We are proud that our board of directors consists entirely of cis and trans women, trans, & gender diverse folks living with HIV representing the diverse communities most impacted by the epidemic.
Evany Turk, Chair
As the Director of Residential Housing at Chicago House and Social Service Agency, Turk channels her mission to empower and uplift others through love and compassion. By overseeing residential housing programs, she ensures comprehensive support for individuals impacted by HIV/AIDS. Her leadership fosters community collaboration to address societal issues like violence and inequality, exemplified by initiatives such as coordinating a Consumer Advisory Board to enhance services and engagement.
As the Founder, President, and Chief Strategist of Heartworks Consulting, Turk leads initiatives focused on ending the HIV epidemic through local, evidence-based testing, linkage, and treatment strategies. By providing services designed to strengthen community health systems, her advisory focuses on delivering sustainable, scalable solutions in and beyond Chicago.
Turk’s commitment to empowerment and inclusivity is evident in her impactful work as a public speaker and author. She has published works, including “Securing the Future of Women’s Centered Care,” and conducted groundbreaking research on “Depression, Anxiety, & Stress Among Individuals with HIV/AIDS.” In recognition of her contributions, Turk was honored as a Community Champion for her efforts in education and community-building.
Previously, as the National Field Organizer for Positive Women’s Network, Turk developed new programming and led awareness campaigns. She also held community leadership roles at Prism Health and the University of Chicago, where she expanded access and engagement to health services. Additionally, she has served on boards including the National Youth Pride Services and the Gilead Compass at Emory University.
With a degree in Community Health and Preventive Medicine from South Suburban College, Turk’s educational background is complemented by numerous certifications, including Healthy Relationships Certification, Community Health Worker Certification, and Access to Services Certification.
As a proud mother of both birth and adopted children, and a national advocate living with HIV for over 20 years, Turk embodies perseverance and compassion. An indispensable leader in public health and community empowerment, she is relentless in her dedication to transforming lives and inspiring hope for a brighter, more inclusive tomorrow.
Tana Pradia, Vice Chair
Tana Pradia is a mother of three children, a grandmother, and a great-grandmother. She has been living with HIV since 1999. She almost died from TB, having a T-cell count of 14 and a viral load she describes as “out of control.” After being given a second chance, Tana became a patient mentor at Thomas Street Health Center. She began her advocacy work with a Project LEAP class, a training course offered by the Ryan White Planning Council (RWPC). She was appointed Secretary of the RWPC in 2019, and she now chairs it. Tana initially participated in the Positive Organizing Project to learn how to advocate, and she has been one of the mentors for the last five years. Tana is one of the co-founders of the Positive Women’s Network–Greater Houston Area Chapter, now the Texas Chapter, which she currently co-chairs. She is a graduate of the 2018–2019 PWN–USA Policy Fellowship.
Tana is one of trainers for the AIDS United POP grant that was awarded to the Texas Chapter. She is also the secretary of the Texans Living with HIV Network. Today, Tana is doing things she truly loves and accredits her work to maintaining her sobriety.
Stephanie Knupsky, Secretary
Artist, activist, accomplice.
Stephanie is a member of Positive Women’s Network Pennsylvania chapter. She currently serves as Integrated Voter Engagement phone bank lead. Stephanie also sits on the board of Positive Women’s Network. A graduate of 32BJSEIU’s first Social Justice Leadership Academy, Stephanie has been active in organizing and social justice movements for over 10 years.
Lisa Johnson-Lett, Vice Secretary
Lisa Johnson-Lett is an entrusted Living Well peer supporter, mentor, educator, navigator, linkage-to-care Network Treatment Adherence and Prevention Specialist at the Living Well Outpatient Center (LWOC)- under AIDS Alabama in Birmingham, Alabama. She currently serves on the following planning bodies: Positive Leadership Council (PLC), AIDS Alabama; Patient Advisory Board (PAB), UAB 1917 Clinic; Clinic Host- UAB 1917 Clinic; and Positive Women Network (PWN)-USA . Recent accomplishments are as follows: acceptance as active member for Alabama Consumer Advisory Board (ACAB); guest speaker for HIV Update with KC Vick in Montgomery Alabama on November 18, 2016; AIDSWatch 2016; Speaker for Advocacy Awareness Day- Montgomery, Alabama; published article relating to HIV & Stigma- PWN; published article relating to HIV & Treatment- POZ Focus. Previously serving 10 Years in the United States Armed Forces holding positions as Public Speaker and Public Announcer for Awardees at diverse ceremonies as well as retirement ceremonies for colonels and sergeant majors.
Lisa holds a Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS)- Human Services from the Audrey Cohen School of Human Services and Education and has an Associate Degrees in human services as well as speech communication from Gadsden State Community College. In collaboration with AIDS Alabama, UAB’s 1917 Clinic, AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), the United Way and Quarterly Case Management trainings, Lisa is a product of selfless service and advocacy for the HIV Community.
Devarah "Dee" Borrego
Devarah “Dee” Borrego is a woman of trans experience thriving with HIV who believes unshakingly in the rights of minorities, especially disabled peoples, sexual and gender minorities, and BIPOC. She is of Mexican-American and Jewish descent, and is a long-term survivor of HIV. Originally from Denver, Colorado, she grew up mostly in suburban Connecticut and acquired HIV at age 20; the same year she began her transition.
She has lived in the Boston area since 2004, working with and at a number of different community organizations in the area, including JRI Health, TransCEND, the Boston Living Center, and Cambridge Cares About AIDS. Dee is also a polyglot, speaking Spanish, French, Norwegian, American Sign Language, and a variety of other languages to various degrees.
Dee is also a founding member of the Positive Women’s Network – USA (PWN-USA), an organization led by and for HIV+ American women to address the way HIV disproportionately affects women and gender minorities in the US. She’s also worked previously with the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+) North America and the HIV Prevention Justice Alliance (HIV PJA). In 2010, Dee spoke at the Opening Plenary of the US Conference on AIDS (USCA) to discuss how HIV affects transgender youth.
She’s also an artist who’s passionate about fiber arts like sewing and knitting.
Leah Freeman
Originally from Detroit, Michigan, I’ve been living in Tennessee since 2005. I have a deep passion for connecting with others and offering support wherever I can. As a certified yoga instructor, I believe that movement is life—regardless of age or ability.
I’m also someone who loves to travel and explore new foods and cultures. My advocacy journey began in 2021, and since then, I’ve grown immensely through the incredible spaces I’ve had the privilege to be part of. I served as Co-Chair of the Tennessee HIV Modernization Coalition from January 2022 to January 2023. I was a Policy Fellow with Positive Women’s Network (PWN) from 2023 to 2024, and I continue to serve as a state lead for the PWN program. I’m honored to now sit on PWN’s Board of Directors.
The HIV community still faces many barriers, and I’m committed to creating more inclusive, welcoming spaces. I’m here to support, advocate, and keep learning along the way.
Grissel Granados
Grissel Granados has been living with HIV since birth and has over a decade of experience in managing HIV programming in a healthcare setting. She is a former member of CHAC and PACHA. Grissel holds a Master’s degree in Social Work and believes that a gender and racial justice approach is key to ensuring people living with HIV have a high quality of life. Grissel is a nationally recognized leader in the topic of lifetime survivors and she co-directed and co-produced the 2015 documentary titled, We’re Still Here, which depicts the stories of the first generation of people born with HIV in the 80s and 90s who are now adults. Currently, Grissel works at a major reproductive health organization as the Sr. Director of Youth Education.
Janea Hunter
Janea is a trans advocate of rural Meridian and a proud Mississippi native. She proudly serves as a volunteer Key Leader with the TRANS Program and actively works with organizations such as the Positively Trans Network, Positive Women’s Network, Transgender Law Center, SPJI, and NMAC. Janea is employed as Grace House Receptionist and Pantry Coordinator. Like any true Southerner, she loves soul food. When she’s not volunteering in the world of advocacy or cooking, she loves to travel. Janea is the true meaning of resilient – having been through many difficult situations and having experienced many traumas, yet still finding ways to pick herself.
Octavia Y. Lewis, MPA
Octavia Y. Lewis, MPA is an activist, advocate, mother and scholar. She is currently working as a Community Ambassador with AmidaCare. As a Transgender woman of color living with HIV, she understands the intersectionality and nuances of the complexities of her identities and how it correlates with the world around her. While employed at the Hetrick-Martin Institute, she led all Transgender related programing and services providing the youth with transferable skills needed to navigate the systems which are in place to assist them while teaching them to find their voices to advocate for themselves, educating ally’s on what it means to be an ally, and leading through exemplary leadership skills on living one’s authentic life unapologetically.
Octavia Y. Lewis, MPA holds an Associate in General Studies from Atlanta Metropolitan College, a Bachelors in Business Administration/Marketing from Georgia Gwinnett College, a Master’s in Public Administration/Health Services Management, and is a Doctoral Candidate in Public Policy and Administration at Walden University. She remains rooted in community issues that plagues the Transgender community through mentorship of other young Transgender youth to one day takes her place in the fight for equality. She is focused on her professional development through scholarly practice and engagement with industry leaders who are willing to not only address the disparities of the disenfranchised and impoverished but are willing to allow them a space to create solutions toward sustainability.
LaTrischa Miles, BBA
LaTrischa Miles, BBA, CHW, is the manager of the Peer Treatment Adherence Program at the Kansas City CARE Health Center. She has over 17 years’ experience in HIV services, and she is nationally recognized with expertise in training, supervision, advocacy, treatment adherence and community education.
In her advocacy, Ms. Miles prioritizes HIV decriminalization. On December 8, 2011, Ms. Miles, Positive Justice Project, and the Center for HIV Law & Policy held the first public meeting to discuss HIV decriminalization strategies. She has testified twice–on May 9, 2018, and February 4, 2019–before Missouri’s House Committee on Health and Mental Health to garner support for HB 166 and HB 167, which would update the current HIV laws to reflect modern science. Ms. Miles is a member of Empower Missouri’s HIV Justice Coalition, and she currently serves on its Legislative Committee. On June 9, 2019, Empower Missouri presented Ms. Miles with the Elaine Aber Humanitarian Award in recognition of her steadfast commitment to and advocacy for HIV decriminalization.
Additionally, Ms. Miles has worked with organizations in Florida, Missouri, and Boston, assisting persons living with HIV and AIDS to become Peer Educators. She served as Chair of the Kansas City Ryan White Planning Council, which serves an 11-county area with over 4,000 people living with HIV/AIDS. She also has served on local, regional and national quality management committees to improve efforts for consumers in HIV care and treatment services. She is one of 28 co-founders of the U.S. Positive Women’s Network (PWN) and is a current Board Co-Chair. Ms. Miles is founder and President of GRACE of Greater Kansas City, a Women’s monthly support group for women of faith with HIV. In 2015, Ms. Miles received the Martin Luther King, Jr. “Keeping the Dream Alive” Award in Medicine/Health Care from the American Business Women’s Association.
Ms. Miles’s hobbies include reading and running, both half-marathons and 5Ks. She is a mother of 3 and a grandmother of 6, and she enjoys spending time with her family.
Sharon DeCuir, Board Member Emeritus
Sharon DeCuir was a fierce advocate for women, girls, people living with HIV, and the communities of Louisiana. She was a long-time leader with Positive Women’s Network-USA, serving as a member of our steering committee long before we had a Board of Directors, and then on the Board for many years as vice chair and treasurer. Sharon played a critical role in the creation of PWN’s first strategic plan. Sharon was the senior and founding member of the PWN Louisiana Chapter, always showing up and supporting leaders throughout the South. Her resilience and unwavering determination meant that no challenge or adversity ever stopped her from making a lasting impact wherever she went, and her deep commitment to social justice was evident in every initiative she undertook. She served on PWN’s Board of Directors twice, and was currently serving as a board member when she transitioned and joined the ancestors on February 2025. We honor her legacy with the title Board Member Emeritus. Read more memorial words about Sharon here.