Meet our 2022 HNP Advocate Funding Project advocates! Four participants in four states – Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee – working in state HIV coalitions to gain knowledge and expertise about the state legislative process, how to engage legislators and other stakeholders to enact change at the state level, and community mobilization tactics. The Project provides each advocate with financial resources, mentorship, and coaching as they meaningfully engage in efforts to decriminalize HIV within their respective states. 

Lashanda Salinas, Tennessee

Woman seen from the knee up, in a pink shirt, bright striped skirt, an a black cardigan.

I’m Lashanda Salinas, I am 40 years old. I have been HIV positive for 21 years, I am a peer volunteer for Healthy University (Peer Program) at Nashville Cares in Nashville, TN. I have been doing that for about a year. In 2006-2007 I was charged with Criminal exposure to HIV. I could not prove that I informed the individual of my HIV status and so I went to jail. I have had other issues since then and these experiences have led to my advocacy work. I was involved with “Day on the Hill’ with Nashville CARES in 2021, where I spoke to Congress members as well as a Senator regarding HIV criminalization and the barriers and challenges it causes with employment and housing. I also speak to our Healthy Relationships groups monthly regarding HIV Criminalization; Healthy Relationships is a CDC small group effective intervention, for individuals living with HIV to define stress and reinforce coping skills across three life areas—disclosing to family and friends, disclosing to sexual partners, and building healthier and safer relationships.

Rymsky N. Evans, Mississippi

Woman smiling at the camera, from the neck up. She's wearing black rimmed glasses and a plaid shawl.

Rymsky Evans is a native of Jackson, MS and a HIV advocate who is leading in her community as a woman living with HIV. She currently serves as the state lead for the Positive Women Network and the 2022 CDC HIV Ambassador. Rymsky is continuing her work as a community advocate on the Mississippi HIV Planning Council. She also serves as a community member on BTAN MS and the Mississippi Center for Justice Advisory Council. While serving Rymsky is continuing her education in advocacy work as a participant of the SERO Justice Institute. Rymsky is the founder of Beloved INC. MS for women & girls living with HIV and she is thriving while being a part of the solution to bringing an end to the HIV epidemic in the south.

* For privacy purposes, our Indiana and Louisiana Advocates opted to remain anonymous in materials mentioning our HNP Advocates * 

Indiana Advocate

Outline of a person with a mustard yellow background

My focus has always been about the Marginalized Communities of Color, those consumers in need of information that seems to ignore their lifestyles. For the past 4 years, my interests has included promoting the notion that Duty to inform or warn information is very outdated in most states. HMM is of great importance and interest to me. I am excited to be a part of this great movement.

Louisiana Advocate

Outline of a person with a mustard yellow background

Beautiful Young Black Transwoman guiding young generation through education and empowerment with uplifting unity in community.