PWN-USA has fought, celebrated, and advocated our way through another long year. We are so proud of all the accomplishments, all the hard work, and all the love of our community in 2024. PWN started off the year with saying goodbye to Naina after 15 years of leadership and welcoming our new co-executive directors Marnina & Keiva Lei. We had a strong presence at several conferences and symposiums, from AIDSWatch to USCHA to Positive Living and beyond. Honoring important HIV awareness days along the way, like National Women & Girls Day & National Day of Action to End Violence Against Women living with HIV. 

PWN members have been leading across the country. We have seen members start their own organizations, lead local decision-making tables, and celebrate our lives and contributions in beautiful ways. Our PWN chapters have also been busy running impactful campaigns, coordinating regional groups, hosting events, and making memories all year long. We are stronger together, in sisterhood, solidarity, & action!

What are you celebrating and proud of in 2024? What are you looking forward to in 2025? What self care practice did you develop in 2024 that worked best for you? What are you planning to include in 2025?

On Thurs December 5th, the US PLHIV Caucus, PWN, The Sero Project, The Reunion Project, the Working Positives Coalition, & other HIV advocates were invited to the White House for the Enhancing the Lives of People with HIV: A Quality of Life Symposium.

With panel discussions & breakout sessions, we had a chance to hear from our federal partners & orgs working with people living with HIV. We explored quality of life, addressing key factors like mental & physical health, social support, economic stability & access to essential services.

As the year draws to a close, we reflect on the incredible progress we’ve made together and the challenges that remain ahead. Positive Women’s Network-USA is more than an organization; it’s a nationwide community of resilient women (cis and trans), trans folks, and gender diverse folks living with HIV—a collective force advocating for justice, equity, and meaningful involvement in the decisions that shape our lives.

This year, your support has fueled groundbreaking initiatives:

• Advocacy: We’ve empowered women and trans and gender diverse (TGD) folks living with HIV to lead campaigns to ensure access to quality healthcare, reproductive justice, and harm reduction.
• Leadership Development: Through our programs, hundreds of women and TGD folks have gained the skills to lead in their communities and amplify their voices on national platforms.
• Community Building: In a time of increasing isolation, PWN has created spaces where women and TGD folks can connect, heal, and thrive together.

Yet, our work is far from over. Women living with HIV—especially BIPOC, trans women, and everyone navigating systemic barriers—continue to face stigma and inequities that will only be exacerbated by the incoming administration. At PWN, we’re committed to keeping our communities safe and thriving, but we can’t do it without you.

By making a tax-deductible donation today, you can help us sustain and grow this vital work. Your gift ensures that women and trans folks living with HIV have the resources, support, and opportunities they need to lead meaningful change.

Every dollar makes a difference. 

Will you stand with us and invest in the power of women living with HIV?

Together, we can create a future where all women—in all our diversity—have a seat at the table and the tools to thrive. Let’s end the year strong and step boldly into the work ahead!

Make your year-end gift by December 31st to maximize your tax benefits and make an immediate impact. Thank you for being a part of our journey!

In 2024, PWN was proud to uplift and honor 10 powerful, fierce members as Shero of the Month. Please join us in celebrating them once more as we wrap up the year!

Dr. Carrie Foote, Kenya Moussa, Millicent Foster, Brielle Gillis, Marcya Gullatte, Deborah Somoye, MJ Maestas, Valerie Pinkston, Sharon DeCuir, & Evany Turk!

We look forward to honoring more Sheroes in the new year, but we need your help! Take a moment to nominate a PWN family member you want to celebrate. Let’s give everyone their flowers! 💐

🏆 Congratulations to Marnina Miller (she/her) for receiving the Viable Visibility Award at the Normal Anomaly’s gala for World AIDS Day! 

💯 Shoutout to Keiva Lei Cadena (she/her) & Marnina Miller (she/her) who were invited to the White House honoring of World AIDS Day. It was the first time that the AIDS Quilt had been laid out on the South lawn and Daniel Driffin, Jeanne White-Ginder (Ryan White’s mom), First Lady Jill Biden and President Biden spoke.

💯 Congrats to Keiva Lei Cadena (she/her) & Barb Cardell (they/them) for attending the NMAC Congressional Reception honoring Barbara Lee. Nancy Pelosi, Eleanore Holmes-Norton, and Rashida Tlaib represented the HIV Congressional Caucus & addressed the group, celebrating the work they had accomplished together & preparing for more advocacy and engagement moving forward.

People living with HIV are strong and resilient, and every day holds something to celebrate. Submit anything you want to celebrate, from getting appointed to a Community Advisory Board or giving a shout out to your fav PWN-er. There’s nothing too small to be celebrated – let’s uplift all of the joy and wins in our communities! 🤠

PWN-USA’s office will be closed from Mon, 12/23 to Fri, 01/03. We will reopen Mon, 01/06/25.

• HNP Advocacy Series, Racial & Gender Justice: Jan 22 @ 6pm EST
• Policy Fellowship Applications Open: January 2025
• AIDSWatch: March 31st to April 2nd 
• HINAC 6: May 31st to June 3rd at NCSU Raleigh, North Carolina
• 2025 Texas HIV Advocacy Day: March 24

• “Donald Trump had a plan to end HIV by 2030. His re-election may kill that plan.” by LGBTQ Nation (12/03/24)
  • Featuring Keiva Lei Cadena & Marnina Miller

• “#HIVResists November Monthly Policy Update” by PWN-USA (12/12/24)
• “A Review of PWN’s Voter Engagement Work in 2024” by PWN-USA (12/13/24)
• “Puberty blockers to be banned indefinitely for under-18s across UK” by The Guardian (12/11/24)
• “With $60M community benefits agreement, Philly City Council gives initial approval for Sixers arena by a 12-4 vote” by WHYY.org (12/12/24)

If you’ve been to a PWN celebration in the past few years, then you’ve grooved to the song stylings of our very own DJ Big Sal, a.k.a. Sallie Thomas – the decriminalization specialist on our policy team. Now she’s bringing you a song selection to get your joy on!

You can check out our previous celebration playlists on Spotify HERE!

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