Please direct media inquiries to the Communications Team, at media(at)pwn-usa.org. You may also contact our member spokespeople (below) directly by email.

Women living with HIV are the experts on their experience! PWN-USA has a number of women living with HIV around the nation who are available to speak to HIV and intersectional issues and how they impact women and their families and communities.

PWN-USA Member Spokespeople

Alicia Diggs, North Carolina

Alicia is a native of Philadelphia, PA, and has lived in North Carolina since 1997. Alicia received a bachelor’s degree in social work in 2009 from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a Master’s degree in public health in 2014 from Capella University and is currently working on her PhD in public health, also at Capella University. Alicia was diagnosed with HIV in 2001 and made a decision in 2004 to become an HIV/AIDS Activist, Educator, and Speaker. 

Alicia has spoken for organizations, area universities, public schools, community health events, conferences and churches. She sits on several boards and has made an array of media appearances. Alicia is also the CEO and Founder of I Will Live which is a foundation whose goal is to help the community understand the importance of STD and STI prevention, advocating against stigma and discrimination, knowing your HIV/AIDS status by getting tested as well as living healthy and productive lives through empowerment and education. 

Alicia’s Areas of Expertise:  Prevention, Self Care, Health Care Access and Comprehensive Sex Education. Contact Alicia at healedlee(at)gmail.com for media inquiries. 

Olga Irwin, Ohio

Olga graduated from Youngstown State University with a bachelor’s degree in social work and received her license to practice social work in 2009. She has been a member of the Ohio AIDS Coalition since 2001, where she has received an award for her outreach work as well as presented workshops at healing weekends and World AIDS Day events.

Olga has sat on the following HIV governing bodies: Ryan White Care Ohio Consortium #7, Ohio Community Prevention Group, Ohio Ryan White Care Advisory Board, PWN-USA SCAT Representative and PJP Advisory Board. In 2017, Olga traveled to Washington, D.C. to help stop the repeal of the Affordable Care Act through civil disobedience and was arrested several times. She has been featured in media and won the Trailblazer Award for Lifelong Advocacy Work.

Olga’s Areas of Expertise:  Criminalization, aging with HIV, disabilities and health care access. Contact Olga at olgairwin12(at)gmail.com for media inquiries. 

Loren Jones, California

Loren Renee Jones is a 65-year-old African American woman who has lived with HIV for at least 33 years.  She resides in Berkeley, Ca. and is the mother of two women, One 43 years old, and one 31 years old. As part of her journey of serving the HIV community of which she is a part, she has served on the Oakland TGA Ryan White Part A Planning Council from 1989-1991, 2011-2017, and 2018-present.  Within that body, she held membership on the PLWH/A, Quality, Data, & Services, prevention and Executive committees.

She is a founding member of and serves on the Board of Directors for Positive Women’s Network-USA. Loren is currently a member of the Anchor Study Community Advisory Board as well as the amfAR Cure Research Community Advisory Board.  She will be serving as chair of the Center for Prevention Studies Community Advisory Board (UCSF) beginning in July 2018. Loren cooks, eats, and watches TV while working on social justice issues.

Loren’s areas of expertise: Participation in research studies; housing; health care access; intersection of HIV and poverty. Contact Loren at lorenjones443(at)gmail.com for media inquiries. 

Kamaria Laffrey, Florida

Living with HIV and Black Girl Magic, Kamaria Laffrey serves nationally as a speaker, an advocate for HIV justice, a spokesperson for treatment adherence and self-care and works with The SERO Project on HIV criminalization reform. Her local work extends to rural and underserved areas, as she serves on the West Central FL Ryan White Care Council and the FL Dept. of Health Consumer Advisory Group. Since her diagnosis in 2003, Kamaria has worked to empower others to live beyond the societal and self-induced stigma of HIV, boldly speaking of life beyond a diagnosis and building a destiny as the founder of the community based organization, emPOWERed Legacies. A 2018 graduate of Positive Women’s Network – USA’s Policy Fellowship Program, Kamaria is looking forward to furthering her patient advocacy in gender and racial justice for People Living with HIV. Sharing her lived experiences in POZ magazine, Plus magazine and various health blogs, Kamaria seeks to be a willing vessel that guides individuals in her community towards embracing healing, giving inspiration and living victorious with HIV.

Contact Kamaria at missempowered(at)gmail.com for media inquiries. 

Lepena Reid, Florida

Lepena is passionate on issues of social justice and health equality. It is what ignites her mission to carry the torch into communities. As a dedicated, independent consultant and advocate, she effectively lifts her voice on issues that are impacting the lives of women living with HIV.

Testing positive in the late 80’s, when services were less than adequate, she is well aware of the stigma surrounding the diagnosis, and in complete agreement that by combining proven scientific-based evidence, easier medications, along with personal stories, healthier outcomes are possible.

Her focus for changes to public policies are related to comprehensive health education in schools & communities, expanding Medicare in state without it,  implementing affordable health insurance through a single payer program. Combating ignorance is the greatest struggle, when sharing information on HIV, she likes to inform folks with the statement “Humans with the virus matter and people who test positive with HIV are human.”

Lepena is a skilled public speaker, trainer and proud member of PWN-USA since 2012. She is also a certified social health educator, advisory board member with the Florida Coalition of Community Health Workers and honorary member of Tampa Bay – Black Nurses Association. She has been featured in several publications, self-published Angel’s In Divine Services” co- authored with other positive women survivors in a collection of personal stories entitled “Sistah’s Stories” and is a creative artist for Red-Ribbon Earrings. Raising awareness is a never ending effort, but the pleasure of living in the Florida sunshine state allows her quiet walks on sandy shores, water sports and collecting unusual sea-shells.

Lepena’s Areas of Expertise: Health Care Access, Prevention and Comprehensive Sex Education. Contact Lepena at ASK_LPR(at)msn.com for media inquiries. 

And when reporting on HIV, related issues and people living with HIV, please make sure to use destigmatizing, people-first language! Click here for some tips from women living with HIV.