Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this piece are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the position of Positive Women’s Network – USA.
October 29, 2018
By Shyronn Jones, PWN-USA Georgia State Lead
This call to action gathering was held at the prominent Old Lady Gang Southern Cuisine Restaurant owned by Atlanta reality TV royals–Real Housewives of Atlanta husband and wife team Todd Tucker & Kandi Burruss-Tucker. OLG is inspired by Kandi’s mother Joyce Jones and her aunts Bertha Jones & Nora Wilcox. The trio are affectionately known as the “Old Lady Gang” for teaching Kandi a few things in the kitchen.
Discussions were led by Shyronn Jones, PWN-USA Georgia State Lead and Ed Duda, GILEAD Executive Community Liaison. Attendees introduced themselves, stated their affiliation and expressed why they were honored to participate in PWN-USA’s National Day of Action to End Violence Against Women Living with HIV.
Discussions included an introduction to PWN-USA’s mission, vision, work groups and The 2018 Day Of Action theme: ending the systemic violence that makes women and people of trans experience more vulnerable to intimate partner violence, and how we can mobilize to combat voter suppression in Georgia.
Attendees were debriefed on PWN-USA’s Day of Action alerts such as, 10/23 Twitter Chat, 10/24 LIVE PWNCares – Living & Loving Well with HIV virtual coffee table discussion, 10/24 National Get Out the Vote Day and PWN-USA Day of Action sign-on endorsement letter where all attendees signed on to ensure women living with HIV have the basic human needs that allow us to avoid and escape intimate partner violence.
Ed Duda from Gilead presented a medication-based presentation that included a memory enhancing brain game.
This event introduced new people to PWN-USA and reconnected old allies and members. Raffles were drawn, and PWN-USA Swag was won. This gathering was an enjoyable, informative and memorable experience. I’m confident our contributions will have a lasting impression on efforts to end violence against women living with HIV.
At the closing of our ACTION-PACKED Lunch & Learn, attendees announced advocacy, business and research study opportunities. We are committed to improving the lives of women living with HIV and are making great efforts to achieve PWN-USA Vision.
I send a special THANK YOU to the following staff, members and allies for supporting me in organizing PWN Georgia’s Day of ACTION to END Violence Against Women Living with HIV: Naina Khanna, PWN Executive Director; Ed Duda, Gilead Executive Community Liaison; Torin Mitchell, Old Lady Gang House Manager; Waheedah Shabazz-El and Evany Turk, PWN Organizing Department; Anand Kalra, PWN Office Manager; Jennie-Smith Camejo, PWN Communications Director; Cedrick Pulliam, International Human Rights Advisor; Nakeisa Jackson, Author; Belize Spivey, Author, STD Life Coach; Harlan Smith and Javani Williams of Emory Research Center; Necaela Penn, Nicole Odum, Antonius Minniefield, Sheneatha Berg, Krystal Jordan, Martha Maxey, Jodi Gates, Valerie Moore and others.