
Giving Tuesday & End-of-Year Campaign

Because Every Woman Deserves Power launched strongly this Giving Tuesday. Our Wellness Is Political livestream reached new audiences across Facebook and Zoom — with 41% of viewers tuning in who had never engaged with PWN before. We raised $2,160 from 28 donors, 73% of whom were brand-new supporters, demonstrating the growing reach of our message on wellness, autonomy, and collective care.
As we move through December, we’re inviting supporters to deepen their commitment by joining the Guardians of Power Circle, our sustaining donor program that protects this work year-round. Our End-of-Year campaign continues through December 31 as we uplift stories of women and gender-diverse folx leading, healing, and building power in their communities.
>> Click here to Join Our Guardians of Power Circle!<<
🗳 Another Successful Campaign Season 🗳

Positive Women’s Network-USA held another successful voter engagement campaign season that saw our local power grow exponentially.
In this country, voting is one of the most accessible tools that we have as a collective. Voting is not going to make all of our problems go away; we’re living under fascism and we’re very clear about that.
We are living in a moment that calls for real, meaningful relationships with our friends, families, neighbors, and communities. Connection is how we build trust to know what’s real in a world of misinformation and false narratives pushed by artificial intelligence (AI).
We know midterm elections are coming in 2026. We are preparing. There will be a lot of misinformation and most likely an overwhelming amount of news around the elections. We want you to know that PWN will be here – as a space to be in community with one another and break through the noise so we know our power is real and we are capable of fighting for a world that protects Black, Indigenous, people of color, trans people, immigrants, people living with HIV and everyone pushed to the margins.
Colorado
In Colorado, the chapter spoke with voters in the North Denver and Pueblo area to build community at a time when people have been devastated by the Big, Ugly Murder Bill.
# Attempts on phones & doors: 7,202
# Reached, contacts made: 479
# Supporters identified: 120
Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, we talked with voters in the Kensington area of Philadelphia
about what real s
afety means to them. In addition, we talked to folks in Allegheny County to get out the vote.
# Attempts on phones & doors: 88,000
# Reached, contacts made: 5,000
# Supporters identified: 551
Texas – Greater Houston Area
In Texas, we spoke with voters in congressional district 18 (CD18) about the special election to fill the long vacant seat in their district, and the impact this vacancy played in passing the Big, Ugly Murder Bill.
# Attempts: 152,000
# Reached/contacts: nearly 25,000
# Conversations: nearly 2,500
# Supporters Identified: 1200
>> Read Our Full Campaign Wrap Up HERE!<<🥺Goodbye, Samm🥺
PWN-USA says farewell to our voter engagement manager, Samm P! Samm has brough rigor and deep meaning to PWN’s integrated voter work building powerful, community-driven campaigns since 2022. Samm has worked with the Colorado, Texas, and Pennsylvania chapters to launch campaigns that advance reproductive justice and harm reduction. These campaigns have garnered support from thousands of voters in Denver, north Houston, and north Philadelphia.
Over the last three years, Samm has helped the PA chapter knock on thousands of doors to spark conversations around what community safety looks like without the hyper-presence of policing in north Philly.
Crystal Townsend, PWN’s organizing director, said, “When Samm started in her role, the chemistry between her and the PA chapter was instant. I thought the members knew her for years but they had just met! Samm has that type of spirit. She is someone who always makes people feel like they belong.”
We are so thankful to Samm for everything she has given to our members, our staff, and our movement. We will miss you dearly!
A message from Samm:
As I prepare to transition out of Positive Women’s Network onto my next role at the ACLU PA, my heart is full. I feel profound gratitude that comes from being shaped by a community as powerful as ours. Serving alongside our members has been one of the greatest honors of my life; your brilliance, your analysis, your honesty, and your unshakeable (and stubborn) commitment to each other have taught me what real leadership, real courage, and real love look like in practice. I’d be remiss to not mention my loved ones who have shaped me the most by name: Cookie, Kenya, Stephanie, Jeanette, Tana, JessiMona, Angela, Taylor, MJ, Mary LH, Shannon (and many I have missed) and an immense amount of campaign staff that is a mile long to list. Y’all have shaped me in ways I can barely begin to express. You have held me up when I needed it and even when I didn’t. PWN members have shown me a love that can never be replicated. This is what the village looks like. This is what real solidarity is.
I have also been held, loved, challenged, cherished and sharpened by colleagues whose discipline, rigor, and liberation-centered vision have raised my standards for what our people deserve and shown me what it means to organize with integrity, clarity, real solidarity, discipline and purpose. I leave carrying everything you have poured into me: the will to fight for our freedoms by any means necessary, the fighting spirit to get it how we live, the openness that allowed me to bring my whole silly ass self to this work without judgement (turns out we are all silly geese to be real). I will continue to fight from wherever I stand, with deep love for each of you and for the movement we are building together. I’m not leaving. I’m just transitioning to a new role. Once you’re a part of PWN you never really leave. Y’all couldn’t get rid of me even if you wanted to. I love you. Yes, I mean you each and every one of you. Thank you.
In deep solidarity and love,
Samm
610-417-8141 (and you better keep in touch!!)
✊🏾Stand Strong with the Texas Strike Force – Reinstate the HIV Awareness Days!✊🏾
The Texas Strike Force is a statewide, cross-movement coalition of individuals and organizations committed to taking bold action on behalf of marginalized communities together. We are determined to change the face of politics in Texas by centering equity, justice, and the voices of those most impacted.
Not long ago, the federal HIV.gov removed several HIV awareness days that center critical conversations on the disproportionate impact of HIV based on race and ethnicity, gender, and sexuality. This is part of a broader federal effort to erase marginalized groups from public health visibility. Here are the days that our government is trying to erase:
- Feb 7: National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
- March 10: National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
- March 20: National Native American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
- Apr 17: National Transgender HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
- May 19: Asian Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
- Sept 27: National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
- Oct 15: National Latino HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
The elimination of federal recognition of HIV Awareness Days is not just a bureaucratic decision – it is an act of erasure. For many years, these days have served as a lifeline for communities — mobilizing people to get tested, seek care, and engage in advocacy.
What You Can Do: Sign on to the Texas Strike Force letter to Heather Hauck, Associate Administrator of the HIV/AIDS Bureau and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to demand that these dates be reinstated.
>> Sign On to The TSF Letter to Reinstate Awareness Days!<<📢Public Comment Opportunities📢
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Public Charge on November 19, 2025 that—if finalized—could create fear, confusion, and barriers for millions of immigrant families seeking essential health, nutrition, and economic supports. Our goal is to demonstrate strong public opposition to the proposed public charge policy changes through a coalition-wide response. We invite your organization to join this effort and stand with immigrant families across the country.>> Learn More & Submit Your Comment HERE!<<
Oppose Department of Homeland Security Biometric surveillance (more information from Erin in the Morning, DHS Wants to Make Some Immigrants and Visitors Take a DNA Sex Test (Nov 5); Ars Technica, “DHS offers “disturbing new excuses” to seize kids’ biometric data, expert says.” (Nov 5) (good EFF interview). You can submit a public comment (by name, org, or anonymously below.
>> Learn More & Submit Your Comment HERE!<<
🔕PWN Office Closure🔕
Heads up! PWN will be closed from Mon, Dec 22nd to Fri, Jan 2nd! We will reopen on Mon, Jan 5th. We are committed to staff wellness, rest, & sustainability, & appreciate your patience with delayed response times.
💯 Despite the federal government’s decision to stop observing World AIDS Day, PWN and our members across the nation honored this critical awareness day. World AIDS Day (WAD) is an important day to recognize the impact of HIV, honor those we have lost, call out the attacks on our community, and fight for a future where all people living with HIV can live dignified lives free of stigma, violence, and criminalization. PWN sponsored and participated in several WAD events including:
- PWN-AL: Candlelight vigil and discussion
- PWN-NY: Shining Light on Sisters Celebrating Strength & Resilience Through the Years
- PWN-CO: Community panel-making and political education session
- PWN-PA: World AIDS Day event


🤠 As a part of our #PWNCares Ambassadors program, several of our members have done teach backs and are ready to go into their communities to talk about PWN, U=U, disclosure, and empowerment in rural and underserved areas.

Register Now for Our 2026 Policy & Advocacy Webinars!

>> Register HERE!<<

- #HIVResists November 2025 Monthly Policy Update (12/09/25)
- “Trans Healthcare Coverage Ban Stripped From Negotiated Military NDAA Bill In Sunday Night Surprise” by Erin In the Morning (12/07/25)
- “HHS changed the name of transgender health leader on her official portrait” by NPR (12/05/25)
- “Outdated HIV law fuels stigma, discourages testing, advocates say” by Arkansas Times (12/05/25)
- “SCOTUS Allows Texas to Use Racially Gerrymandered Map in 2026 Midterm Elections” by Democracy Docket (12/04/25)
- “The criminalization of HIV is a form of state punishment” by Scalawag (12/03/25)
- Health Not Prisons’ Fall Dispatch (11/12/25)

- “Sheryl Lee Ralph, Javier Muñoz and Demetre Daskalakis Join Virtual Party for HIV Survivors” by Poz.com (12/09/25)
- Featuring Marnina Miller
- “At Colorado’s AIDS Memorial, 5 things to consider on World AIDS Day” by Colorado Public Radio (12/01/15)
- Featuring Barb Cardell
- “Observe World AIDS Day” by Great Day Colorado (12/01/25)
- Featuring Mary Jane Maestas
- “‘Remove the stigma’: Groups gather for several events across Baltimore on World AIDS Day” by WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore (12/01/25)
- Featuring Melanie Reese

If you’ve been to a PWN celebration in the past few years, then you’ve grooved to the song stylings of our very own DJ Big Sal, a.k.a. Sallie Thomas – the decriminalization specialist on our policy team. Now she’s bringing you a song selection to get your joy on!
>> Joy to the World by Whitney Houston<<
You can check out our previous celebration playlists on Spotify HERE!

