Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this piece are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the position of Positive Women’s Network – USA.
October 10, 2018
by: Elizabeth Drayden
I, Elizabeth Drayden, was born in Houston, Texas and graduated from Houston Technical Institute. I have been employed with Marshall Management Group Inc. for 11 years and is fondly known as the first face of the company.
I am the proud mother of Wilbert (Wil) Niles II and am known as the lovely G-O (grandmother) to three boys, with twin girls on the way in October 2018. For fun, I enjoy serving on the Fort Bend Church Ministry and have taken up some leisure time by traveling and spending time with friends.
As a person living with HIV for the last 24 years, my life (just like anyone else’s) has endured some ups and downs. When I was first diagnosed, I felt I would not live long enough to see my son, Wil, grow up. It was about four months later when I decided that I wanted to live. I checked myself into rehab for drug addiction and never looked back.
After being drug-free, for several years, I began facilitating men and women support groups. But I soon learned that my passion was for women support groups. My drive for these women is for them to not experience the feeling of hopelessness and insecurity that can come with such a life changing diagnosis. To this end, I feel the joy of helping other women living with HIV realize that the virus does not define who we are, yet it makes us stronger, with a burning desire to live LIFE.
I want to make a difference and for this reason, I am involved with Positive Women’s Network USA (PWN) and have recently graduated from Project Leap. I am currently awaiting an opportunity to enroll in the Positive Organizing Progress (POP) classes. I have been selected to sit on the Ryan White Committee for the Comprehensive HIV Planning Committee. Living my life out loud and willing to support others who are in need perfectly sums up and describes Ms. Elizabeth Drayden.