A Look Back On 2023:

This World AIDS Day, we were able to go on The Jennifer Hudson Show and talk about HIV in the South along with our partners The Normal Anomaly. Click on the photo to view the show! (December 1, 2023)

Dir. of Public Policy & Advocacy, Will Ramirez, heralded SAC's advocacy efforts throughout the South. From HIV funding cuts, to joining other institutions in the inaugural U=U HIV Task Force at the US Capitol. SAC also assisted community members in Tennessee to advocate in DC. According to Tennessee-based partner Jimmie Samuels, SAC’s support was invaluable to advocates from his community: "I and the members of the Midsouth Unaligned Consumer Alliance...would like to say thank you for your support this year 2023. You have made it possible for us to attend three conferences this year and for that, we thank you with our hearts." Many thanks to our funders ViiV Healthcare, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, AIDS United, and dues-paying member organizations for supporting our policy and advocacy efforts! (June 9, 2023)

SAC held Saving Ourselves Symposium: Say It Loud! (SOS) in Atlanta this year. A sacred space for learning and love centering Black LGBTQ+ southerners. Thanks to the support of our generous sponsors, over 50 community members, received scholarships to make their attendance possible. (August 3, 2023)

Our Southern Science programming was revitalized by Community Science Programs Manager, Brady Maiden. With support from the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, Community Science toured the South in Memphis, Birmingham, and virtually. Maiden presented on HIV research and community at USCHA 2023. (September 6, 2023)

The Emory COMPASS Coordinating Center, ACT NOW: END AIDS, and SAC joined together to host the Southern Solidarity HIV Advocacy Summit in Atlanta, bringing together advocates from all over the South. Click the photo to read a reflection from our Director of Public Policy & Advocacy, Will Ramirez. (November 3, 2023)

As part of our Gilead COMPASS Initiative® efforts to reduce HIV-related stigma, we partnered with 22 grantees and with a total of $1,042,500 awarded. Our Community Outreach Associate, Marnina Miller, conducted multiple LEAD & Younity workshops this year. In the last quarter alone, the two programs had 68 participants. More impactful, the LEAD participants were able to conduct 12 Teachbacks, concluding with over 280 people living with HIV receiving the tools to advocate to end the epidemic, from October to December 2023. 

In partnership with the North Carolina AIDS Action Network and Latinos in the Deep South, we created the "Ella/Her Cohort" of powerful Southern women to attend the 2023 HIV Biomedical Prevention Summit. This group was convened to reinforce the necessity of centering women—particularly Southern women of color—in HIV prevention. A second cohort also attended USCHA, and continue to share what they gained from both conferences in their communities. Thanks to Gilead Sciences for making this cohort possible. (April 11, 2023)

The SAC team also showed up across the country, presenting at the EHE Mentorship Convening, the Arkansas HIV Prevention Planning Retreat, the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care Conference, the South Carolina HIV, STD, and Viral Hepatitis 40th Anniversary Conference, Encuentro, the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference 2023, the Biomedical HIV Prevention Summit, USCHA, and more!

This year, the COMPASS Initiative celebrated 5 Years with artists, advocates, and community partners who have helped make COMPASS a success. At Meharry Medical College in Nashville, COMPASS unveiled its supplemental issue of the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. Journal entries included CBOs who shared stories of their work and its impact through COMPASS. (August 18, 2023)