Contact: Naina Khanna, [email protected], 510.681.1169

A renowned HIV advocate, attorney and former member of PWN-USA’s Board of Directors, Venita brings her passion and expertise in policy, racial justice and equity to the nation’s premier advocacy organization for women living with HIV

Oakland, CA, August 6: Positive Women’s Network – USA (PWN-USA) is thrilled to welcome Venita Ray to our staff team as PWN’s first ever Deputy Director this month. The Deputy Director is an exciting and key new leadership position identified as necessary to support our growth strategy and future impact. In this role, Venita will help lead the organization’s strategy, direction and goals, while managing PWN’s high-impact programs and programmatic staff.

“Venita brings expertise as a fierce community organizer, with a lifetime commitment to social and racial justice. She has served as a mentor to many people living with HIV and is not afraid to ask hard questions in service of a larger vision,” said Naina Khanna, executive director of PWN-USA. “That leadership is exactly what PWN needs in this political and organizational moment and we could not be more honored to have her joining our staff team.”

Venita, who was a member of PWN-USA’s Board of Directors until she accepted the deputy director position, has more than 20 years of experience working in underserved communities on social justice issues including affordable housing, environmental justice, health care and HIV.  For the last 4 years, Venita worked as public policy manager for Legacy Community Health where she monitored HIV-related health policy and managed an advocacy training program for people living with HIV. Venita speaks and trains locally and nationally on issues impacting the HIV community. In 2016, she led a citywide effort to end the HIV epidemic in Houston.  Venita was diagnosed with HIV in 2003 while serving as an Assistant Attorney General for the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia.

“I have been a long-time member of PWN-USA and feel extremely honored to be joining one of the most progressive social justice organizations in the country.  For the first time in my professional career, I can really bring all of me to the table to continue the fight against the social, political structural and racial injustices that negatively impact women living with. I am thrilled to be a member of the PWN-USA team,” said Venita.

Venita, who as a member and board member has worked extensively with PWN-USA on projects ranging from #HIVRacialJusticeNow to #PWNCares and helped found the very successful PWN-USA Texas chapter, will enter her new role August 16. At this crucial juncture in PWN-USA’s ten-year history, in a period of rapid growth, she is ready to hit the ground running.

“I’m eager to get started in helping PWN-USA expand our reach and capacity for the next ten years,” said Venita. “Our communities are under direct assault by all three branches of the federal government and many state governments as well. There’s not a moment to lose to make sure we are bringing all women living with HIV into our fold, mobilizing them to take action and build power. Our lives depend on it.”

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