We are proud to announce the 2020-2021 class (year 4) of PWN-USA Policy Fellows! This program, now in its fourth year, will build the policy leadership bench for women and people of trans experience directly impacted by the epidemic and historically underrepresented in the federal health policy advocacy arena. The program kicked off on April 10, 2020, with an orientation webinar preluding a year-long curriculum where they will develop skills in policy analysis, research, coalition and relationship building as emerging leaders in the field.

Click here to learn more about the PWN-USA Policy Fellowship.

Click on the year to meet our Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3 Policy Fellows.

Michelle Anderson (Texas)

Michelle Ridgon-Anderson, LCDC-I, is formerly Ms. Plus America 2011, the first openly HIV-positive woman to ever run in mainstream pageantry and win a national pageant title. Currently she resides in Dallas, Texas, and is the state organizer for the Afiya Center, an organization run and led by Black women that centers Black women and girls’ relationship to their reproductive and sexual health to address systemic oppression. Michelle also serves as a national ambassador for the Greater Than AIDS Empowered Campaign and the Black AIDS Institute. Michelle continues to center her story in reproductive justice to eradicate stigma and challenge oppressive laws to end reproductive oppression of Black women and girls living and surviving with HIV.

Jamie Collins (Texas)

Jamie moved to Dallas from Shreveport in 2011. After receiving treatment for her injuries from being assaulted by her partner, she was diagnosed with HIV in January 2012. She has been a champion for the rights of transgender women since the early 1990s, when her best friend became ill from AIDS. There was one clinic in Shreveport where services were offered to transgender people with HIV. Once it closed down, the only aid came from the local hospital where the environment was neither welcoming nor affirming. It was while she was caring for her friend that Jamie realized more access to services needed to be available. She started protesting the policies of nursing homes which house people living with HIV/AIDS.

Alicia Diggs (North Carolina)

Alicia Diggs is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but resides in North Carolina. Alicia has a bachelor’s degree in social work, a master’s degree in public health, and is currently working on a PhD in public health. Alicia became an HIV/AIDS activist, educator, and public speaker in 2004 and is currently the North Carolina state lead for the Positive Women’s Network-USA. Alicia is also a published author of an autobiography entitled Standing On My Healing: From Tainted to Chosen. As a voice for the voiceless, Alicia strives to stand up for the rights of people living with HIV in her community.

Marissa Gonzalez (Florida)

Marissa Gonzalez is originally from Paterson, New Jersey, and currently resides in Ft. Myers, Florida. After being diagnosed HIV+ in 2016, battling depression, and a failed suicide attempt, she was forced to take a look in the mirror and practice all the wellness techniques that she had given to so many before her. Facing many adversities head-on allowed Marissa to see that there was a community speaking for her when she had no voice. Now she strives to be a voice for those struggling to find their own. She has learned that we are never truly alone, for so many face so many similar struggles simply by being women. She is not only a fur mom but an aunt to 3 amazing kiddos both near and far and several adopted ones. Her favorite color is red. She has six tattoos that have deep meaning, and her guilty pleasure is pizza! 

Amanda Goodpasture (Ohio)

Amanda Goodpasture is a mother, sister, friend, lover, and advocate who believes that all people have a right to affirming health care. She approaches her work from a social justice perspective that aims to educate and eliminate racial, gender, sexual, and morality-based biases that lead to negative health outcomes for the most marginalized people. Her experience as a person living with HIV guides her every day in her work. She is excited and grateful for the opportunity to be a PWN Policy Felllow and to use these new skills to support her commitment to people impacted by HIV.

Joyce Hampton (Georgia)

Joyce Hampton is originally from Arkansas but currently resides in Georgia. She is a mother of three and a grandmother of two. In April 2015, she was diagnosed with HIV. At the time she had been working as a machine operator for the past 25 years. She is family oriented and enjoys cooking, fashion, taking care of her grandbabies, and living life.

Ryan Howe (Colorado)

Ryan was born a Hoosier, is currently claiming the title of Coloradan, and has no plans to change that any time soon. They have spent the majority of their time in the colorful western state meeting and listening to queer folk share their stories as they worked as editor–in–chief of LGBTQIA+ OUT FRONT Magazine. Last year they left that position to do communications work for the state’s small and mighty team of sexual health advocates in the STI/HIV/viral hepatitis branch of the health department. They hope to continue their advocacy work during and beyond the PWN Policy Fellowship.

Gloria Jones

Gloria Jones is currently studying community action and social policy in a master’s of social work program. Her career consists of unique experiences after serving in both the AmeriCorps and Peace Corps programs. She has worked as a teacher, community worker, servant leader, and activist. She recently published a book of poetry. She is excited to be part of PWN’s community and participate in the fellowship program. She is passionate about sexual reproductive health, gender and racial justice, and universal health care.

Sonya Milliman (Louisiana)

Sonya is a native of New York and currently resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She has two children and two grandchildren. She has raised six other children. With a background as a teacher, Sonya found great joy in empowering young girls as a girls’ scout leader. Diagnosed with HIV in 2017, she is committed to making a difference to end the HIV epidemic. She is currently employed at Capitol City Reentry Program in the harm reduction and HIV testing and prevention department. She attends Ryan White Advisory Council and sits on a couple of committees for Ending the HIV Epidemic plans.

Kayla Quimbley (Georgia)

Kayla is 21 years old and has been engaging in HIV advocacy for 7 years. She started advocating in high school upon realizing that her peers lacked basic knowledge and understanding about HIV and the role they played in stigma. Being ostracized as a child fueled her passion to fight for the rights and voices of those living with HIV. Her hope is that through continued self-education she will be a pillar in her community and a source of education and support for those in need of it.

Alicia Crews Rhoden (Louisiana)

Alicia Diane Rhoden is 60 years old and proud of her age. She is a mother of twins girls and a grandmother of six. She is originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan, but now lives in Louisiana. She is married to the love of her life, Bruce. She teaches anger management, parenting, and domestic violence groups. She is a very empowered Black woman who years ago walked away from self-hate and domestic violence. She loves gardening, traveling, reading, and spending time with her family. She is also a minster. She is currently a student at USC majoring in urban planning with hopes to graduate in June 2020.

Janice Shirley (North Carolina)

Janice Shirley is a certified peer support specialist along with being an advanced-level WRAP facilitator for Regional Housing Partnership. She works also as the peer mentor to the surviving, chronically homeless people with HIV/AIDS in her area. She is currently enrolled at Johnson C. Smith University obtaining a bachelor’s degree in social work. Her position allows her to work with the housing coordinators to assist with skills training, maintaining housing, and staying in compliance with medication adherence and doctors’ appointments.

Denise Stegall (Oregon)

Denise is the proud mother of two children. She was diagnosed with HIV in 1996 and has seen many advances in the treatment of this disease. Over time, she has become aware of how truly inadequate our health care system is. She is passionate about having safe and affordable housing for those living with HIV. She is concerned about the lack of knowledge many still have after four decades of this disease. Denise has decided to dedicate her time and energy to create change. She is joining the front lines with PWN to fight for people who cannot fight for themselves.

Tanika Sullivan (Missouri)

Tanika Sullivan is an HIV advocate and speaker from Kansas City, Missouri, who shares her story to educate her community about HIV. Sullivan has been featured in FLATLAND Magazine discussing what matters most to her regarding HIV. She participated in an HIV awareness video campaign sharing her story with Thrive Health Connection. She also participated in a panel discussion on how to #StopHIVStigma #LivingWithHIV. Currently Sullivan is involved with BTAN KC and volunteers with KC Care as a peer educator.

LaWanda Wilkerson (North Carolina)

LaWanda Wilkerson is from Henderson, North Carolina. She is a teacher in North Carolina who was diagnosed HIV-positive in 2015. She is very passionate about advocacy work and works closely with North Carolina AIDS Action Network (NCAAN). She is the current vice-chair for the community advisory board at Warren Vance Community Health Center, a member of PWN, a blogger for A Girl Like Me with The Well Project, and co vice-chair for the ADAP community advisory board.