A community discussion about meth has been planned for Monday, August 27, beginning at 7p.m. at The Café at Outloud.

Organizers say the discussion is built around five main concepts:

1. We recognize that people use crystal meth.
2. We are not going to condemn it.
3. We are not going to promote it.
4. We are going to provide a open space for discussion and learning to take place.
5. All of our community needs to attend this event: the people who are using crystal meth, the people who use to use crystal meth, the people who know someone who uses crystal meth and even the people who think they are not affected by crystal meth use.

Kevin Lawson of Nashville CARES will facilitate the discussion and Chris Parsons, an Advocacy Relations Manager for Abbott Laboratories, will be doing the presentation aspect of the evening.
 
Parsons is a graduate of Cedarville College in Ohio. He began working in the HIV community in 1987 as founder and director of The Good Samaritan Project in Atlanta.  Prior to joining Abbott, Parsons worked for AID Atlanta, as director of education and director of advocacy and community relations.  In his role at Abbott, Parsons provides patient and provider education and training throughout the Southeast.  He is passionate about helping people learn to live healthy, happy lives.  He and his partner, Domingo, reside in Atlanta.  

Lawson is a graduate of Northern Kentucky University; he began working in the HIV community in 1996 when he joined Nashville CARES as the HIV Education Coordinator for gay men. He has been an active participant in, and an advocate for the Gay Men’s Health Movement and has developed Nashville CARES’ Gay Health and Awareness project named The Circuit. He is excited to begin offering discussion nights as one way for the community to grow and prosper together.

Contact Kevin Lawson at Nashville CARES for more information at 615-259-4866 x.220 or by email at klawson@nashvillecares.org.