Join us for Naina’s Outgoing Celebration!
PWN’s beloved founding co-director, Naina Khanna, will be stepping down from her position in February after 15 years. We are so grateful to her for envisioning and creating Positive Women’s Network USA and her years of service to this organization.
Join us in showering her with all the love and support she deserves at this virtual party! January 10, 2024 at 8PM ET/7PM CT/6PM MT/ 5PM PT!
If you would like to honor Naina individually please email Victoria ([email protected]) for details. Please register and join the party early! If the party/meeting room reaches capacity the video stream will be available on PWN’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pwnusa. Register here!
PWN Member Listening Session Prize Winners!
Thank you to all of our members who joined our listening session earlier this month. Congratulations to all of our winners who participated! Myra Franks (PWN-AL) and Marlena Richardson (PWN-SC) both won a gift card, and our PWN-South Carolina chapter will also receive a prize for having the most chapter members attending.
#HIVResists: Nov/Dec Monthly Policy Update
On December 4th, the White House published a National HIV/AIDS Strategy Interim Action Report (NHAS). The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the government’s plan to “end the HIV epidemic in the country by 2030.”
The NHAS interim report is a tool that can help advocates hold the federal government accountable to the promises they have made to people living with HIV. As Congress continues to negotiate over the budget, the report and accompanying plan can be useful in demonstrating the necessity of certain imperfect but useful programs.
Read our full MPU here.
PWN In the News!
PWN-USA has members across many states and lands, and they are all doing incredible work advocating for change, telling their stories, building power, and taking care of each other. Here are some recent news hits featuring PWN members and leaders!
Safehouse fights to keep supervised consumption site case alive in Philly as DOJ seeks dismissal (WHYY)
“I have been thriving with HIV for 22 years” SC community raises awareness on World AIDS day (Wach Fox 57)
The 2023 POZ 100 (Poz Magazine)
Read more about PWN in the news here!
December Shero of the Month: Lashanda Salinas, TN
Congratulations to December 2023 Shero of the Month, Lashanda Salinas of Tennessee! In addition to being the Health Not Prison’s advocate for TN, Lashanda is celebrating her recent removal from the sex offender registry. She received the AIDS Memorial Hope and Leadership Award for being a leader in the TN HIV decriminalization coalition.
The interview was hosted by our previous Shero of the Month, Grace Rutha of Pennsylvania. Don’t miss listening to Lashanda’s story, and seeing her strength and perseverance. We are so proud of her!
Coming Soon!
PWN-USA Office Closed: December 21st – January 3rd
BULI Love Check-In
BULI’s next Love Check-in is Friday, 01/05/24 at 4:30PM ET! 🫶🏿 Join using this link: bit.ly/bulilovecalls (all lowercase). Tiff knew we needed spaces like this – for Black folks in the HIV community to come together and just BE, outside of work obligations and tasks … To be connected … To be joyous … To vent … To process … To be Black AF! 👏🏾 Show up as you are for however long you want. WE’LL SEE YOU THERE! ❤️ *This is a protected space for Black folks only*
BULI Membership Call
👋🏾 Black United Leadership Initiative is hosting its next member call Tuesday, 01/09/24 at 1PM PT/4PM ET! This call is open to Black folks living with HIV & working in this community. BULI is a network of Black activists & organizers working to end the criminalization of Black people. Join the call here: bit.ly/BULIMembership ❤️🔥
Policy Fellows/HNP Advocates Training
Join us on Tuesday, 01/11/24 at 6:00PM ET | 5:00PM CT | 4:00PM MT | 3:00PM PT for our next policy & advocacy training! We will be learning How to Research Targets to Move a Policy Priority. Anyone is welcome to join! Register here!
Sister Circle – Virtual Support Group
Are you a PWN member living with HIV? Join our virtual support group, Sister Circle, for a space to release and find peace! ✨ Join us Thursday, 01/11/24 at 8pm ET/7pm CT/5pm PT. Registration required to attend: bit.ly/PWNCARES (all caps). Hope to see you there! 💗
National Membership Call
Our next PWN members call is Friday, 01/19/24 at 4:00PM ET/ 3:00PM CT/ 2:00PM MT/ 1:00PM PT. Note: you must register as a PWN member before getting the Zoom link. Register here!
What We’re Reading
- Health Not Prisons Fall 2023 Dispatch
- Policy Fellows/HNP Advocates Mid-year Celebration
- News Release: CHLP Made the Call and the DOJ Answered
- Brief: Seizing the Moment: Elevating Black Women in the HIV Response
- A Candid Look at the State of HIV Advocacy and Decriminalization in Oklahoma
- Having HIV Forced Me Onto the Sex Offender Registry with Robert Suttle
- Lashanda Salinas’ Speech on HIV Criminalization
- Tennessee’s Aggravated Prostitution Law Tried To Ruin My Life. It Failed, and Now My Siblings in Power Are Taking It On
- Trans Women with HIV Face Violence, Homelessness, and Discrimination. These Orgs Are Fighting Back