• Meet Our Shero of the Month
• What are your 2022 #HIVResolutions?
• Organizing Spotlight: The Well Project
• Health Not Prisons Welcomes its First Advocates Cohort
• White Folks Dismantling Racism in HIV Spaces Survey and Workshop
• Love Positive Women
• PWN Is Hiring
• PWN Sister Circle Virtual Support Group: Thursday, 1/13 at 8 pm EST/ 7 pm CST
• SWARM Meeting Reminder: Monday, 1/24 at 6:30 pm EST/5:30 pm CST

Meet Our Shero of the Month: Veronica Brisco

PWN’s January 2022 Shero of the Month is Veronica Brisco of South Carolina. Veronica Brisco is an activist, facilitator, consultant, successful business owner, manager, and teacher throughout her career. She has been co-chair of the South Carolina Chapter for Positive Women’s Network since October 2021. PWN interviewed Veronica Brisco to find out what is coming for her in 2022., Keep reading to learn more about Veronica and what this powerhouse has in store.

Veronica is an advocate who “Speaks Out Loud” about the HIV diagnosis she received in December 1999. 12 years later, she was determined to begin a personal journey to openly challenge the world to “Hear Me as I Speak Out Loud and Proud” in this fight against HIV and AIDS.

You might have seen Veronica prior to joining PWN South Carolina, but ICYMI:

What are your 2022 #HIVResolutions?

Have you made your 2022 resolutions yet? PWN has. This year, we resolve to ensure a real quality of life for people living with HIV, grounded in human rights, justice, and liberation for our people. That’s why we’re asking the federal government to commit to our 5 #HIVResolutions and support people living with HIV in the ways we need.

Organizing Spotlight:
The Well Project

PWN’s January 2022 Organizing spotlight is with our partners, The Well Project (TWP)! TWP is a non-profit organization whose mission is to change the course of the HIV/AIDS pandemic through a unique and comprehensive focus on women and girls. Founded by a woman living with HIV, The Well Project envisions a world in which cis and trans women living with and vulnerable to HIV have the information, support, and tools they need to advocate for their health and well-being and live free from stigma. You can also support The Well Project with a donation today!

Health Not Prisons Welcomes its First Advocates Cohort

The Health Not Prisons Collective (HNP) is excited to announce its inaugural cohort for The Advocates Funding Project (The Project). These four Advocates from four states – Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee – will work with HIV decriminalization coalitions seeking to repeal or modernize state HIV criminalization laws. This year-long opportunity will offer mentorship, financial resources, and skill-building opportunities so all four Advocates can meaningfully engage in HIV decriminalization efforts in their respective states.

White Folks Dismantling Racism in HIV Spaces Survey and Workshop

Love Positive Women

Are you a woman or femme living with HIV who would like to receive a handmade card on Valentine’s Day as part of our LOVE POSITIVE WOMEN program?

Visual AIDS, Fire Island Artist Residency, Positive Women’s Network – USA, The Well Project, and Dieu Donne will continue our collaboration to do something special for women living with HIV on the occasion of LOVE POSITIVE WOMEN 2021.

To receive a handmade valentine, please email your name and full mailing address to [email protected] by February 6, 2022. 

PWN Is Hiring!

Communications Director

The communications director leads the efforts of Positive Women’s Network – USA (PWN) to elevate the voices, experiences, and priorities of women and people of trans experience living with HIV online and in the media.

This is accomplished through the strategic use of and skillful management of the various online platforms PWN uses to communicate with our members and base—including social media, our WordPress website, our Action Network email list—as well as through proactive media outreach; training, and support for member and staff spokespeople; thought leadership within the organization and coalition spaces, especially as pertains to framing, messaging, and communications strategy; and creation of collaterals that educate and mobilize members and base.

The communications director is a senior leadership role in the organization and contributes to organizational strategy as well as supervising communications-related staff and consultants.

PWN Sister Circle Virtual Support Group

Join us Thursday, January 13, 2022, at 8 pm ET/7 pm CT/6 pm MT/5 pm PT, and every other week afterward, for PWNCares Sister Circle.

#PWNCares Sister Circle is a virtual support group for women and people of trans experience living with HIV. We encourage you to join us and invite a friend using the following registration link: required registration link to participate.

PWN members will receive a link to join the group once they sign up.

SWARM Meeting Reminder

Get ready for another Project SWARM (Southern Women’s Advocacy Response Mobilization) meeting! Our community of women and people of trans experience living with HIV and allies train, mobilize, and support leaders in the South to take action and influence policy in their states and beyond.

Our first SWARM meeting of 2022 will be held on MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2022 AT 5:30 PM CT/6:30 PM ET.

This is a space to learn, share, plan, and discuss emerging policy issues, hear from expert speakers, and strategize on how to improve the lives of people living with HIV in the South. Share the flyer below and registration information with all of your networks and be prepared to have an exciting conversation with some great leaders in the South.

Topic: What’s Happening in the HIV landscape across the South in 2022?

You’ve shared with us how issues like aging with HIV are important to you. What other key issues and work in the South should we be focusing on this year? Who are some key leaders/organizations we should engage in 2022?

Make sure you’re signed up for SWARM. Members will receive the zoom link prior to the meeting.