Congratulations to PWN’s April 2022 Shero of the Month: Sonya Milliman of Baton Rouge, New Orleans! Sonya has been a PWN member since 2019 and currently serves as the Chair-in-training for PWN’s Louisiana chapter.
Originally from Buffalo, New York, Sonya takes pride in raising 6 children, 2 of them biological, and considers them her greatest accomplishment and blessings in her life. Her hobbies include making jewelry with hemp and beads, as well as her recently discovered passion for pour painting. She loves this newfound art, just pouring paint and watching a beautiful creation emerge from such a simple act.
Following Sonya’s diagnosis with HIV in 2017, she quickly found passion and sisterhood within the HIV advocacy community. Sonya’s decision to join the HIV movement came easily after seeing other women living with HIV having the courage to help and fight for the rights of others going through the same experiences. She shares, “I had no idea about PWN. I joined shortly after moving [to Baton Rouge]. It is because of a PWN member that I am a member today; a PWN member is how I met my current boss and the reason I work in the field.”
Currently, a U=U ambassador and HIV 50+ cohort member, Sonya is doing the work to help end the HIV epidemic. About her work in Louisiana and the Baton Rouge community, she said, “I work in ending the HIV epidemic in both the city and the state. I completed the decriminalization Summit and joined the LCCH (Louisiana Coalition on Criminalization and Health) to work on decriminalization here. Anywhere that I can be vocal is where I’m at.” Sonya shares the importance of advocacy and why she believes it important to use her voice to help others, “I just open my mouth and just get out there. There are so many people that cannot speak, the stigma has them too scared. I know if I’m feeling it, I know some of my sisters are feeling it.”
You might remember Sonya from our March organizing spotlight! In 2021, she completed the Reproductive Justice for Black Lives program and is one of 20 trained ambassadors. RJ4BL was created to educate people living with HIV and allies about the intersection of reproductive justice and HIV, especially how to use a reproductive justice framework and analysis approach in their HIV advocacy. You can read the full story on our website and learn more about the RJ4BL programs launched in Alabama and Louisiana. (To connect with or request reproductive justice training, click here.)
Sonya knows the importance of people testing regularly and knowing their status, including being informed about PrEP, or being on treatment and in care if living with HIV. Sonya wants to see the epidemic end and shares how amazing it would be to be a part of the reason why it has happened, “We just need to work together, we need to test, we need to normalize talking about sex and HIV. I want to see more people be vocal about living with HIV, and with each step, we can possibly end this! I know my thoughts can be outrageous, but this is my hope.”