By Susan Mull Nikki Giovanni wrote a poem called “The New Yorkers.” This is the beginning of that poem: “In front of the bank building after six o’clock the gathering of the bag people begins. In cold weather they huddle [...]
By Tommy Luckett What do you do when you are invited into a space and seemingly forgotten once you are present? If you happen to be one of three beautiful, intelligent, and outspoken transgender women of color named Tela La’Raine [...]
Women with HIV Demand a Minimum Standard of Care, Bold New Initiatives to Ensure High-Quality Services for Black Women and Transgender Women of Color FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Olivia Ford, oford.pwnusa@gmail.com / 347.553.5174 April 13, 2015 – Washington, DC [...]
Download a PDF version of this document. The next National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) must include factors vital to the survival and well-being of women living with HIV. Women continue to account for nearly a third of the estimated 1.2 million [...]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Olivia Ford, oford.pwnusa@gmail.com / 347.553.5174 April 10, 2015 – This National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NYHAAD), Positive Women’s Network - USA honors young trans and non-trans women living with HIV – long-term survivors as well as [...]
It was with heavy hearts that we shared news of the passing of Chakena "CC" Conway / David Isaiah Joseph, in January of this year. CC was 28 years old. Also known to many as David*, CC touched countless lives [...]
It was with heavy hearts that we shared news of the passing of Chakena "CC" Conway / David Isaiah Joseph, in January of this year. CC was 28 years old. Also known to many as David*, CC touched countless lives [...]
By Grissel Granados In my opinion, the greatest needs of young women living with HIV include, but are not limited to, adequate medical services that are responsive to our sexual and reproductive health needs. As a young woman living with [...]
By Mina Hi! I’m Mina. I’m a teenager and I’m in middle school. I’m adopted and I have a big family. I’m HIV positive. I’m the only one of my family members that has HIV. My brothers and sister didn’t [...]
By Stacy Jennings, PWN-USA Member On March 25, 2015, many lobbyists – including me – from the grassroots e-advocacy network "Tell Them," which works to improve reproductive health policy in South Carolina, gathered for an opportunity to meet with House [...]
Remarks Delivered at the White House’s National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Event, “Stepping Out of the Shadows: HIV & Violence against Women and Girls” By Vanessa Johnson, PWN-USA National Training and Leadership Director Vanessa Johnson, JD. [...]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Olivia Ford, oford.pwnusa@gmail.com / 347.553.5174 March 10, 2015 – Each year, on March 10, National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD) is observed in the US. But at Positive Women’s Network – USA (PWN-USA), a [...]
Download the full report (PDF) Download a one-page summary of the report (PDF) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Nerissa Irizarry, Positive Women’s Network-USA - nerissa.pwnusa@gmail.com Melanie Medalle, SisterLove, Inc. - mmedalle@sisterlove.org Ariel Tazkargy, National Women’s Health Network - atazkargy@nwhn.org March 10, 2015 - March [...]
By Wanda Brendle-Moss, PWN-USA Member This article originally appeared on March 4, on The Well Project's A Girl Like Me blog. Wanda Brendle-Moss. As we approach National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on March 10, 2015, my [...]
By Rachel Moats, PWN-USA-San Diego Member Rachel Moats. Two months ago my life was turned upside down for the second time. The first time was on March 19, 2013, when I found out I was HIV Positive. I [...]
By Tami Haught, PWN-USA Member Tami Haught. How we introduce ourselves makes a difference; the words we use matter. When asked at a meeting to introduce myself, I will start with: My name is Tami Haught and I [...]
By Loren Jones, PWN-USA Board Member Loren Jones. Some of us, due to our chance assignment from birth to certain races, genders, and classes, have pretty much been outlaws all our lives. And now, here we go; another [...]
By Loren Jones, PWN-USA Board Member Loren Jones. Some of us, due to our chance assignment from birth to certain races, genders, and classes, have pretty much been outlaws all our lives. And now, here we go; another [...]
By Heather It wasn’t until February 10, 2015, that I truly realized the profound connection between trauma and HIV. I always knew about a correlation, but what did that really mean to me? It meant everything I had read regarding [...]
By Olga Irwin, Regional Co-Chair, PWN-USA-Ohio Olga Irwin. Olga Irwin studied at Youngstown State University and became a licensed social worker in 2009. She was diagnosed with AIDS in 1999. Since her diagnosis she has become involved in [...]
How These Laws Impact the Lives of Women with HIV By Teresa Sullivan, PWN-USA Board Member Teresa Sullivan. Now that the United States has access to over 36 medicines for the treatment of HIV, people are living longer [...]
By Penny DeNoble, PWN-USA Member Penny DeNoble. Tuesday, March 10, 2015, is the 10th annual National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. As social, community, and government groups across the nation prepare to bring awareness to the susceptibility that [...]
To: Rhode Island Legislative Committee Members Re: Public Testimony on House Bill 5245 Hearing Date: February 24, 2015 Positive Women’s Network-USA, a national member body of women living with HIV, opposes H5245. This proposed bill stands in stark contrast to [...]
On National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, Amplifying the Voices of Women, Youth, and Transgender Women FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Olivia Ford, oford.pwnusa@gmail.com / 347.553.5174 February 7, 2015 – This National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD), Black women remain 20 times [...]
PWN-USA Responds to the President's Budget Proposal to Eliminate Ryan White Part D FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Olivia Ford, oford.pwnusa@gmail.com / 347.553.5174 February 3, 2015 – Brooklyn, NY – This Groundhog Day, the forecast for women with HIV looks bleak. [...]
By Morénike Giwa Onaiwu and Venita Ray Elisha Maxine Henson was a Texas mother with a big love for family, especially her two sons. A stay-at-home mom with a bright smile, Elisha enjoyed riding motorcycles and was a member of a [...]
On this day, December 17, 2014, Positive Women’s Network-USA stands with our sisters in recognizing December 17 as the International Day to End Violence against Sex Workers. This Day to End Violence against Sex Workers originated in response to acts [...]
By Naimah Oneal, Regional Co-Chair, PWN-USA-Ohio Naimah Oneal. I came to Fort Walton Beach with great expectations about the PWN-USA Summit, and learned that I am surrounded by some amazing women. I stepped off the plane to a [...]
The impact of advocacy by women living with HIV is happening, and is felt, all the time in communities where our members and sisters are doing their work on behalf of their communities. World AIDS Day is a time to [...]
Part 1: An Introduction to Intersectionality "If we aren’t intersectional, some of us, the most vulnerable, are going to fall through the cracks." - Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw HIV thrives in conditions of structural inequity - where the workings of poverty, [...]
Dear community, On Monday, a St. Louis grand jury failed to bring charges against Ferguson County Police Officer Darren Wilson, who shot and killed 18-year old Michael Brown. This verdict is horrifying and devastating for Michael's family, and for folks in [...]
First-Ever National Day of Action to End Violence Against Women with HIV Observed on October 23 With Rallies, Ruckus-Raisings and Social Media Actions Across the US FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Olivia Ford, oford.pwnusa@gmail.com / 347.553.5174 October 23, 2014 – Violence [...]
On October 23, join us in breaking the culture of violence against women with HIV and all women! Things You Can Do on the October 23 Day of Action: Change your Facebook and/or Twitter profile image to one of the [...]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Olivia Ford - oford.pwnusa@gmail.com - 347.553.5174 October 10, 2014 - Today, during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we congratulate the White House Office of National AIDS Policy on today's release of Updates on Efforts to Address the Intersections of HIV/AIDS, Violence [...]
PWN-USA members and staffers are all over the United States Conference on AIDS (USCA) 2014, happening this week at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel in San Diego, CA – we’re presenting, exhibiting, speaking, and more! If you’re at the [...]
Lepena Reid, Janet Kitchen and Rose Todd, South Florida SPEAK UP! A National Leadership Summit for Women Living with HIV is just one week away! Here's everything you need to know, whether you're coming to the Summit or following [...]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Olivia Ford - oford.pwnusa@gmail.com - 347.553.5174 September 4, 2014 - Positive Women’s Network – USA (PWN-USA) congratulates two of our members, Gina Brown of New Orleans and Grissel Granados of Los Angeles, on their recent appointments [...]
On October 23, 2014, during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, PWN-USA is spearheading a National Day of Action to End Violence Against Women Living with HIV. Please join us for the first Day of Action planning call on Thursday, September 4, [...]
In just one short month, 200 women living with HIV from every region and corner of the United States will gather in Fort Walton Beach, FL, for SPEAK UP! A National Leadership Summit for Women Living with HIV. Lepena Reid, [...]
In just one short month, 200 women living with HIV from every region and corner of the United States will gather in Fort Walton Beach, FL, for SPEAK UP! A National Leadership Summit for Women Living with HIV. Lepena Reid, [...]
Contact: Olivia Ford - oford.pwnusa@gmail.com - 347.553.5174 July 16, 2014 – Last Friday, University of California – San Francisco (UCSF) researchers released study results that add to the growing body of literature surrounding healing from trauma as an essential component of HIV care for [...]
By Morénike Giwa Onaiwu, Venita Ray and Dena Hughes Elisha Henson. Readers may already be aware of the tragic May murder of Elisha Henson, a 30-year-old Texas mother of two who was brutally strangled and dumped into a lake a few months [...]
By Teresa Sullivan, PWN-USA Board of Directors Teresa Sullivan. “We, as women living with HIV, envision a life free from violence, coercion, and discrimination for all people. We, as women living with HIV, demand an end to the [...]
By Naimah Oneal, Regional Co-Chair, PWN-USA-Ohio Naimah Oneal. My name is Naimah Oneal; I am a mother, grandmother, auntie and lastly I am a woman living with HIV. I must say that I am truly living with HIV [...]
Positive Women’s Network – USA Mourns and Condemns the HIV-Related Murder of a Texas Woman Contact: Olivia Ford, PWN-USA - Brooklyn, NY - oford.pwnusa@gmail.com - 347.553.5174 Venita Ray - Houston, TX [...]
Positive Women's Network - USA is turning SIX on June 17! Can you believe it? For our birthday, Elton John AIDS Foundation gave us a challenge grant of $10,000 -- meaning EJAF will double every dollar we raise up to our [...]
Inclusion. Collaboration. Conflict resolution. Restorative justice. Nuance. Challenge. Coalition. Rage. Healing. Power. There was an energy in Grinnell, Iowa, last week as more than 150 dedicated advocates gathered for HIV Is Not a Crime: The Grinnell Gathering, from June 2-5, [...]
Yesterday, June 5, marked the first annual National HIV/AIDS Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day. Those who have lived several decades with HIV have advocated, fought, survived, thrived, faced immeasurable loss. This includes longtime supportive allies, activists, care providers and family members, [...]
May 15, 2014 -- Have you heard? Bigoted L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling's latest target is people living with HIV, and HIV community leaders and media makers alike are not taking the bait. Sterling has recently been raked over the media [...]
May 15, 2014 -- Yesterday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) took a major step towards advancing sexual and reproductive health, rights, and choice, by releasing guidelines for the use of a daily HIV prevention pill: Truvada [...]