Deborah Somoye (She/Her)
Practicum Project: Factsheet on HIV Criminalization in Texas
Host Organization: Texas Strike Force
Deborah Somoye, a graduate of project LEAP, member of the Ryan white planning council, current secretary to the PWN Greater Houston Chapter and co- chair to the DSHS committee of The Texas strike force Houston, Texas is an advocate in the community and continues to fights for quality of life for PLWHIV.
Deborah is currently enrolled in the PWN policy Fellowship in a quest to continue to fight in a more strategic way for PLWHIV.
Deborah is excited with this opportunity to learn along side with great leaders and scholars.The fact that this will help bring more confidence to her through knowledge is just so amazing.
Not so much of song because am a fan of gospel music but I looked up few songs and will pick Black woman by Seun Kuti (Afrobeat).
Kineen Mafa (They/She)
Practicum Project: NARRATIVE
Host Organization: Southern Organizer Academy
Kineen is a Black Indigenous, trans identified multi disciplinary artist, culture bearer, advocate, published author, spiritualist, and the founder of LLAFFF Productions.
A reason I am excited to join this cohort is because now more than ever in such an unpredictable political climate there is so many shifts in power occurring. I feel we need to amplify our visibility and become even more vigilant in regards self advocacy and collective advocacy. If we stay ready we don’t have to get ready!
My song is 98% by myself Kineen Mafa
Shekinah Rose (She/Her)
Practicum Project: Best Practices Guide for Providers on Language Justice
Host Organization: African Services Committee
Shekinah Rose, an American-Australian Elder Trans Woman who has been living, surviving, thriving with HIV/AIDS 38+ years. She has been an HIV Advocate & Caregiver to many living with HIV/AIDS from the early days. She has had short stories of HIV Advocacy published in Australia & America. An avid researcher on health & well-being, recipient and Peer Provider of Behavioral Health, Behavioral Health Peer Support Group Facilitator (Nationally, Australia & New Zealand), public speaker, bringer of hope to people with or at risk for HIV. She enjoys the opportunity to provide Peer Support with people living in Nigeria, Uganda, and Kenya. Her intentionality is focused on meeting people where they are at with the vast knowledge gained over three decades of lived experience and participation in multiple AIDS Education Training Centers (PAETC, MAAETC, NEAETC) trainings, webinars, Conferences & Symposiums.
“I am so excited to learn, collaborate, mentor, and apply the wisdom, knowledge, friendship & community experienced to Advocate for HIV Issues Women with HIV experience, raising awareness to Legislative Representatives, Departments of Health & stakeholder organizations. Be a part of the National PWN-USA team of Advocates supporting other areas in need.
My song that I love best and represents me, who I also met personally when his album was released, is Luther Vandross the Power of Love.”
Yolanda Ross (She/Her)
Practicum Project: Pregnancy Criminalization Policy Brief Analysis
Host Organization: Santa Maria Hostel
Yolanda Ross, LCSW-S/LCDC/MHA (She/Her/Hers)
My name is Yolanda Ross and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker-Supervisor (LCSW-S) and a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) with more than 10 years of clinical and addition counseling experience. I am a woman in long-term recovery and is a mother to an adult daughter who is living with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). She is also a woman living strong with HIV for over 17 years. I currently work for Santa Maria Hostel, which is a residential treatment facility that helps empower women and their families to lead healthy, successful, productive and self-fulfilling lives. I am very passionate about serving women and families who are recovery from addiction and trauma and building a strong foundation for long-term success. I have also dedicated my life to helping women achieve long-term sobriety and is empowered to be a champion for the cause of social justice and diversity. I recently graduated with my second Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration (MHA) from the University of Houston-Clear and is currently a Doctoral student at the University of Kentucky for Social Work.
My reasons for wanting to be a part of this amazing fellowship is due to my commitment and passion to promote positive changes on the micro, mezzo and macro levels of society regarding women of color living with HIV/AIDS.
The song that I truly love and represents me is by George Duke, “So Amazing”
Marcella Zimmerman (She/Her)
Practicum Project: Policy Brief on PLHIV with Multiracial Identities
Host Organization: The Sero Project
Marcella is from Kansas City MO is an advocate for youth living with HIV as she her self was diagnosed in 2017 at the age of 22 after being a survivor of human trafficking.
Marcella works as The Ryan White youth peer educator and also has a background in housing stability. She is apart of many national advocacy groups.
I am excited to continue my HIV advocacy for young adults.
A song that represents me is IceCream Man by Raye.
Brielle Gillis (She/Her)
Practicum Project: Interview on Housing Instability for People of Trans Experience
Brielle LaKay Gillis is a 40 year old transgender female who has been living HIV positive for 22 years who is originally from New Orleans Louisiana raised in Houston Texas. She is a high school graduate from Booker T. Washington high school in the high school of engineering profession in Houston, Tx. class of 2002. Brielle Gillis have took classes at his community college and Texas Southern University. She is a medical assistant by trade. Brielle Gillis started her advocacy in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She also is the proud owner of her own company by the name of H&A Support Services where she focuses on linkage to care. In 2016 Brielle was nominated for a trans advocate award in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Brielle Gillis have been a member of PWN since 2016. She shows no signs of stopping her level of advocacy and she shows nothing but a great level of leadership that will progress.
I am excited to gain more knowledge as well as be able to spread the news of things that I’ve learned, and hopefully to recruit more women and people of trance experience, to be part of PWN USA
Song: “ I shall wear a Crown “ by Yolanda Deberry
Bleu Valladares (They/She)
Practicum Project: Training on HIV and Domestic Violence
Host Organization: Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence
My name is Bleu Guadalupe Valladares, and I use the pronouns They/She.
I am Latinx, born and raised in Uptown Chicago, and now residing in Des Moines, Iowa. I graduated from Simpson College in 2021, double majoring in Spanish and Social Justice with a minor in Latin American studies. I have always been passionate about helping others and giving back to the community, especially the BIPOC community, which is underserved. I currently work for the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence in the legal clinic, working with immigrant survivors of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Human trafficking, and Violent Crimes.
I was diagnosed in 2016 when I was 18, a junior in high school. I remember being afraid of being outed to my scholarship program and being kicked out because they were a religious organization, and the fear that the girls I lived with would be afraid of me could cause me to lose my home. My family did not understand what was happening, and I was alone and fearful for a long time.
Today, I am excited to join the PWN Policy Fellowship; When I was younger, I thought it was the end of my life and that I’d never be accepted, but now I know it’s not true. I am excited to learn and participate in the movement to raise awareness and equality for people living with HIV. Hopefully, I can be the light I wish I had when I was diagnosed with someone else.
My favorite song is La Vida es un Carnaval by Celia Cruz
Stephanie Knupsky (She/Her)
Practicum Project: Political Landscape and Issue ID Training
Host Organization: PWN Pennsylvania
Stephanie is a graduate of Brownsville Area High School, born and raised in Fayette County, PA. She has worked previously with 32BJSEIU as a Shop Steward and a Member Political Organizer. Currently, Stephanie works for PWN as IVE Phone Bank Lead and sits on the HIV Care and Prevention Group committee as a Community Member. She is also a life long mixed media artist who now lives in New Kensington, PA, Westmoreland County with her 3 cats, Fenwick, Penfold, and Hobbes.
I am very excited to be a part of this fellowship to further my overall advocacy skills, learn how to be a better ally, and utilize my voice and passion for social justice in the best possible way.
Song – Ani DiFranco, Talk To Me Now
MJ Maestas (She/Her)
Practicum Project: Intersections of Harm Reduction Lobby Day
Host Organization: Promotores de Esperanza & PWN Colorado
Mary Jane Maestas – 56, retired long haul truck driver. Graduated with a diploma in Travel & Tourism, from Parks Jr. College in Denver, CO. January 1990, my beautiful daughter Serena was born. In 1994 I Graduated with top honors from Truck Driver Training with a Class A CDL, from Fort Morgan Community College. November 2011, during the height of my OTR truck driving career, I found out I was living with HIV. Relocated to Arvada, Colorado, where I live today. April 2017, I came across a social media post for Colorado HIV Advocacy Training, hosted by Barb Cardell & Kari Hartel/Perry from PWN-CO! This was the moment that a new chapter started in my life! Attending an inspiring day of lobbying at the Colorado State Capitol, I became hooked on advocacy. I traveled to Washington D.C. three times in the summer of 2017 to participate in the Save the ACA Healthcare actions and was arrested twice. I am now a Co-Chair for PWN-CO. Being a member of PWN-CO has helped me find my purpose again!
The reason I’m so excited to be a part of the Fellowship program is because one day I want to run for office and I want to learn as much about policy that I can.
Song/ MaryJane by Alanis Morisette
Leah Freeman (She/Her)
Practicum Project: Factsheet on HIV Criminalization in Tennessee
Host Organization: Center for AIDS Health Disparities Research
I’m originally from Michigan but have been living in TN since 2005. I love to travel and meet new people and make new connections. I have one cat who is currently out of town with her grandma in FL.
I’m so excited to join the fellowship because I’m still new to this world and also I’m the Co-Chair for TN Motorization coalition for criminalization. I want to really understand policy advocacy and become an expert.
The song that represents me or that I love is Montell Jordan “This is how we do It “. It is my favorite song and it’s a classic that never ages.