Today is National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day (NYHAAD). This observance brings together young leaders, national community partners and many other organizations and individual nation-wide to foster a better response to the HIV epidemic. The national lead for NYHAAD is Advocates for YouthExit Disclaimer

A simple way for all of us to help observe NYHAAD is to talk up HIV awareness in person or on social media. Today we encourage you to:

• Talk about the impact of HIV on youth. You can tweet using #NYHAADExit Disclaimer or share infographics and other resources for education and actionExit Disclaimer from the NYHAAD websiteExit Disclaimer . Get facts on youth and HIV from the CDC.

• Show someone how to locate nearby HIV testing. This videoExit Disclaimer can help you explain how to use the HIV Testing Sites & Care Services Locator. Or find and visit a HIV testing site yourself. (Enter your zip code here).

• Build hope and awareness. Today each of us can make time to talk with youth, and with those who are not so young, about the meaning of the phrase “AIDS-free generation”. You can help make it clear that we are talking about a future time when, again, no one –regardless of age – has newly contracted HIV. Each of us can read and share the PEFPAR Blueprint: Creating an AIDS-free Generation and fact sheet. Or explain how we all have a role in helping to meet the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and in supporting the HIV Care Continuum Initiative.

Youth nation-wide are leading HIV awareness activities on and around NYHAAD. Edric Figueroa, Seattle's NYHAAD Youth Ambassador, said “I'm working with youth leaders across HIV/AIDS organizations here and engaging politicians in a dialogue necessary for an AIDS-free generation. As a young, queer Latino raised in the Deep South and working on HIV with other youth, I’ve learned that efforts like NYHAAD help us also address HIV in the context of poverty, racism, and stigma.”

Today, with the commemoration of NYHAAD, we at HIV.gov are reminded of our shared hope for, and action towards, a time again without new incidence of HIV – no new cases in youth or adults.

What are your plans for NYHAAD? Please tell us below how you are observing NYHAAD 2014.