In this issue:
- PWN Shero of the Month: Loren Jones
- Spotlight on South Carolina: PWN-South Carolina Fights to Modernize HIV Laws
- PWN-USA Welcomes Breanna Diaz as Policy Director
- Upcoming Webinars You Won’t Want to Miss
PWN-USA Shero of the Month: Loren Jones
Our March 2019 Shero of the Month is Loren Jones of Berkeley, California. Naina Khanna, PWN-USA Executive Director, said, “Loren is an outstanding and fierce advocate who has paved the way here in Oakland and nationally to advocate for the priorities of Black women living with HIV. I’m honored to have worked with and learned from her in many capacities over the years, including her role as a founding member of PWN-USA and most recently as a member of our Board of Directors.”
Loren remembers being at Women Organized to Respond to Life-Threatening Diseases (WORLD) at the time PWN-USA was founded. She said it was a natural extension for those women living with HIV who wanted to educate the country on political issues affecting all women.
| Read more |
Spotlight on South Carolina: PWN-USA South Carolina Fights to Modernize HIV Laws
In 2015, Pat Kelly, founding member of PWN, held a discussion with the regional chapter of South Carolina about efforts to repeal or modernize HIV criminalization laws in other states in the U.S. That conversation prompted fierce advocacy and funding efforts to create the “South Carolina Dream Team.”
PWN SC is in its third year of funding through the AIDS United People Organizing Positively (POP) grant for their work toward modernizing their state’s HIV criminalization laws.
PWN interviewed Bonetta Spratley (PWN SC co-chair) and Stacy Jennings (former PWN-SC co-chair) about their work building this coalition, the highlights and challenges, and what they’re working to achieve.
| Read the interview here! |
Welcome PWN’s New Policy Director, Breanna Diaz!
Positive Women’s Network – USA is thrilled to welcome the newest member of our staff! We’re proud to introduce our new policy director, Breanna Diaz.
Breanna is a queer Latinx woman whose lived experience deeply informs her advocacy. She received her law degree from American University, Washington College of Law. Prior to joining PWN-USA, Breanna served as Junior Legislative Counsel at the Human Rights Campaign advocating for state and federal issues impacting the most marginalized of the LGBTQ community. Her policy and advocacy areas of interest include immigration, criminal justice, and voting rights. Breanna also serves as the Co-Director for Pull For Pride, an annual, national power-lifting event that raises money for local LGBTQ organizations directly serving the community. Breanna currently resides in Washington, D.C., but will forever be a proud Texan.
PWN Members Go All Out for #NWGHAAD!
Our members were representing from coast to coast at events around the country!
Check out our members’ events here!
PWN Texas Greater Houston Area
PWN Georgia State Lead Shyronn Jones organized a dinner and discussion for NWGHAAD–read about it in her blog here!
Upcoming Webinars You Won’t Want to Miss
PWNCares: Be Your Own Best Advocate
Tues., April 9, 2019 at 1pm EDT/10am PDT
Join panelists Tranisha Arzah, Keiva Lei Cadena, Alicia Diggs, and Kamaria Laffrey for the launch of our 7th video in the PWNCares series by and for women living with HIV and a virtual coffee table discussion on what it means to advocate for yourself in health care and service provider settings to make sure you are getting the care and services you need and deserve!
Click on the image above or here to watch the teaser of the video!
| Register here! |
Bodily Integrity and Personal Autonomy: Working for Transgender Liberation and Reproductive Justice
Tues., April 9, 2019 at 3pm EDT/12pm PDT
In this webinar presented by AIDS United, panelists from the National Center for Transgender Equality, Michigan Organization on Adolescent Sexual Health, and SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW! will explore why the transgender liberation and reproductive justice movements should work together, how this collaboration is related to our work around HIV and racial justice, and best practices for cross-movement work. This webinar is intended for individuals and organizations in each of these struggles that want to work better together.
| Register here! |
Advancing Economic Justice for People Living with HIV
Thurs., April 11, 2019 at 3pm EDT/ 12pm PDT
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Economic justice includes so much more than equal pay for equal work. Economic insecurity can create vulnerability to acquiring HIV and an HIV diagnosis can lead to a lifetime of poverty thanks to harmful policies in the U.S. It’s a vicious cycle. Join us to learn more about the policies that impact our economic security and preparation to participate in the workforce in ways that we choose, and how you can help organize to advance economic justice in your community!
| Register here! |