In this issue:
- Meet our Shero of the Month: Elder Antoniettea Etienne
- Organizing Spotlight: PWN-New York Shows What Sisterhood Looks Like
- Join the PWN Block Party Webinar!
- Abortion Access and “Gag Rules” Factsheet
- My Abortion Experience Was a Perilous Journey: Anonymous PWN Member
- PWN Is Hiring! Organizing Director (1 FTE)
Meet our Shero of the Month: Elder Antionettea Etienne
Our June 2019 Shero of the Month is Elder Antionettea Etienne of New York, New York. Waheedah Shabazz-El, PWN-USA Organizing Director said, “Everyone needs an Antionettea in their lives. She’s a total package of enthusiasm and encouragement and models leadership in the most remarkable ways. She leaves no one behind. Antionettea is both a teacher and a learner. I am so very proud to know her from both ends.”
She has been a chair, co-chair and board member for numerous HIV prevention planning groups, community-based organizations and AIDS services organizations for the city and the state of New York. Currently, she is preparing a return to academia to complete a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Health before continuing for her master’s in Behavioral Sciences. Elder Antionettea said, “I have assisted, advised and guided many women in quests to achieve their dreams. I am now going forward to acquire mines.”
| Read more about Anionettea here |
Organizing Spotlight: PWN-New York Shows What Sisterhood Looks Like
No matter what we are doing either individually as advocates or whether we are a member of a team or coalition, we all need support. We all need to feel included and valued even when we disagree with each other. PWN-NY is always busy spreading awareness of the impact HIV has on women. You can see just a few of the events they have attended by going to their Instagram page.
Q. What has PWN-NY been up to? What are some projects that you have been working on that you are most proud of?
A. PWN-NY continues to host monthly meetings as a way to stay current with the activities of the members. As many of us as possible try to attend webinars that are relevant to the needs of our communities. We make sure our representatives attend the work group calls coming out of PWN national. One project we are most proud of is the Get Out the Vote effort for the 2018 midterm elections where we educated 90 people about the voting process and registered 55 New Yorkers to vote. We made sure to get the votes of women living with HIV counted.
| Read the full interview with PWN-New York here |
This Saturday! Join our Summer Block Party
Join PWN for the hottest block party of the year! Our grassroots organizing series starts this Saturday, June 29, and you’re invited! No prior experience or knowledge of organizing required to participate, and the series is open to everyone who is interested.
| Register here |
Check Out the Latest Factsheet: Abortion Access & “Gag Rules”
Health care is a human right, and abortion care is health care. Laws that restrict access to abortion discriminate against people who can become pregnant. They also deny our dignity and autonomy by taking away our ability to make fundamental decisions about our health and reproductive futures. Inside the factsheet, you will find policy recommendations for advocates who care about the bodily autonomy of all who wish to have an abortion.
| Read and download the factsheet here |
Accessing a Safe, Legal Abortion in the South Felt Like A Perilous Journey. It Shouldn’t.
“The positive result felt anything but positive for me. I have already raised kids. I know what it requires. I couldn’t start all over again with another baby. I didn’t have it in me physically, mentally, or financially. The one thing I knew with complete certainty and clarity was that I wanted to have an abortion as soon as possible.”–Anonymous PWN-Texas member.
| Read more |
The Fiercest Women Living with HIV Organization Around is Hiring an Organizing Director
Positive Women’s Network-USA (PWN-USA), is a national membership body of women and people of trans experience living with HIV. We are dedicated to leadership development, movement building, and intersectional policy advocacy to advance human rights and dignity for all people living with HIV.
PWN-USA is a non-traditional HIV organization committed to building power for women and people of trans experience living with HIV at the local, state and regional level. From an organizing perspective, we do this by:
- Developing skills in community organizing and advocacy, with an emphasis on developing leadership in communities most impacted by the HIV epidemic;
- Creating and supporting rapid-response and long-term organizing structures led by our constituency;
- Supporting state and federal issue-based campaigns in line with PWN-USA’s policy priorities, vision and values;
- Integrated voter engagement; and
- Solidarity with intersectional social justice movements.
About the Position
Reporting to the Deputy Director, the Organizing Director is a member of the senior staff, and as such, contributes to visioning and planning for the overall organization, while participating in creating organizational culture, sustainability, wellness and a productive and constructive work environment. The Organizing Director creates, manages and evaluates the effectiveness of the organizing program and strategy, to ensure that it is aligned with our strategic priorities and goals. Current elements of PWN’s organizing infrastructure include a robust national membership; six statewide chapters; and member leaders in an additional thirteen states.
| Read the full job description here |