Summit Program

Tues., Sept. 27

Regional Chapter Leaders Institute – Ambassador

Women of Trans Experience Institute – Senator

Young Women’s Institute – Oasis

12 – 8 PM Summit Registration Hotel Lobby

5 -6 PM Friends of Bill W. Location TBD

6 – 9 PM Opening Plenary: State of the Movement Empire – Dinner provided MODERATOR – Naina Khanna Speakers – Khafre Abif, Cecilia Chung, Grissel Granados, Octavia Lewis, Andy Spieldenner

Is there an “HIV movement” today? If so, what does it look like? What should it look like? This session will be a lively discussion engaging a diverse group of leaders who have been engaged in advocacy on various fronts.

9 PM Film Screenings:

Empowered: Trans Women & HIV – Ambassador

Transgender women are among those at highest risk for HIV today. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than one in four trans women – including more than half of Black trans women – are living with HIV. Globally, trans women are nearly 50 times more likely to have HIV as compared to other populations. In response to these overwhelming statistics and the vulnerability of trans women, Greater Than AIDS is launching, Empowered: Trans Women & HIV, a new video series about love, life, and HIV among #TransEmpowered women. Anchored by an intimate and inspiring conversation, a diverse group of trans women, including some living with HIV and others who are not, share challenging moments of diagnosis, disclosure, discrimination, and the loss of close friends, as well as triumphs of finding gender-affirming health care providers, learning about PrEP and transitioning safely while on HIV treatment. Featuring PWN-USA Board Member Bré Campbell

We’re Still Here – Forum

We’re Still Here shares the untold stories of the first generation of children who were born with HIV in the 80s and 90s. The film follows director Grissel Granados as she embarks on her own journey to seek out other people who were born with HIV and create community where it hadn’t existed before. Now as adults, these long-term survivors are telling their stories in their own words and on their own terms. We’re Still Here gives testament to those who weren’t supposed to be here, and who refuse to be forgotten in the history of HIV/AIDS. Directed by and featuring PWN-USA member Grissel Granados

Wed., Sept. 28

7 – 7:30 AM

Movement Lepena Reid – Beach Entrance

Morning Glory LaTrischa Miles – Oasis

7:30 AM Breakfast Empire

8 AM Plenary 1: Federal Policy in the Current Political Environment: Victories and Challenges Empire MODERATOR – Naina Khanna Speakers – Marty Bond, Dr. Amy Lansky, Bill McColl, Monica Simpson

We are in an era of assaults on women’s reproductive rights, threats to healthcare infrastructure, immigrant rights, people of color, and more. As advocates, it’s our job to secure commitments from the next Administration to issues important to communities impacted by HIV. This panel will present experts on reproductive justice, the Ryan White Program, the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, and women’s health discussing opportunities and challenges facing the advocacy community in this critical election cycle and beyond.

10:15 – 11:45 AM Workshop 1

Sometimes You Have to Tell Them to Cut That S**t Out – Barb Cardell, Tammy Garrett-Williams, Kari Hartel – Forum

This workshop, led by the powerful leaders of PWN-USA Colorado, will highlight how community stakeholders, with positive women at the helm, were able to stop changes to Board of Health rules by writing letters, getting community supporters and testifying to demand that the input of PLHIV and other community stakeholders be part of the rule change process. Presenters will provide information on the Meaningful Involvement of People with HIV/AIDS (MIPA) and how we can drive, shift and create advocacy and policy change when we’re at the table; if not…we’re on the menu. As they highlight successful partnerships, strategies for campaigns and coalition building efforts, they will focus on challenges and successes in campaigns (in these cases, HIV criminalization) within their own work, while allowing space for others to share their successes and challenges.

Affinity Session – TBD – Senator

The affinity sessions are spaces for participants who seek to come together to discuss issues of importance to them. Participants can sign up for these sessions on site.

A Girl Like Me: Crossing Borders, Tackling Stigma through Technology – Wanda Brendle-Moss, Arianna Lint, Tiommi Jenae Luckett, Krista Martel, Maria Mejia, Ieshia Scott – Empire

This workshop will highlight the impact that online communities, specifically A Girl Like Me, can have in decreasing stigma and crossing diverse borders by creating a multi-cultural network of PLWHIV. A Girl Like Me (a program of The Well Project) is a blog where women from diverse backgrounds (geographic, socio-economic, race, age, sexual orientation, religion, etc.) share their experiences, find commonalities, and create a vibrant community of support and advocacy. Learn how the online platform has united women from around the world and created a network of advocates with a global reach and impact. This workshop will feature a panel of A Girl Like Me/Una Chica Como Yo bloggers and will be moderated by Krista Martel, executive director of The Well Project.

Expanding Stand Up to Stigma in Your Community – Andrea Johnson, Asha Molock, Teresa Sullivan, Patricia Williams – Ambassador

This workshop will expand on PWN-USA Philly’s Stand Up to Stigma campaign, sponsored by AIDS United, to educate PLHIV to have meaningful involvement in addressing HIV stigma in service delivery by launching an anti-stigma campaign that can be expanded to their community. Learn how to teach PLHIV to be more than just patients in their healthcare by educating others of the negative impacts that HIV stigma has on those seeking care and staying linked to care.

We Are Positively Trans – Cecilia Chung – Oasis

Since the launch of this project, Positively Trans has aimed to fill the gap in trans leadership, developing a cadre of TPLHIV leaders who focus on addressing the relationship of larger, systemic problems to the community’s experience of the HIV epidemic. The project specifically offers a constituent-led opportunity to explore and prioritize grassroot and legal strategies to respond to structural inequalities that drive the HIV epidemic and poor health outcomes among transgender community members as well as to develop an evidence based collective advocacy narrative of transgender women and men living with HIV. Participants of this workshop with hear from some of the members of Positively Trans and learn how The project amplifies their voices and strengthens their capacity of TPLHIV with, or at risk for, HIV and identifies systems gaps affecting trans people living with HIV (TPLHIV). Participants will also learn the new reports of our survey results and hear about the state-wide surveys launch by the end of the year.

12 – 2 PM Plenary 2: Criminalization as it Impacts People with HIV, Sex Workers, People of Trans Experience, and People who Use Drugs Empire – Lunch provided MODERATOR – Mel Medalle Speakers – Julie Graham, Tami Haught, Arianna Lint, Monique Tula

Criminalization and discriminatory policing practices resulting in the mass incarceration of communities of color, immigrants, people who use drugs, sex workers, LGBQ and people of trans* experience continue to also have a disproportionate impact on the autonomy and human rights of people living with HIV at the intersection of these identities. Moreover, unjust HIV exposure and transmission laws perpetuate HIV-related stigma and run counter to public health, increasing vulnerability to personal and structural violence. Advocates in this plenary discussion will discuss the ways in which criminalization impacts the lives of many people living with HIV and vehicles for uplifting the experience and leadership of communities most impacted by various forms of criminalization towards liberation from the carceral state and its oppressive underpinnings.

2:15 – 3:45 PM Workshop 2

Pushing the Needle: Pushing through Fear and Resistance when Advocating! – Kathleen Griffith, Evany Turk – Oasis

This workshop will help women living with HIV to learn how to identify key issues in their states/communities and create a strategic approach to advocating for the rights of WLHIV. The presenters will highlight their experience bringing critical issues forward and facing resistance, and share how key changes have been achieved despite that initial resistance.

To Love Your Community – You Gotta Love Yourself – Jessica Whitbread, Marvelous Muchenje – Empire

Women living with HIV work incredibly hard to have our voices heard. Social change is a long, thankless process. Fighting for change, for rights, for fairness has created a working environment that is hectic and can be toxic for WLHIV. Women in particular bear the additional burden of being care providers, mothers, and counselors to our families, friends and communities. This can often lead to women putting their own needs last. To better support WLHIV, in 2012, Love Positive Women (LPW) started, creating a two-week annual global holiday to celebrate ourselves and for our friends to celebrate women living with HIV. This workshop will support participants to create self care road maps leading up to LPW 2017 (Feb 1-14). Together we will draw, talk, cry and support each other to love our communities better — but only after loving ourselves.

#WinningMessage: Getting Public Support for Your Campaign through Effective Messaging – JD Davids, Jennie Smith-Camejo – Forum

Have you ever wondered why so many people seem so willing to believe things politicians or other public figures say that simply aren’t true, or why it’s so hard to win a debate with certain folks, even when all the facts are on your side? People believe in or discard messages based on what appeals to their core values. When you know how to identify those core values and appeal to as many of them as possible in your message, your audience is much more likely to hear and consider your message. In this interactive workshop, we will learn just how to do that, as well as how to make–and keep–that message the public platform of your campaign.

High Heels & HIV: by Force or by Choice – Jay Blount, Monica Charleston, Cathy Elliott, Arianna Lint, Natasha Schill – Senator

Positive women have sex! Positive women wear high heels and positive women have HIV! More often than not, women living with HIV who engage in sex work face a double stigma. The goals of this workshop are to 1) provide a personal perspective for participants to get a better understanding of all forms of sex work and their impact on HIV, and 2) empower women to support each other to make better choices and live with the ones that they have already made.

HIV & Aging Adult Women– Loren Jones, Tammy Kinney, Asha Molock, Venita Ray, Rose Todd-Stanford – Ambassador

This facilitated group discussion will focus on topics related to HIV prevention and treatment of older adult women, including sexual activity; HIV longevity; multiple partners; risk to married women, widows, religious women and lesbians; case management; cost assistance; psycho-social support; substance abuse; and aging immune systems.

4 – 5:30 PM Workshop 3

Women of ICW-NA: WLHIV Advocacy Issues from the Regional to the Global – Claire Gasamagera, Deloris Dockery, Kim Hunter, Marvelous Muchenje – Senator

Policy reform and advocacy are integral parts to the efforts for an AIDS-free generation. The United Nations constructed 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) to reach this goal. The UN states that globally women and girls are the most affected by the epidemic and they bear an unequal share of the caregiving burden. Therefore, there needs to be a focus on women in HIV issues. This will be a panel discussion involving four women from the U.S. and Canada, as well as a moderator, who are active members of the International Community of Women Living with HIV of North America (ICW-NA). They will be individually and collectively discussing how the SDGs can impact their respective regional issues. In addition, they will share how ICW has implemented advocacy workshops globally to support networks of women to engage in SDGs advocacy in their countries.

Intersectional Strategies to Strengthen the WLHIV Advocacy and Activism Movement – Suraj Madoori, Venita Ray – Ambassador

How can the reproductive justice, Movement for Black Lives and racial justice, criminalization and prison-abolitionist, sex worker rights, domestic human rights movements strengthen your organizing? This workshop builds the case for how intersectional movement building can be a powerful and valuable asset to strengthen the capacity of your advocacy, build solidarity and unite movements toward shared goals of social, gender and racial justice. Experienced facilitators will share strategies, tools and real case examples within the HIV movement in how to develop an effective coalition, how cross-movement work has been done and where it can go–especially during a time where movement solidarity is necessary to fight against an increasingly tumultuous political and social context.

Personal & Professional Development Clinic (3 20-minute time slots, on-site sign-up) – Lane Brafford, Pat Clark, Penny DeNoble, Carrie Foote, Helen Turner-Goldenberg, Carolyn McAllaster – Empire

This workshop is designed to help you develop a specific skill–writing a well-written, professional bio to professionally promote who you are and what you do, especially in relation to your HIV- related work. Clinic participants will get one 20-minute personal session with a volunteer mentor who will help create or revise your bio.

Affinity Session – TBD – Oasis

The affinity sessions are spaces for participants who seek to come together to discuss issues of importance to them. Participants can sign up for these sessions on site.

Young Women & the Future of Ryan White – Masonia Traylor – Forum

The Ryan White Program is the nation’s largest safety net program for HIV, a critical gap filler not only for healthcare but in providing crucial support services that help people living with HIV remain in care. The program will likely undergo reauthorization within the next few years and a recent study has shown that care for women with living HIV in the Ryan White system is generally working when they are able to access it. However, as advocates look towards reauthorization, they must examine inconsistencies in care and service delivery for young women, particularly in Part D, the portion of the program dedicated to addressing a range of issues for female clients. Participants in this discussion group are encouraged to share their own experiences in navigating the Ryan White system including barriers and challenges faced by women of reproductive age.

5:30 – 6:30 Friends of Bill W. Location TBD

6:30 – 7:30 PM Ceremony for PWN Academy Trainers – Empire

7:30 – 9 PM Plenary 3: Regional Organizing: Building Our Collective Power Empire – Dinner provided MODERATOR – Waheedah Shabazz-El Speakers – Barb Cardell, Antionettea Etienne, Kari Hartel, Andrea Johnson, Shyronn Jones, Teresa Sullivan

The Regional Organizing Plenary will provide an understanding of how PWN-USA’s mission, values, and policy priorities are applied within our regional chapters. We will learn how chapters build community, increase knowledge base, expand and diversify leadership, and take on campaigns. We will also examine challenges and where we are gaining ground in policy at the local and state level.

8:45 PM Holding Our Sisters in Our Hearts Near beach–accessible

9:30 PM Film Screening: Nothing Without Us – Forum

Nothing Without Us is the first and only documentary telling the story of the inspiring women at the forefront of the global AIDS movement. Combining archival footage and interviews with female activists, scientists and scholars in the US and Africa, “Nothing Without Us: The Women who Will End AIDS” reveals how women not only shaped grassroots groups like ACT-UP in the U.S., but have also played essential roles in HIV prevention and the treatment access movement throughout sub-Saharan Africa. The film explores the unaddressed dynamics that keep women around the world at risk of HIV, while introducing the remarkable women who have the answers to ending this 30-year old pandemic. Featuring numerous PWN-USA members & staff

Thurs., Sept. 29

7 – 7:30 AM

Yoga/Meditation Venita Ray – Beach Entrance

Morning Glory Antionettea Etienne – Oasis

7:30 AM Breakfast – Empire

8 AM Plenary 4: Let’s Talk About Sex: Towards Trans-Centered Reproductive Justice Empire MODERATOR – Arneta Rogers Speakers – Bré Campbell, Jada Cardona, Teo Drake

People of all genders deserve the right to high-quality sexual healthcare, sexual pleasure, and reproductive options that support their desires to parent or not parent. This panel will present the reproductive justice framework, opportunities to expand sexual rights and reproductive justice for people of trans experience, and opportunities for the cisgender community to be better allies on issues important to people of trans experience.

10:15 – 11:45 AM Workshop 4

HIV Criminalization: YOU Can Change the World – Barb Cardell, Kari Hartel, Tami Haught, Arneta Rogers – Ambassador

There are now two states that have modernized their HIV criminalization statutes; both campaigns were led by women living with HIV. This workshop will discuss the planning, strategy, challenges and successes in both the Iowa and Colorado campaigns to modernize HIV criminalization laws. Advocates will discuss challenges and strategize around possible solutions and create space for national mentorship.

Balancing the Professional & Personal Lives of WLHIV: A Panel Discussion – Kathleen Griffith, Kari Hartel, Octavia Lewis, Patricia McNeill Shelton, Evany Turk, Valerie Wojciechowicz – Oasis

Many WLHIV become professionals and work in “the field” either directly with other women and girls living with HIV, or in an intersectional capacity (judicial, therapist, case worker, etc.). This panel discussion will feature WLHIV who work as described, but also have the continuous struggle to find balance, while practicing self care and nurturing.

Writing from Your Expertise: Using Stories & Other Evidence to Create Change – Olivia Ford, Asha Molock – Empire

This interactive workshop will teach participants how to use key messages as the “basic unit” of an argument, while allowing them to learn from the experiences of other WLHIV who have written blogs, articles or opinion pieces using storytelling and other forms of evidence to illustrate a systemic issue in need of an awareness or advocacy response. The workshop will include group discussions, hands-on writing exercises and guidance on publishing.

Sisterhood not Cisterhood: Building Allyship Within Our Movement for Our Trans Sisters – Tiommi Luckett, Teresa Sullivan – Forum

The purpose of this workshop is to provide the fundamentals needed to understand what it means to transgress beyond the gender binary and how to be an ally to those who fall outside the male/female or man/woman spectrum. This includes being able to adopt a gender neutral, non-cisgender, non-binary way of thinking, approaching others that self-identify as transwomen, and supporting their leadership roles in our movement.

Surviving HIV Over the Long Term: The Past, Present & Future – Krista Martel, Maria Mejia, Ieshia Scott – Senator

This session will address the multitude of issues related to long-term survivorship and aging with HIV, including mental health issues, PTSD and co-morbidities. In high-income countries, approximately 3 in 10 adults living with HIV are 50 or over. Despite the tremendous improvements in HIV drugs that now enable most people living with HIV to live long and healthy lives, there are several ways in which living and aging with HIV are different compared to aging while HIV-negative. This panel session will feature long-term survivors who will explore the impact of aging on WLHIV through several lenses. Our speakers will share data on other diseases that are most likely to affect women living with HIV as they age and will provide in-depth information and personal testimonials about mental health issues facing long-term survivors, including PTSD, depression, anxiety and long-term fatigue.

12 – 2 PM Plenary 5: Intergenerational Leadership Dialogue Empire – Lunch provided MODERATOR – Linda H. Scruggs Speakers – Tranisha Arzah, Yolanda Diaz, Kamaria Laffrey, Pat Migliore

The HIV epidemic now spans over 3 decades. Consequently, there are long-term survivors who have been living with the virus for over 30 years, as well as people diagnosed very recently. And even among long-term survivors, some were born with HIV and have lived a very different journey from those who acquired HIV as adults. This divergence of experiences, needs and concerns can lead to division within the ranks of advocates. In this lively panel discussion among women of various ages and experiences with HIV, we will explore how seasoned advocates can support the emerging leadership of young women living with HIV, and how these young women can honor and learn from their elders’ pioneering leadership.

2:15 – 3:45 PM Workshop 5

Desiring Data: Geek-Activists Bringing Our Own Research to the Table – Carrie Foote, Laurel Sprague – Empire

When political leaders lack data on issues important to women living with HIV, what do they do? They say those issues don’t exist. When decisions makers want to know what women living with HIV need, how do they find out? They ask the questions that they want answered, without knowing whether their questions matter for us. If we want to change the dialogue about women living with HIV, then we need to lead our own research. The goal of this workshop is to de-mystify community-based research, to give examples of ways that communities use research to affect policy, and to practice developing research strategies for issues important to women living with HIV.

How to Create a Winning Grant Proposal: Yes, We Can! – Maura Riordan, Teresa Sullivan, Monique Tula – Forum

Have you ever imagined how much great work your chapter or organization could accomplish with a little grant, but didn’t know how to go about getting one? This workshop will offer concrete tips and “do’s and don’ts” at each step of the process, along with an explanation of what a selection committee is looking for in making final decisions on funding. It will also teach you what you will need to expect and prepare for when you do get a grant.

Say the Right Thing!: Spokesperson Training – JD Davids, Olivia Ford, Jennie Smith-Camejo, Teresa Sullivan – Ambassador

Speaking to the media, especially about a topic as sensitive and stigmatized as HIV, can be intimidating. You know media can help your cause–but can also hurt it if you say the wrong thing, or if the quotes reporters choose to use are less than ideal. In this intensive workshop facilitated by media and communications professionals, you will get hands-on practice staying on message while answering reporters’ questions, as well as going more in-depth on developing talking points and sound bites for your advocacy work. A must for PWN regional SCAT reps, spokespeople-in-training, and anyone interested in speaking with media!

Young Women & Leadership – Cenquetta Harris, Masonia Traylor – Oasis

Whether long-term survivors or recently diagnosed, young WLHIV may offer fresh and creative perspectives on engaging their community and using technology, social media, and the tenacity of their own voices. Yet many young women face barriers to engaging in advocacy. This facilitated discussion will unpack the importance of making space at the table for young WLHIV and what seasoned advocates can do to support the meaningful involvement of new leaders in the movement.

Using Data to Advance Our Agenda & Support Advocacy – Sharon DeCuir, Carolyn McAllaster – Senator

The Southern AIDS Strategy Initiative and Southern AIDS Coalition have successfully utilized epidemiological, public health, and qualitative data to advocate for more funding, resources, and better service delivery in the South. This session will discuss effective strategies for collaborations between researchers and advocates.

4 – 5:30 PM Workshop 6

Strategy Sessions by the Pool (3 30-minute sessions, on-site sign-up) – JD Davids – Poolside

Meet one-on-one (or small group-on-one) with organizing/communications strategist JD Davids to check in on your dreams, plans, progress, problems or protocols!

Where Are You on the Disclosure Spectrum? – Kimberlin Dennis, Halima Grant, Naimah O’Neal, Lashanna Williams-Shabazz – Senator

This workshop will provide a safe space to explore feelings and attitudes about disclosure. Who should disclose? When, why, and to whom? This workshop seeks to be inclusive but would like to target women who haven’t openly shared their status. Participants will view controversial scenarios surrounding disclosure and hear from a panel of women who have disclosed their status.

Personal & Professional Development Clinic (3 20-minute time slots, on-site sign-up) – Veronica Brisco, Deloris Dockrey, Pat Migliore, Latrischa Miles, Maura Riordan, Meta Smith-Davis – Empire

Affinity Session – TBD – Oasis

The affinity sessions are spaces for participants who seek to come together to discuss issues of importance to them. Participants can sign up for these sessions on site.

Sexual/Reproductive Rights & New Prevention Technologies – Dazon Dixon Diallo, Grissel Granados, Marvelous Muchenje – Forum

Scientific advances provide an opportunity to expand sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for WLHIV. Treatment as prevention and developments in reproductive health technologies have made having sex and building families safer, easier and less expensive. This workshop will explore emerging SRH advances and how to promote sex positive sexual health literacy that encourages WLHIV to explore the full range of the sexual and reproductive health options that uphold their right to have fun, healthy and thriving sex lives.

5:45 PM Group Photo

6 PM Dinner Pool deck

6:30 PM Friends of Bill W. Location TBD

7 PM Fun Night Karaoke, Creativity Circle, Games – Empire

The movement can’t be sustained without self-care and fun! You are welcome to come and enjoy a social evening of entertaining activities appealing to a wide variety of interests on the final night of the SpeakUP! Summit. Participation for these activities is not required.

Learn to Cross-Stitch – Olga Irwin – PWN-USA Ohio

All throughout history we see in pictures, movies and read in books women sitting together doing needle work. While in these circles the women discuss what is happening in world around them or share with one another as a support group. These discussions can lead to ideas on strategies for change. Cross-stitching can also be great way to release frustration, relax and to forget about problems at work. Beginners will receive a cross-stitch kit and Olga will provide directions and demonstrate how to do the stitches. Each participant will be able to take their kit home to finish their picture at the end of the session. Space limited to 12 participants

Dolls of Hope – Cynthia Davis

Participants will have the opportunity to make a Doll of Hope for another woman living with HIV.

Karaoke

The Voice meets SpeakUP! 2016. Come sing along to your favorite tunes at karaoke night. The KJ (Karaoke DJ) has thousands of songs for you to pick from, so don’t be afraid to take the stage. Voices of all ranges, pitches and abilities are welcome for solos, duets, ensembles and of course backup dancing.

9 PM Film Screening: Wilhemina’s War – Oasis

Wilhemina’s War is the story of Wilhemina Dixon, an uneducated daughter of sharecroppers who becomes a force in her family’s fight for survival from HIV and AIDS. Shot over the course of five years, the film bears witness to the resilience and determination of the human spirit in the face of tremendous adversity. Featuring SPEAK UP! participant Dayshal Dicks and scenes from SPEAK UP! 2014.

Fri., Sept. 30

7:30 AM Breakfast – Empire

8:30 – 10 AM Workshop 7

Economic Justice & Employment – Kathleen Griffith, Mark Misrok – Senator

Too many women living with HIV don’t have access to information, services and support related to considering employment, training and education. This session will focus on what individuals and advocates can and do utilize to meet employment needs and expand access to opportunities in communities across the U.S.

Avoiding Work Fatigue & Burnout Through Sustainability & Self-Care – Penny DeNoble, Teresa Sullivan – Oasis

This affinity session is designed to allow women to reflect, in a natural and easy flow, about sustainability. It uses personal experience to uncover new lessons and appreciate old ones. It’s also a powerful tool for self-revelation about the relationship between depletion of energy and increase of energy. Women will discuss the connections between what sustains them and what depletes them, and how to build a more productive self-care model to use when overwhelmed with work and related activities.

Storytelling: How to Tell Your Story to Achieve Your Advocacy & Policy Goals – Barb Cardell, Kari Hartel, Jennie Smith-Camejo – Ambassador

In activism, we often confuse telling our general stories with telling stories for policy change–and sometimes give away too much of ourselves and our power. This workshop will focus on skills to identify tangible advocacy and policy goals and create compact stories to further these goals, as well as giving the opportunity to practice. Participants will identify their own goals, developing their stories for that cause and learn to help others in their chapters or regions do the same.

Being the Change You Seek: Engaging in Resistant Communities – Olivia Ford, Kamaria Laffrey – Forum

It is often vital to reflect on our personal beliefs as leaders when addressing the public and working to gain their trust. Participants in this workshop will have the opportunity to self-identify by agreeing or disagreeing with controversial statements they may face in the community, without focusing on right, wrong or point of influence, but instead on why they believe what they believe, and then formulate a response to the most common resistant agent in their community.

Improving Care for Women Living with HIV: HPV, Cancer & Adherence Issues – Cathy Elliott, Joanne Lindsay, LaTrischa Miles, Evany Turk – Empire

This workshop is designed to promote advocacy for WLHIV health and wellness by discussing motivation to stay healthy, defining adherence as it relates to the whole body, and discussing barriers to care and how we can counter those barriers as advocates. We will also discuss how stigma affects care, treatment and health. Finally, recent research regarding a prominent co-morbidity, cancer, will be presented with a particular focus on the burden of HPV-related cancers, specifically cervical and anal, as experienced by women living with HIV.

10:15 – 11:45 AM Plenary 6: Leadership: Beyond Meaningful Involvement in HIV Empire MODERATOR – Lepena Reid Speakers – Pat Clark, Andrea Johnson, Venita Ray

Beyond HIV can sometimes be thought of in terms of intersectionality or cross-sector collaborations. Here, we seek to have a thoughtful discussion of what it means to carry the principles of meaningful involvement and leadership beyond HIV. In this plenary session, four women will share their lived experiences as leaders within and outside of HIV and how living with HIV has challenged and motivated them to continue their leadership efforts. Using a talk show format, this interactive session encourages participants to share their lived leadership experiences.

12 – 2 PM Closing Session Empire – Lunch provided