Join the SAC team for programs and sessions throughout the conference! View where we’ll be throughout USCHA!

Visit us at the Change The Pattern Booth with National AIDS Memorial in the Exhibit Hall | Booth 101

Tuesday, September 5

Pre-USCHA Black Women Summit: F.*.C.K.

Session Times: 11:30 AM–12:30 PM, 1:15–2 PM

We will create a brave, non-judgmental space to discover techniques for talking about our desires, discuss what's on our minds and hearts, and work on new and creative ways to open communication around sex and sexuality. Includes our own Marnina Miller, Community Outreach Associate!

Press Conference to #SaveHIVFunding

4 PM

*Attendees are encouraged to wear red for solidarity*

PrEP4All– in partnership with NMAC, AVAC, PrEP in Black America, and a large coalition of national and global HIV organizations– is calling on all HIV activists and USCHA participants to join us for a press conference on Tuesday, September 5th at 4 pm to urge Congress to reject catastrophic and unprecedented cuts to domestic HIV programs proposed by the House and to protect funding for the global HIV response.

Wednesday, September 6

Opening Plenary: A Love Letter to Black Women

11:30 AM–1:30 PM
Marquis Ballroom, M2 Level, Marriott Marquis

USCHA will celebrate and send love to all the Black Women in our movement by sharing stories, honoring those that we've lost, and showcasing current leaders on the frontlines. We will also give voice to the next generation that is ready to step up to end the HIV epidemic. The Opening Plenary includes our own Marnina Miller, Community Outreach Associate!

Community Southern Science: HIV Research & Gender Diversity

4–6 PM
Salon 12, M2 Level

From erasure to recognition the exclusion of Cis Black Women, Trans Men, and Nonbinary communities has hindered the ability to provide effective interventions and treatment across HIV research, particularly in the South. The South has been a longstanding epicenter of the HIV epidemic in the United States. We will highlight the devasting impacts that intentionally excluding specific populations from research regresses the ability to end the HIV epidemic. In this discussion-based workshop, we will openly explore the unique challenges that these communities face and how their exclusion contributes to the perpetuation of HIV stigma and impacts the outcomes across the HIV care continuum. Also, this workshop will create space for participants to share their personal experiences regarding vaccine recruitment efforts and interactions with healthcare providers.

Featuring:

• Marnina Miller, Southern AIDS Coalition
• Brady Maiden, Southern AIDS Coalition

Addressing Barriers to PrEP Access Through a National PrEP Program

4–6 PM
Shaw Ballroom B, Level 2, Courtyard by Marriott

Through stakeholder interviews and surveys, with review of literature and policies, PrEP4All and Southern AIDS Coalition have identified state and jurisdiction policy barriers and practices impacting PrEP access in the Southern United States, with a focus on jurisdictions participating in federal Ending the HIV Epidemic [EHE] efforts. Recommendations for the implementation of a National PrEP Program for un- and under-insured individuals, as identified by the National PrEP Program Working Group, could address a broad array of challenges, including demand creation, provider education, and coverage for labs and medication. This workshop will focus on the collective next steps to develop an effective National PrEP Program and will explore the necessity of addressing state-based laws, policies, and administrative requirements that impact PrEP access in the US. Additionally, the workshop will highlight key steps to advancing racial equity through a National PrEP Program, as identified by PrEP4All and Equity and Impact Solutions.

Featuring:

• Jeremiah Johnson, MPH, PrEP4All, Brooklyn, NY
• Michael Chancley, MSW, PrEP4All, Decatur, GA
• Raniyah Copeland, MPH, Equity and Impact Solutions, Los Angeles, CA
• Will Ramirez, MPA, Southern AIDS Coalition

Thursday, September 7

Change the Pattern: Reimagining the Southern HIV Response through Prioritizing Inclusion of Black and Brown Communities in the AIDS Memorial Quilt

8–11 AM
Archives, M4 Level, Marriott Marquis

For more than thirty-five years, the AIDS Memorial Quilt [the Quilt] has been a symbol of activism and celebration of lives lost to HIV/AIDS. For two decades Southern AIDS Coalition [SAC] has advocated with and for southern communities. In 2022, the National AIDS Memorial [NAM], steward of the Quilt, and SAC partnered to launch Change the Pattern, a major initiative to increase the visibility of Black and Brown lives lost to the epidemic in the region. While the Quilt is touted as the world’s largest community art project—consisting of panels nearly 57 miles long, Black and Brown lives were sorely underrepresented (representing less than 3 miles). In response, a series of activations across the South featuring Quilt exhibits, panel-making workshops, and community programs addressed these disparities. Meeting the initiative’s dual purpose of “changing the pattern” to make the Quilt more inclusive, while also disrupting patterns of stigma and disparity in the Southern United States.

Featuring:

• Elia Chino, FLAS, Inc., Houston, TX
• Joe Robinson, THRIVE Support Services, Atlanta, GA
• Juanita Davis, CARE4ME Program, Jackson Medical Mall Foundation, Jackson, MS
• Stephanie Laster, AIDS Memorial Quilt, National AIDS Memorial, Atlanta, GA
• Jada Harris, Call My Name, National AIDS Memorial, Atlanta, GA
• David Wyley Long, Southern AIDS Coalition
• Dafina Ward, J.D., Southern AIDS Coalition
• Oscar Fabian, National AIDS Memorial, San Francisco, CA
• John Cunningham, National AIDS Memorial, San Francisco, CA

Ella/Her: Prevention Belongs to Us

4:15–6:15 PM
Union Station, M3 Level, Marriott Marquis

Black and Latina women are often ignored in HIV prevention and sexual health education, so we’re stepping out and speaking up. We’re taking back our power by centering Black and Latina women; educating our community and equipping women to have honest conversations with their healthcare providers about PrEP and PEP for HIV prevention. For me. For her. Prevention belongs to us.

The Ella/Her project, a collaboration of NC AIDS Action Network, Latinos in the South, and Southern AIDS Coalition, focused on motivating, inspiring, and empowering Black and Latina women in NC to take control of their sexual health. When we prioritize our sexual health, pleasure, and freedom we’re not only standing up for ourselves, but for our community. Join us in talking through how we are centering Black and Latina women in prevention efforts, empowering them to talk with their provider about their sexual health, and educating providers.

Featuring:

• Rita McDaniel, NC AIDS Action Network, Durham, NC
• Aleida Espinal, Latinos in the South, Charlotte, NC
• Nay Coleman, Southern AIDS Coalition
• Diana Barrera, RAIN, Mount Holly, NC

Friday, September 8

It's All In Me: Critical Intersections of Sexual & Reproductive Justice in HIV Prevention

9–11 AM
Salon 12, M2 Level, Marriott Marquis

This workshop will delve into the intersectional experiences of Black women and the impact of systemic oppression on HIV prevention, care, and treatment. Participants will learn about the unique challenges faced by Black women, including transphobia, reproductive rights, and access to healthcare services. Through interactive discussions, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how these issues are interconnected and contribute to disparities in HIV outcomes.

Featuring: 

• Dazon Dixon Diallo, Sisterlove Inc., Atlanta, GA (Moderator)
• Marnina Miller, Southern AIDS Coalition
• Vaty Poitevien, Housing Works, New York, NY
• Danielle Campbell, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

Trust Black Women: Investing in Femme Leadership to End HIV

2–4 PM
LeDroit Park, M3 Level, Marriott Marquis

This workshop will explore the importance of trusting Black femme leadership in ending the HIV epidemic in Black communities. Participants will learn about the historical and contemporary contributions of Black women in the fight against HIV and the importance of centering their leadership in HIV prevention and care efforts. Through interactive discussions, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the barriers to Black femme leadership in the HIV field, and how to promote and sustain equitable leadership opportunities.

Featuring: 

• De’Ashia Lee, ANEA Coalition Director, Treatment Action Group, Yemassee, SC (Moderator)
• Dafina Ward, Southern AIDS Coalition
• Tori Cooper, Human Rights Campaign, Atlanta, GA
• S Mandisa Moore-O’Neal, The Center for HIV Law and Policy, New Orleans, LA

The Gilead COMPASS Initiative®: 5 Years of Transforming the South

2–4 PM
Archives, M4 Level, Marriott Marquis

A Long Way Home: Housing Justice to End HIV

4:15–6:15 PM
LeDroit Park, M3 Level, Marriott Marquis

This workshop will explore the intersection of housing and HIV in Black communities. Participants will learn about innovative housing programs that have been successful in supporting people living with HIV and ending the epidemic. The workshop will also address the specific challenges faced by Black individuals and communities in accessing safe and affordable housing and the importance of addressing these issues in the context of HIV prevention and care. Through interactive discussions, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the impact of housing instability and homelessness on HIV outcomes, and how funding programs can support innovative housing solutions

Featuring: 

• Dafina Ward, Executive Director, Southern AIDS Coalition (Moderator)
• Cecilia Gentili, Principal Consultant and Founder, Transgender Equality Consulting, New York, NY
• Traswell Livingston, President and CEO, AIDS Services of Dallas, Dallas, TX
• Clover Barnes, Senior Deputy Director, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD and TB Administration (HAHSTAS), Washington, DC

Saturday, September 9

Centering Blackness in HIV Vaccine Research

9–11 AM
Shaw, M3 Level, Marriott Marquis

Intentional inclusion that focuses on needs of Black people and other racial/ethnic minority groups in HIV vaccine research will bring us closer to ending the HIV epidemic. As the toolbox of HIV prevention options expands, an efficacious HIV vaccine remains a critical need. Development of an HIV vaccine will provide another option for people who experience pill fatigue from PrEP, along with complexities of navigating a fragile, racist healthcare system. However, due to historical trauma and misinformation, Black communities are late adopters of biomedical interventions and understandably skeptical of vaccines and vaccine research, as highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite being disproportionately impacted by HIV, Black communities are underrepresented in HIV vaccine trials. To increase vaccine research advocacy among Black communities, the HIV Vaccine Trials Network funds Treatment Action Group, Black AIDS Institute, and Southern AIDS Coalition to develop community programs focused on increasing awareness and advocacy for HIV vaccines.

Featuring: 

• Abraham Johnson, MPH, Treatment Action Group, New York, NY
• Brady Maiden, Southern AIDS Coalition
• Briana Willis, Black AIDS Institute, Los Angeles, CA