PWN’s January 2022 Shero of the Month is Veronica Brisco of South Carolina. Veronica Brisco is an activist, facilitator, consultant, successful business owner, manager, and teacher throughout her career. She has been co-chair of the South Carolina Chapter for Positive Women’s Network since October 2021. PWN interviewed Veronica Brisco to find out what is coming for her in 2022. Keep reading to learn more about Veronica and what this powerhouse has in store. 

Veronica is an advocate who “Speaks Out Loud” about the HIV diagnosis she received in December 1999. 12 years later, she was determined to begin a personal journey to openly challenge the world to “Hear Me as I Speak Out Loud and Proud” in this fight against HIV and AIDS.

Together with her son, Cameron, she was determined to help eliminate the spread of HIV/AIDS worldwide, eradicate stigma, and enlighten the world about the true realities of contracting and living with HIV/AIDS. Sadly, Cameron, Veronica’s sole biological son, was hit and killed by a person driving under the influence last June while crossing the street.  She has been blessed with a grandson, Ezekiel, and many earthly children, as a result of the many relationships Cameron developed in his lifetime. A special mention to several of her earthly children: Bria, Chelsea, Margot, Eli, John, Jordan and Wahleed, and several others.

You might have seen Veronica prior to joining PWN South Carolina, but ICYMI:

Veronica believes her true journey began at the South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council (SCHAC) in Columbia, SC, shortly before becoming a PWN-SC chapter member. Starting as a SCHAC volunteer in February 2011, she joined the SCHAC staff a few months later in June 2011. As a volunteer, she assisted in the birth of the H.O.P.E. Chaplaincy program (Healing Others Through Prayer and Encouragement),  providing pastoral care for people newly diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

While at SCHAC, Veronica also became a member of P.O.S.I.T.I.V.E. Voices (Proactive, Optimistic, Sisters, In Touch, Involved, Validated, and Empowered), a group of women living with HIV individually selected to advocate, speak with legislation, and share their stories throughout the United States. She helped develop and facilitate a pilot program for a Women’s Empowerment Academy (W.E.A.) to empower women living with HIV/ AIDS, spearheaded by SCHAC/P.O.S.I.T.I.V.E. Voices. The Academy has been successfully implemented in several counties throughout South Carolina. 

Since 2014, Veronica has been an independent contractor with AHF (AIDS Healthcare Foundation), organizing and executing grassroots and legislative correspondence and advocacy-related grassroots mobilization activities, including organizing community events, group forums, and advocacy events.

When asked why she does the work she does in South Carolina, it’s a simple answer for her: The lives of women and trans folks living with HIV in South Carolina are hanging in the balance. “South Carolina is behind on so many of our community’s needs. We will make the difference because ‘we are who we have been waiting for’”.

She believes deeply in the potential of PWN-SC and is working hard with Lizzie Bellamy (PWN-SC co-chair) to turn that potential into reality. Her vision is “to empower as many women and trans folks living with HIV in SC as possible across the entire state so they know that they can have a role in advocacy no matter how large or small. To assure them that there are people who care for them and are concerned to meet their every need. Living with HIV and AIDS is a life of wholeness. Many things intersect with the survival of people living with HIV, and our goal is to address and improve those needs.”

This month, PWN-SC will be hosting a legislative breakfast, with the intention of connecting with local legislative members and staff to bring awareness of the SC DREAMTEAM Social Justice Coalition and the work members will be doing in SC. The legislative breakfast will also be a place where local advocates will get the chance to introduce themselves to their personal representatives, as well as to become comfortable with knowing that their representatives are people who “put their pants/skirts on the same way that we do.”

As for her 2022, Veronica’s goals for PWN-SC are to work with the co-chair and other members to establish a 50+ solid chapter membership, lay the groundwork to bring forth an HIV decriminalization law in the state, and, empower more members of PWN-SC to take on leadership roles across the state.