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We are writing with big news to share. After more than 15 years of helping to steward Positive Women’s Network-USA (PWN), Naina Khanna (they/she), founding co-executive director of PWN, will be stepping down from leadership in the coming months.

PWN was founded by 28 diverse women and gender expansive people living with HIV in 2008; Naina came on initially as coordinator of the network, became PWN’s first executive director in 2012, and successfully transitioned PWN to a co-executive director model with Venita Ray in 2020.

Under Naina’s leadership, PWN grew from an idea and vision to a national reproductive justice organization with an annual budget approaching $2 million, an organizing presence in more than ten states, and a policy, electoral and field building force to be reckoned with, winning elections and policy fights that have advanced human rights and justice for communities most impacted by HIV.

“It is the honor of my lifetime to have been entrusted to serve, support, and elevate the voices and priorities of BIPOC women, and trans* and gender expansive people impacted by HIV. I am so proud of everything we have accomplished over the past fifteen years to change policy and build long term power for our people. Now it’s time for new leadership to take PWN to its next phase and for this organization to be squarely led by communities most impacted by HIV in the US – Black and Latinx cis and trans* women living with HIV.

“PWN members and staff are brilliant. We are a leader-full movement and I am confident that the next co-executive directors of PWN will take us to new places I can barely dream of. Positive Women’s Network saved my life and I know that it will continue to do the same for many other cis and trans* women living with HIV,” said Naina.

PWN is currently undergoing a succession planning process led by senior members, 100% of whom are people living with HIV.

LaTrischa Miles and Pat Migliore, co-chairs of the PWN-USA Board of Directors, shared their excitement for this next phase, “As founding executive director, Naina has been a driving force for PWN for over 15 years. She has stewarded our progress as an organization and we are financially sound and staffed appropriately to make this transition a success. Naina is leaving PWN in a solid and sustainable position and we are grateful to carry on this legacy of sisterhood with a solid foundation. PWN has clear values, a healthy internal infrastructure, and strategic goals guiding our work for 2024.

“This is an ideal time for us to embark on a founding executive director transition, grounded in our values of elevating Black women’s leadership and in meaningful representation of all communities disproportionately impacted by HIV. We look forward to engaging in a thoughtful, intentional succession planning process, in collaboration with our membership and base.”

In the coming weeks, PWN will open a recruitment search for our next co-executive directors. As always and as mandated by our bylaws, executive leadership of PWN will center BIPOC cis and trans* women living with HIV, and at least one of our next co-executive directors will be a Black woman openly living with HIV. PWN will be hosting listening sessions to hear from our members about this planned transition and to take input as we engage in our succession and strategic planning process. Stay tuned for more details and make sure you’re getting our emails by signing up here.

Founding ED transitions are known to be challenging, but PWN is strong and we are engaging in this process holding core values of integrity, transparency, accountability, love and liberation for our people at our core. We know what an important role PWN and our members play in the HIV community writ large. PWN invites our community to support this succession planning process and set our next leadership up for success by investing in the future of PWN with a donation in any amount.

Your contributions will help support thoughtful planning, flexible support for the incoming executive leadership of PWN, and help to build robust operating reserves to navigate us through this transition so PWN comes out stronger than ever, and can keep doing what we do to advance the HIV field towards justice and liberation for all our communities.

We truly love and value our members, our allies and accomplices, and our movement partners. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to any of the individuals listed below who are supporting this transition process.


In sisterhood, solidarity and towards liberation,

naina khanna, outgoing co-executive director, PWN-USA

LaTrischa Miles and Pat Migliore, co-chairs, PWN-USA Board of Directors

PWN-USA Board members:

Marnina Miller, vice chair

Grissel Granados, secretary

Tana Pradia, treasurer

Lisa Johnson-Lett, board member

Octavia Lewis, board member

Rica Rodriguez, board member

Additional Succession Planning Committee members:

Barb Cardell, PWN program director

Venita Ray, former PWN co-executive director and former board member

Ieshia Scott, PWN finance and operations manager

Evany Turk, former PWN membership engagement coordinator and former board member