Media statement by Nomonde Mbadi, Executive Director of Corporate Affairs

American actress and singer Jurnee Smollett will be the guest of honour at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) to share information on HIV/AIDS awareness as part of International Exchange Programme on Monday, 16th March 2009, starting at 10h00 in the morning.

This will be held in DUT Art Gallery, above the Library on Steve Biko Campus.

The purpose of the round table meeting/discussion is to share information and network with HIV/Aids Peer educators and invited students.

Smollet has done a lot of speaking on HIV/AIDS awareness and positive influences for youth. In the past year she also did a lot of campaigning for President Obama. She had a blog on this experience with BET-see the link below.

She is known for delivering heartfelt and energetic performances and her talent continues to evolve with each new project.
Smollett most recently starred in “The Great Debaters” alongside Denzel Washington, who also directed the drama, and Forest Whitaker. Produced by Oprah Winfrey, the film depicts the true story of Melvin B. Tolson (Washington), a professor at Wiley College in the Jim Crow South, who inspired four students to form the school’s first debate team, becoming the first African American university to break color barriers and eventually going on to challenge Harvard in the national championship. In addition to receiving rave reviews, the film was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Picture and she was personally nominated for an NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture. She was also recently seen guest starring on the two-hour season finale of “Grey’s Anatomy”.

For more information, please contact Bhekani Dlamini to facilitate the interview.