In this issue:

Meet Our Shero of the Month: Lepena Reid
Webinars You Won’t Want to Miss
Deadline to Submit Your Artwork: February 28
Join Us for the Celebrate and Honor Black Women Town Hall, March 12
Thank You for Supporting the PWN Emergency Fund

Meet Our Shero of the Month: Lepena Reid

Our February 2021 Shero of the Month is Lepena Reid of Tampa, Florida. A longtime advocate for the rights of people living with HIV (and a PWN member spokesperson), Lepena is also active in advocating for seniors, and spends a lot of time volunteering with local seniors–and is a constant companion to her 80+ mother. She has inspired countless women living with HIV to speak up for their rights over the years.

“Lepena is living proof that you can be an incredibly fierce, determined, relentless advocate while remaining graceful,” said Jennie Smith-Camejo, PWN communications director. “In my years of working with her as a member, fellow advocate, and spokesperson, I’ve watched her consistently stand up for and fight for what she believes and knows to be right, from going to DC to protest attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act to advocating for lowering drug prices and involving more women in clinical trials. She is always ready to use her voice and influence to make life better for people living with HIV, and she is never afraid to speak truth to power–no matter who it is or what office they hold.”

State Legislative Advocacy 4: Community Mobilization

March 4 at 5pm ET/4pm CT/3pm MT/2pm PT

How can you organize and mobilize your community for state legislative advocacy? Why is it important?

Thursday, March 4 at 5 pm EST/ 4 pm CST/ 3 pm MST/ 2 pm PST, join PWN’s organizing and policy departments for the fourth webinar in the State Legislative Advocacy Training series, where we will share practical tips for organizing and mobilizing your community to make state legislative advocacy more effective.

During the webinar, we will discuss:

Many ways you can organize on issues important to you!
How to contact and engage with your legislators and community via social media, letter campaigns, phone zaps, and more.
The importance of coalitions: how to find them and how to get involved.

Community Conversations: Real Talk with Real People Living with HIV

Let’s Talk About Language Friday, March 5, at 1pm EST/10am PST

Missing the chance to be with you in person, to hang out in hotel lobbies, chat over coffee, or go for long walks. Missing the chance to have real conversations about living with HIV, to celebrate the success and think through the challenges and hugs… missing hugs.

To fill this gap, the HIV Caucus in partnership with the People Organizing Positively project of AIDS United would like to host a series of community conversations–held by people living with HIV–for people living with HIV.

There will be a panel who have agreed to join and share their expertise and passion with our community. Then the discussion will open up for people living with HIV across the U.S. to connect, have deep conversations, and come together to celebrate our resilience.

Please join the first conversation on March 5 from 1:00 to 2:30 ET on Language- talking about person-first language and language justice.

Celebrate & Honor Black Women in the HIV Movement

Art Contest Deadline This Sunday, 2/28!

There’s still time to submit your original artwork (visual arts, original writing, or performance art) to the Celebrate and Honor Black Women in the HIV Movement Art Contest–but the deadline is this Sunday, February 28. Don’t miss your chance!

The contest is open to anyone who identifies as a Black woman, person of trans experience, or gender non-conforming person living with HIV or involved in the HIV community.

The prizes will be $200 for first place, $100 for second place, and $75 for third place, via gift cards that can be used anywhere that accepts credit cards.

Submit your entry here!

Join Us for Our Celebrate & Honor Black Women in the HIV Movement Town Hall

Fri., March 12, at 2pm EST/1pm CST/12pm MST/11am PST

Join PWN and other Black women leaders in the HIV movement for a discussion about what it means to honor, celebrate, protect, respect, and pay Black women–as well as some entertainment!

This is the main event for our inaugural Celebrate & Honor Black Women in the HIV Movement Day–you won’t want to miss it!

Thank You for Supporting the PWN Emergency Fund

Because of the generosity of our people, together we have raised nearly $5,000 from 59 supporters. We are so grateful to all who have contributed to the fund.

We know that during a natural disaster, it takes the community to rebuild not only what was lost, but also morale. Many who already didn’t have enough lost everything–from the food in their refrigerators to the roof over their heads or the floor under their feet, and everything in between.

There is still time to donate. Your funds will support women and trans folks living with HIV during this unfathomably difficult time.

Donate now

February 25, 2021