Twenty-seven people received free, confidential HIV testing during a National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day outreach event—part of STAR’s expanding strategy to bring prevention, education, and connections to care directly into Brooklyn communities.
Meeting people where they are is at the heart of effective HIV prevention.
On Friday, September 25, 2026, in recognition of Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, members of the Special Treatment and Research (STAR) Program’s FOCUS and Brooklyn SURE teams brought free HIV testing, prevention education, and health navigation directly into Brooklyn’s nightlife community during an evening outreach event at Singers, 30 Kosciuszko Street in Brooklyn. The event was conducted in collaboration with the New York City Health Department’s New York Knows Collaborative, a citywide initiative focused on expanding access to HIV testing, prevention, and care.
The outreach took place from 8:00 PM to midnight and was part of STAR’s continued effort to expand access to HIV prevention and care beyond traditional healthcare settings.
Representing STAR at the event were Alexis Fields, MPH, Assistant Director of Systems Change for Outreach, Prevention, and Engagement (SCOPE); Steven Rose, AS, MPM, Patient Navigator; and Christopher “Cameron” Fulcher, Patient Navigator.
Together, the team created a welcoming, accessible space where community members could connect with trusted health professionals outside of a clinical environment.
By the end of the evening, 27 individuals had received free and confidential HIV testing— creating 27 opportunities for people to know their status, learn about prevention options, ask questions, and connect with additional health and supportive services. The team also engaged more than 60 community members in conversations about HIV prevention and provided education on testing, PrEP, PEP, and available prevention resources. All individuals who received HIV testing were also offered mental health and harm reduction resources, and 27 fentanyl test strips were distributed to support overdose prevention and safer communities.
As STAR continues to strengthen partnerships and expand community outreach, events like this show the value of delivering health services in trusted community spaces where education, prevention, and care are accessible to everyone.
Know Your Status. Know Your Options. Take the Next Step.
Looking for HIV prevention support or want to learn more about PrEP and PEP?
Visit www.GetMeOnPrEP.com to connect with STAR’s prevention resources and support.
For more information about STAR’s healthcare services, testing, and community initiatives, visit: www.STARProgram.nyc.
