Dennis Levy facts for kids

Dennis Levy (born December 26, 1948) is an American community organizer and public health activist.

Levy is the CEO and founder of the Black and Latino AIDS Coalition, Inc a community-based AIDS advocacy organization. It advocates on behalf of Black and Latino people with AIDS and their families and works for the prevention of HIV and AIDS. In 1998, Levy helped pass HIV Reporting and Partner Notification. It was the most controversial HIV legislation in New York State history. The legislation changed the way New York State tracked new HIV and AIDS cases via partner notification.

Blac NY

Dennis Levy, Rick Levy, and his brother Harry Levy founded the Black and Latino AIDS Coalition, Inc (Blac NY). It was one of the nation's first AIDS organizations for black and Latino people living with AIDS. Blac NY was modeled after the national direct action advocacy group ACT UP. Under Levy's leadership, Blac NY educated thousands of black and Latino people about AIDS. He helped turn public attention to the crisis. Levy challenged the mainstream AIDS establishment on the issues of mandatory reporting and partner notification.

Politics

Levy is a member of the Green Party of New York. He was the Green party candidate for the New York State Assembly Seat of the convicted speaker Sheldon Silver in an April 19, 2016, special election. Levy faced Democratic candidate Alice Cancel, Republican Lester Chang, and Working Families Party candidate Yuh-Line Niou. Yuh-Line Niou won the election. Dennis Levy changed back to a Democrat in 2018. He was heavily involved in supporting Eric Adams to become New York City Mayor.