of HIV/AIDS and the U.S. epidemic in several ways:
Engage –
- Set examples, by acting as models in addressing the problem.
- Persuade their peers – other leaders – to become an active part of the solution.
Educate –
- Take advantage of their own visibility to inform others and create more visibility of the challenge. Leaders are in the public eye, which puts what they talk about in the public eye as well.
- Use their own communication opportunities to convey important information about the HIV/AIDS epidemic and to show how prevention practices can help stop it. People listen to respected leaders.
Empower –
- Inspire others to take a stand and speak out. As with any sensitive topic, those who demonstrate the strength to confront this issue help inspire others to do the same, passing along both the courage and the freedom to make a change. It’s a basic function of leadership; help others to help themselves by taking the first step for them.
Enlist –
- Influence their constituents, including employees and other stakeholders, to join the effort by engaging in open discussion, acting as ambassadors for prevention and setting examples in their own actions … resulting in even greater awareness, more practice of prevention, and – ultimately — reduced stigma.
- Mobilize the resources at their disposal on behalf of NHAP to help get the messages out.
- Persuade their peers and colleagues to become active participants in the effort.
Leaders can make a critical difference throughout our society; by applying their leadership abilities to helping Americans refocus on HIV/AIDS.
Click here to learn more about our leadership alliances.