Jurnee Smollett

About me:

www.ansafrica.org JURNEE SMOLLETT AND ARTISTS FOR A NEW SOUTH AFRICA Actress and activist Jurnee Smollett is the youngest board member of Artists for a New South Africa (ANSA), a nonprofit organization working in the U.S. and South Africa to combat HIV/AIDS, advance human rights and equality, safeguard voting rights, and assist, educate and empower children orphaned by AIDS as well as other at-risk youth. Jurnee has been involved with ANSA since she was 11 years old and performed alongside Stevie Wonder, Denzel Washington, Hugh Masekela, and Samuel L. Jackson at a critically acclaimed event honoring Archbishop Desmond Tutu and celebrating ANSA’s 10th anniversary and the 5th anniversary of South Africa’s freedom. Now she has become one of the leaders of the organization. In March 2006, Jurnee became ANSA's pioneer presenter for Positively Speaking, a program of Los Angeles Unified School District HIV/AIDS Prevention Unit that brings people who are infected or affected by the disease into middle and high school classes to tell their own stories and lead discussions. As someone with two close friends living with HIV, Jurnee helps destigmatize the disease by talking frankly with students about risky behaviors, while educating them about prevention, testing and treatment. Through this program, Jurnee has already spoken with thousands of students in classrooms throughout Los Angeles. The development of this effort was spurred by Jurnee's desire to have a local impact in the fight against AIDS in addition to her efforts to end AIDS in Africa. Jurnee played an instrumental role in the effort's development and design, as a member of ANSA's AIDS Committee with fellow board member Alexandra Paul, ANSA's executive director Sharon Gelman and ANSA program coordinator Ashley Luth. In October 2006, Jurnee took part in a delegation of ANSA artists and board members, who traveled together to South Africa. On this trip, Jurnee witnessed first hand both the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS, as well as the brave work South Africans are doing to fight the disease. During this delegation Jurnee met many of South Africa’s heroes, including: Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa; Archbishop Desmond Tutu; Ahmed Kathrada, anti-apartheid leader and former political prisoner; Albie Sachs, Justice on South Africa’s Constitutional Court; and Zackie Achmat, Chairman of the Treatment Action Campaign. Jurnee also visited a number of ANSA’s grantee organizations including Treatment Action Campaign, AIDS Foundation of South Africa, Ingwavuma Orphan Care, Philani Nutrition Centre, and Tygerberg Children’s Hospital. For more information: www.ansafrica.org.