The New York group has seen firsthand the changing face of the epidemic.

      ``We started off serving White gay men, and 25 years later, over 70 percent of our clients are people of color,'' said Robert Bank, the organization's associate executive director for programs and operations. Today, its clients include children, and men and women of all sexual orientations.

      Traditional HIV prevention programs have not had much success reaching the Black community, advocates say, because Blacks tend to think of HIV as something that happens to other people.

      ``We believe that it belongs to gay White men,'' said Martin of the Minority AIDS Project. ``We don't see movies about the poor Black girl who got infected by her significant other.''

      That lack of awareness has meant that many people in the Black community aren't likely to get tested. According to the CDC, one-fourth of all people with HIV in the United States don't know whether they have it.

      To encourage more widespread testing, particularly in high-risk areas, organizations have taken to offering creative incentives. The Minority AIDS Project gives away up to $10 (euro8.35) in cash, grocery and drug store vouchers, tickets to basketball games provided by Magic Johnson, turkeys at Thanksgiving and toys at Christmas.

      In Chicago last week, participants in the national AIDS day program were treated to a free performance by the rapper Twista.

      ``The incentives are the thing,'' said Martin of the Minority AIDS Project. ``You've got to do something to get their attention.''

— Associated Press