Latino community leaders throughout South Florida will gather in Wilton Manors for the first HIV/AIDS Leadership Summit from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8.
 The summit is sponsored by the Florida Department of Health, Latinos en Acción of Broward County, and the Florida Latino AIDS Advisory Group.

New HIV/AIDS data will be released, leaders will be provided resources to use in their communities and an action plan will be developed to mobilize Latino leaders in the fight against HIV/AIDS, according to a statement announcing the meeting.

The announcement said Florida ranks third in the nation in the number of reported AIDS cases.  In 2009, Hispanics accounted for 22 percent of AIDS cases in men and 13 percent of those in women.

Speakers will include Tom Liberti, chief of the Florida Department of Health’s Bureau of HIV/AIDS, and Francisco Ruiz from the National Latino AIDS Action Agenda Network Presentation and discussion of new HIV/AIDS survey data will begin at 9 a.m.

The meeting will take place at the Pride Center/LATINPRIDE Gallery, 2040 N. Dixie Highway.