Charles Sanchez

Charles Sanchez is an openly gay, HIV+ writer, performer, director and activist living in New York City. He is one of the co-founders of Skipping Boyz Productions, and conceived, writes and stars in the award-winning HIV musical comedy web series, Merce (MerceTheSeries.com).  His acting career has taken him from Lincoln Center and Off-Broadway, to the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and Murry’s Dinner Playhouse in Little Rock, AR. Since being diagnosed with full blown AIDS in 2003, he has added activist to his resume.  Sanchez is a Contributing Editor for TheBody.com and has had essays published on PositivelyAware.com, Them.us and HuffPost Queer Voices.  He was included in Healthline.com's list of HIV Honors: The Most Influential Voices of 2017, and was honored in POZ Magazine's 2018 POZ 100, celebrating people over 50 making a difference in the fight against HIV and the stigma surrounding it.

Charles Sanchez is an openly gay, HIV+ writer, performer, director and activist living in New York City. He is one of the co-founders of Skipping Boyz Productions, and conceived, writes and stars in the award-winning HIV musical comedy web series, Merce (<a href="http://MerceTheSeries.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MerceTheSeries.com</a>).  His acting career has taken him from Lincoln Center and Off-Broadway, to the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and Murry’s Dinner Playhouse in Little Rock, AR. Since being diagnosed with full blown AIDS in 2003, he has added activist to his resume.  Sanchez is a Contributing Editor for <a href="http://TheBody.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TheBody.com</a> and has had essays published on <a href="http://PositivelyAware.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PositivelyAware.com</a>, <a href="http://Them.us" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Them.us</a> and HuffPost Queer Voices.  He was included in <a href="http://Healthline.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Healthline.com</a>'s list of HIV Honors: The Most Influential Voices of 2017, and was honored in POZ Magazine's 2018 POZ 100, celebrating people over 50 making a difference in the fight against HIV and the stigma surrounding it.

Charles Sanchez - HIV+ Writer, Actor &  Activist

Jason Alvin

Robert &amp; Brady are thrilled to be speaking with Jason Alvin about his diagnosis and his daily FB LIVE show which captures him taking his HIV medication.About Jason:My name is Jason Alvin, and since my diagnosis with HIV in 2015, I have become a vocal advocate spreading the good news about recent HIV developments such as #PrEP and #UequalsU to friends family and strangers through facebook.  I have been taking my HIV medication live on facebook every day for over 2 years.  The community that has grown  around the show has been a tremendous source of support through what for me has been a really difficult diagnosis.  I am a registered nurse and worked on an inpatient psychiatric unit for 12 years.  I am a mental health professional, but I am also a patient.  I am married and have 2 sons that are 8 and 7 years old.Watch Jason is a Social Scientist

Robert &amp; Brady are thrilled to be speaking with Jason Alvin about his diagnosis and his daily FB LIVE show which captures him taking his HIV medication. About Jason: My name is Jason Alvin, and since my diagnosis with HIV in 2015, I have become a vocal advocate spreading the good news about recent HIV developments such as #PrEP and #UequalsU to friends family and strangers through facebook.  I have been taking my HIV medication live on facebook every day for over 2 years.  The community that has grown  around the show has been a tremendous source of support through what for me has been a really difficult diagnosis.  I am a registered nurse and worked on an inpatient psychiatric unit for 12 years.  I am a mental health professional, but I am also a patient.  I am married and have 2 sons that are 8 and 7 years old. Watch Jason is a Social Scientist

Jason Alvin shares his story

Join Robert Breining , Brady Dale Morris and Josh Robbins as they recap the guests and the HIVScoops of 2018.http://tobtr.com/s/11116771

Join Robert Breining , Brady Dale Morris and Josh Robbins as they recap the guests and the HIVScoops of 2018. <a href="http://tobtr.com/s/11116771" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://tobtr.com/s/11116771</a>

Year In Review with Robert, Brady and Josh

Positively Fearless is a campaign brought to you by the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson &amp; Johnson – that’s s redefining what it means to live with HIV and showing those living with HIV what is possible when you live “Positively Fearless”. Join me and the other Positively Fearless ambassadors as we reflect on the resilience, strength and fearlessness of the HIV community. Join the community on Instagram @PositivelyFearless and visit PositivelyFearless.com to learn more about how you can live Positively Fearless.

Positively Fearless is a campaign brought to you by the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson &amp; Johnson – that’s s redefining what it means to live with HIV and showing those living with HIV what is possible when you live “Positively Fearless”. Join me and the other Positively Fearless ambassadors as we reflect on the resilience, strength and fearlessness of the HIV community. Join the community on Instagram @PositivelyFearless and visit <a href="http://PositivelyFearless.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PositivelyFearless.com</a> to learn more about how you can live Positively Fearless.

Redefining What It Means to Live with HIV – Living Positively Fearless

Henry Goldring

HENRY GOLDRING is a product of the Midwest/Orrville, Ohio, and has lived for 25 years between New York City and Los Angeles.  He studied piano &amp; music at The College of Wooster in Ohio and The School of Music at Indiana University in Bloomington, and theatre at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena, California and with actress Ellen Burstyn in Los Angeles.  He has appeared in theatre, on Norman Lear TV sitcoms with Bea Arthur and Bonnie Franklin and sung in night-clubs on both coasts.  Henry has opened for comedienne Joan Rivers and his accompanist in New York was Arsenio Hall’s Band Leader, Jazz Pianist Michael Wolf.Although MR. GOLDRING shies away from labels, he is most proud of his personal journey as an HIV+ person navigating prejudice and misconceptions through writing (two theatrical productions and a memoir) and sharing his story on College Campuses, Podcasts/Radio and Book Fairs.  Henry recently returned from West Chester University in Pennsylvania on a panel examining “LGBTQ Jews In the US and the UK” alongside British trans activist Shaan Surat Knan.

HENRY GOLDRING is a product of the Midwest/Orrville, Ohio, and has lived for 25 years between New York City and Los Angeles. He studied piano &amp; music at The College of Wooster in Ohio and The School of Music at Indiana University in Bloomington, and theatre at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena, California and with actress Ellen Burstyn in Los Angeles. He has appeared in theatre, on Norman Lear TV sitcoms with Bea Arthur and Bonnie Franklin and sung in night-clubs on both coasts. Henry has opened for comedienne Joan Rivers and his accompanist in New York was Arsenio Hall’s Band Leader, Jazz Pianist Michael Wolf. Although MR. GOLDRING shies away from labels, he is most proud of his personal journey as an HIV+ person navigating prejudice and misconceptions through writing (two theatrical productions and a memoir) and sharing his story on College Campuses, Podcasts/Radio and Book Fairs. Henry recently returned from West Chester University in Pennsylvania on a panel examining “LGBTQ Jews In the US and the UK” alongside British trans activist Shaan Surat Knan.

Henry Goldring - Unbelievable

Join Robert &amp; Brady live Sunday Dec 2nd at 2pm EST when they sit down with the Zee Strong. Zee runs 3 HIV\AIDS related Facebook groups but you may recognize the name Zee Strong from the countless frames he has created across social medi. these frames were created  in hopes of destroying the stigma associated with the disease and have been used by 1000's. Call the show (929) 477-3572 with your questions, comments.

World AIDS Day - Zee Strong

During this live broadcast the Robert and Brady will be taking your calls about a range of hot topics related to living with HIV. Some topics that will be dicussed are depression,stigma,disclosure, finding a doctor etc.. Call the hosts live at  (929) 477-3572 with your questions or comments.

HOT TOPICS with Robert & Brady

Janine Brignola

Janine Brignola, the chick once known as HIVchick on YouTube returns to POZ I AM Radio. For the last 12 years since finding out I was HIV positive I have ran the spectrum from behind the scenes to big mouth, loud activist to putting on that blazer and sitting quietly and politely while fitting more into my societal standard gender role and what’s socially acceptable. I have graduated from a private college, secured a pretty cool big opportunity career then left the corporate man gig, got sober from alcohol (even with some relapses), lost over 120+ lbs, raised a pretty cool kid, and finally realized that my biggest success in life had been realizing that happiness is what we all want and happiness comes when you realize that success is living your life according to your standards and what is right for you; not the man, not society, not anyone else.My hope to accomplish with activism is awareness and prevention. Enlightenment and understanding. For myself and others. I want to show people that HIV doesn’t define a person and they can still do anything they want; as I have and am. That we can choose our path and not sometimes but every time. No matter the obstacles, no matter the setbacks and no matter others negative and ignorant opinions on it. So yeah, this is my bio and I wrote it, in first person, and this my friends is what HIV looks like and what it looks like to have HIV and rock the hell out of it. So take whatever “bad” you’re given and create the life you want! I did and I have barely gotten started.

Janine Brignola, the chick once known as HIVchick on YouTube returns to POZ I AM Radio. For the last 12 years since finding out I was HIV positive I have ran the spectrum from behind the scenes to big mouth, loud activist to putting on that blazer and sitting quietly and politely while fitting more into my societal standard gender role and what’s socially acceptable. I have graduated from a private college, secured a pretty cool big opportunity career then left the corporate man gig, got sober from alcohol (even with some relapses), lost over 120+ lbs, raised a pretty cool kid, and finally realized that my biggest success in life had been realizing that happiness is what we all want and happiness comes when you realize that success is living your life according to your standards and what is right for you; not the man, not society, not anyone else. My hope to accomplish with activism is awareness and prevention. Enlightenment and understanding. For myself and others. I want to show people that HIV doesn’t define a person and they can still do anything they want; as I have and am. That we can choose our path and not sometimes but every time. No matter the obstacles, no matter the setbacks and no matter others negative and ignorant opinions on it. So yeah, this is my bio and I wrote it, in first person, and this my friends is what HIV looks like and what it looks like to have HIV and rock the hell out of it. So take whatever “bad” you’re given and create the life you want! I did and I have barely gotten started.

Janine Brignola - HIV Chick

Eugene Willis

Billy Eugene Willis III is a activist based out of Central North Carolina. He has been living with HIV for 5 years, and advocating for HIV rights for the past 4. Billy was on the task force of people living with HIV and HIV professionals that helped modernize The NC Health Department’s HIV Control Measure. He has had many roles in his advocacy career, but his favorite is being a Youth Ambassador at Youth Across Borders (YAB). He visited Honduras this year with YAB to connect with youth PLWHIV. This activist’s next big projects are aimed at using art and entertainment to help fight against HIV stigma in his state.

Billy Eugene Willis III shares his story

Katie Willingham

Katie Willingham is a woman of transgender experience in rural north Alabama, diagnosed in June of 2000 but didn’t step into advocacy until January 2017, she now serves as Chair of Prevention for Thrive Alabama’s Community Advisory Board, sits on the HIV Prevention and Care Planning Group of the Alabama Department of Public Health, Policy Fellow and Alabama State Lead with the Positive Women’s Network, blogger for The Well Project’s A Girl Like Me blogging forum, and proud U=U minion.  She also runs 3 Facebook groups: Alabama Poz Life, Alabama Transgender Coalition and PWN Alabama members and allies.

Katie Willingham shares her story.

POZ I AM Radio  is a live-to-air podcast sharing positive stories of those living with HIV. The show covers a range of topics related to living with HIV/AIDS in the world today. Host Robert Breining is joined by a different guest each week who shares their personal story with the listening audience. Listeners are encouraged to call the hosts at (929) 477-3572 during the live hour broadcast to voice their opinions and share their experiences. The podcast airs live on Sundays at 2pm EST.

Every podcast gives opportunity for better understand of the challenges associated with living a positive life i admire these guys for their dedication to helping others affected by HIV 
Thanks for every thing 
keep the information coming

Informative and Prevalent

There has got to be a way to get better audio quality. Skype? It’s hard to understand what some people are saying.

Great Show, but...

POZ I AM Radio

Jennifer Vaughan

I'm a 47 year old single mother of 3 kids (17, 14 and 10). I've been working as a substitute teacher for 10 years and take jobs for any subject and any grade (kinder through senior year). In the last 18 months, I have been taking many jobs with the special needs kids and find these to be my most rewarding of days. In my free time, I'm an avid skater (skateboarding), surfer and now HIV Advocate/Activist. On 2/15/16, I was diagnosed with HIV, about a week later, I was told I had AIDS. My life changed in a split second. I decided to share my diagnosis with my Facebook family as many knew I had been very sick. It was met with immense support. During the next 5 months, I struggled with not knowing one other soul with HIV. The support I received from my Facebook announcement along with this need to connect with another woman like myself, gave me the courage to make my first YouTube video in August of 2016. I told my story to let people know that HIV could reach anyone, that you could lead a normal life with the virus today and I hoped to find some connections along the way. Boy did I! My video went viral (lol, that has always been a funny joke). Within months, I had almost 1000 subscribers, tons of new connections and a new voice I never imagined in the world of HIV. Today, I run a private page through Facebook for HIV+ women. I started it a year ago with roughly 15 women and we are 94 strong today. I blog for The Well Project's, A Girl Like Me website. I attended USCA in September of 2017 and began my U=U activism

Jennifer Vaughan -HIV+ Mother of 3

Jamar Rogers

On Sunday July 9th we have the pleasure of speaking our friend the amazing Jamar Rogers. Most of you will recognize Jamar from his time as a contestant on The Voice a few years ago. Jamar first shared his story with us when he appeared on The Voice and then again after he was eliminated from the show. After being a semi-finalist on The Voice, he appeared on The Ellen Show, and was also seen on a host of TV shows and media outlets such as E! Entertainment News, The Today Show, Rolling Stone Online, USA Today, US Weekly, People Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, The Huffington Post, CNN, HLN’s Showbiz Tonight, Billboard, POZ I AM Radio, POZ Magazine, MTV News, Popcrush, Sway In The Morning, BET, The Root Top 100, Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show and many more social projects such as the World AIDS Conference and The Clinton Global Initiative. He is signed to Tommy Boy Entertainment and has announced a July 2017 release for his debut album "Lazarus".

Jamar Rogers - Lazarus

Kevin Maloney

Kevin Maloney, the founder of Rise Up To HIV will return live with Robert this Sunday. Call the show live with your comments and questions (929) 477-3572The “No Shame About Being HIV+"” campaign was inspired by an image of Chelsea Clinton holding a sign for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. My vision for this campaign is to mobilize people across the United States and the world who are willing to stand up in an effort to reduce HIV stigma. Participants are empowered by the act of pairing a simple statement with their personal story and photo. There is no greater feeling or power than being able to stand up to your fears, not being held hostage by your diagnosis, being amongst people who understand and being knowledgeable or gaining greater understanding of something you may have thought you had no control over but actually do. Rise up to HIV and help end the stigma! Be part of #TeamNoShame.?

Kevin Maloney, the founder of Rise Up To HIV will return live with Robert this Sunday. Call the show live with your comments and questions (929) 477-3572 The “No Shame About Being HIV+"” campaign was inspired by an image of Chelsea Clinton holding a sign for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. My vision for this campaign is to mobilize people across the United States and the world who are willing to stand up in an effort to reduce HIV stigma. Participants are empowered by the act of pairing a simple statement with their personal story and photo. There is no greater feeling or power than being able to stand up to your fears, not being held hostage by your diagnosis, being amongst people who understand and being knowledgeable or gaining greater understanding of something you may have thought you had no control over but actually do. Rise up to HIV and help end the stigma! Be part of #TeamNoShame. ?

Kevin Maloney - Rise Up To HIV

Stephen Bloodworth

Stephen Bloodworth is the founder and president of Team Friendly Tennessee, a nonprofit organization serving Tennessee since 2013, an extension of the Mr. Friendly campaign. Locally, Stephen’s HIV education and advocacy work led him to serve at the request of the mayor as board member of the Nashville Regional HIV Planning Council. He also lobbied state legislators during HIV Day on the Hill. Nationally, Stephen attended AIDS Watch in Washington, D.C., where he met with members of Congress to educate them about the important issues facing people living with HIV/AIDS. Stephen lives north of Nashville, Tennessee, where he enjoys spending time with his dog, Russell.

Stephen Bloodworth - Team Friendly Tennessee

Guy Anthony is a well-respected HIV/AIDS activist, community leader and author. Diagnosed with HIV as a teen, Guy has dedicated his adult life to the pursuit of neutralizing global HIV/Aids-related stigmas. He released Pos(+)tively Beautiful: Affirmations, Advocacy &amp; Advice on World AIDS Day in 2012. This collection of inspiring narratives, raw imagery, and affirming anecdotes has earned Guy much acclaim, including being named one of the top 100 HIV prevention leaders under 30 by POZ Magazine and as one of the top 100 Black LGBTQ/SGL Emerging Leaders to Watch by National Black Justice Coalition.Guy served as a Program Manager/Coordinator for the Treatment Adherence program at Us Helping Us, a local AIDS service organization serving Black communities in the Washington, DC area for two years. In his role at US Helping Us, Guy worked with newly diagnosed Black gay men to help them come to terms with their status, navigate the complex health care system so they can access care, and develop plans for them to adhere to their treatment regimen and achieve viral suppression. Guy also serves on Washington, DC’s Ryan White Planning Council, overseeing millions of dollars in HIV funding for the city and is a regular contributor to AIDS.gov and POZ.com. Guy serves as a brand ambassador to ViiV Healthcare, one of the country’s largest pharmaceutical companies. He is the President/CEO the Black, Gifted &amp; Whole Foundation, a two-fold intermediary organization that provides scholarships to Black gay men attending Historically Black Colleges &amp; Universities. Guy is currently focused on mobilizing HIV-positive Black gay men. He hosts POZ-ONLY advocates dinners quarterly, and facilitates a summit entitled “#POZTALK”, which is an intergenerational conversation that transcends age and socio-economic status. He is currently pitching these #POZTALKS to Black Gay Pride Celebrations around the Country.

Guy Anthony is a well-respected HIV/AIDS activist, community leader and author. Diagnosed with HIV as a teen, Guy has dedicated his adult life to the pursuit of neutralizing global HIV/Aids-related stigmas. He released Pos(+)tively Beautiful: Affirmations, Advocacy &amp; Advice on World AIDS Day in 2012. This collection of inspiring narratives, raw imagery, and affirming anecdotes has earned Guy much acclaim, including being named one of the top 100 HIV prevention leaders under 30 by POZ Magazine and as one of the top 100 Black LGBTQ/SGL Emerging Leaders to Watch by National Black Justice Coalition. Guy served as a Program Manager/Coordinator for the Treatment Adherence program at Us Helping Us, a local AIDS service organization serving Black communities in the Washington, DC area for two years. In his role at US Helping Us, Guy worked with newly diagnosed Black gay men to help them come to terms with their status, navigate the complex health care system so they can access care, and develop plans for them to adhere to their treatment regimen and achieve viral suppression. Guy also serves on Washington, DC’s Ryan White Planning Council, overseeing millions of dollars in HIV funding for the city and is a regular contributor to <a href="http://AIDS.gov" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">AIDS.gov</a> and <a href="http://POZ.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">POZ.com</a>. Guy serves as a brand ambassador to ViiV Healthcare, one of the country’s largest pharmaceutical companies. He is the President/CEO the Black, Gifted &amp; Whole Foundation, a two-fold intermediary organization that provides scholarships to Black gay men attending Historically Black Colleges &amp; Universities. Guy is currently focused on mobilizing HIV-positive Black gay men. He hosts POZ-ONLY advocates dinners quarterly, and facilitates a summit entitled “#POZTALK”, which is an intergenerational conversation that transcends age and socio-economic status. He is currently pitching these #POZTALKS to Black Gay Pride Celebrations around the Country.

Guy Anthony - Black Gifted & Whole

As a local Foster Youth, LGBTQIA, and HIV/AIDS activist, Prizila Vidal continues to advocate for foster youth both working with youth during the coming out process, and during the transitional age of 18-24, linking young adults to housing, education and employment resources. Her  journey with HIV brought her to the Mother, Child and Adolescent Program (MCAP) at UC San Diego, where she continues to volunteer her time and story as a speaker for events and workshops. At the age of 24 she had aged out of the program and decided to continue advocating for HIV/AIDS Positive individuals but more so for anyone interested in their health and getting some support. She knows that the primary source to one’s health is having support. She unfortunately  did not have that support . Before she was even diagnosed she did not know anything about HIV/AIDS, nor how risky it can be and easy it is to contract it, although she got the disease by being raped. After knowing how easy it easy to contract it and share it she knew that she had to do something. She decided to bring up the so controversial topic to anyone and everyone that she could. These days besides her regular job she is an Educator on HIV/AIDS as well as many other topics I educate on. Furthermore, she  would like to encourage all of you out there that are newly or already diagnosed to find that Support and get your health if not Good then Better!!

Prizila Pozitiva - Trans-cending Pozitively

Michael Hager

Michael Hager was diagnosed with HIV in November 2002 when he was just 22 years old. Already grappling with Crohn's Disease at the time, Michael was completely unprepared to handle HIV and finish his coursework and forge ahead to medical school. He decided to lean into HIV and started working for the Boston Public Health Commission AIDS Program to learn more about his circumstances and others in similar situations. He was there for five years in multiple capacities from managing Ryan White Part A primary care, mental health, and transportation contracts to helping to manage the Boston HIV Services Planning Council. After completing his public health degree, he briefly worked in India on several projects, including Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria Round 8 proposal writing. In a whirlwind.  Michael has been with the NY AIDS Institute National Quality Center where he has led several national campaigns, including the in+care Campaign and end+disparities Learning Exchange in addition to key multi-state learning collaboratives, including the HIV Cross-Part Care Continuum Collaborative (H4C). In his spare time, he has been building a charitable social community of gay men living with HIV in New York called, impac+NYC and overseen its transformation from a weekly happy hour into a formal 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with multiple community activities and social outlets. In addition, he has been ramping up his own private consultancy to launch on September 1, 2017, which will focus on domestic and international peer learning around HIV and quality of care. Michael is the President and CEO of Hager Health, LLC and the Executive Director of impac+NYC and is based in New York, NY. He has a master of public health degree in epidemiology and a master of arts degree in comparative public health policy.

Michael Hager was diagnosed with HIV in November 2002 when he was just 22 years old. Already grappling with Crohn's Disease at the time, Michael was completely unprepared to handle HIV and finish his coursework and forge ahead to medical school. He decided to lean into HIV and started working for the Boston Public Health Commission AIDS Program to learn more about his circumstances and others in similar situations. He was there for five years in multiple capacities from managing Ryan White Part A primary care, mental health, and transportation contracts to helping to manage the Boston HIV Services Planning Council. After completing his public health degree, he briefly worked in India on several projects, including Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria Round 8 proposal writing. In a whirlwind.  Michael has been with the NY AIDS Institute National Quality Center where he has led several national campaigns, including the in+care Campaign and end+disparities Learning Exchange in addition to key multi-state learning collaboratives, including the HIV Cross-Part Care Continuum Collaborative (H4C). In his spare time, he has been building a charitable social community of gay men living with HIV in New York called, impac+NYC and overseen its transformation from a weekly happy hour into a formal 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with multiple community activities and social outlets. In addition, he has been ramping up his own private consultancy to launch on September 1, 2017, which will focus on domestic and international peer learning around HIV and quality of care.  Michael is the President and CEO of Hager Health, LLC and the Executive Director of impac+NYC and is based in New York, NY. He has a master of public health degree in epidemiology and a master of arts degree in comparative public health policy.

Michael Hager - Hager Health

Kalvin Pugh

Kalvin Pugh is a social media advocate and HIV Peer Educator in Kansas City Missouri. After being diagnosed HIV+ in 2016 he began sharing his relatively short journey with friends and family on Facebook. After receiving support for his brave honesty he decided to dedicate his focus on social media to show support and demonstrate hope to others living with HIV around the globe as Positively Kalvin. On social media he shares an unapologetic view of living well, and defying stigma with the hopes that it will change others viewpoint on living with HIV.   After 10 years in the beauty industry he felt the need to translate Positively Kalvin into a real life setting and took a position as HIV Peer Educator at the Kansas City Care Clinic. He daily works with patients newly diagnosed and those whom find difficulty being adherent to their medications and staying in care. In 2017 he was a finalist in the Andrew Christian Trophy Boy model search, has appeared in articles, social media campaigns, and a documentary film discussing the stigma of living with HIV

Kalvin Pugh is a social media advocate and HIV Peer Educator in Kansas City Missouri. After being diagnosed HIV+ in 2016 he began sharing his relatively short journey with friends and family on Facebook. After receiving support for his brave honesty he decided to dedicate his focus on social media to show support and demonstrate hope to others living with HIV around the globe as Positively Kalvin. On social media he shares an unapologetic view of living well, and defying stigma with the hopes that it will change others viewpoint on living with HIV.    After 10 years in the beauty industry he felt the need to translate Positively Kalvin into a real life setting and took a position as HIV Peer Educator at the Kansas City Care Clinic. He daily works with patients newly diagnosed and those whom find difficulty being adherent to their medications and staying in care. In 2017 he was a finalist in the Andrew Christian Trophy Boy model search, has appeared in articles, social media campaigns, and a documentary film discussing the stigma of living with HIV

Kalvin Pugh - Positively Kalvin

Butch Mckay

This Sunday, August 13th at 2pm EST, Robert will have the pleasure of speaking with Butch Mckay the Founder of the Positive Living conferences that take place each year in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. This September 15th-17th Butch and the OASIS family will be celebrating the 20th year Anniversary of Positive Living. Butch Mckay is currently Executive Director of Okaloosa AIDS Support and Informational Services, Inc. (OASIS), a position he has held since 1996. He founded the Positive Living Conference Series in 1997.We will also be joined by Cathy Robinson-Pickett who will be sharing about her experience as a attendee and presenter at Positive Living.

This Sunday, August 13th at 2pm EST, Robert will have the pleasure of speaking with Butch Mckay the Founder of the Positive Living conferences that take place each year in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. This September 15th-17th Butch and the OASIS family will be celebrating the 20th year Anniversary of Positive Living. Butch Mckay is currently Executive Director of Okaloosa AIDS Support and Informational Services, Inc. (OASIS), a position he has held since 1996. He founded the Positive Living Conference Series in 1997. We will also be joined by Cathy Robinson-Pickett who will be sharing about her experience as a attendee and presenter at Positive Living.

Butch Mckay - Positive Living celebrates 20 years

Mary Bowman

Mary Bowman is an internationally recognized motivational speaker, singer, and poet native to the Washington, DC area. Drawing from personal experience, both transparent and vulnerable whether, in poetry or song, her words allow her access to spaces that aren’t traditionally artistic. From local open mic nights to international conferences and beyond, Mary shares herself openly and proudly.Mary’s life and work have been featured in various mediums; print publications, as well as broadcast television and radio networks. Her powerful performance caught the attention of the editors of A&amp;U Magazine and led them to invite Mary to grace the cover of the August 2016 issue.Mary is humbly continuing to carry out her vision to inspire people to find their own personal empowerment and freedom through her art. Mary has three projects available for purchase, ‘LOTUS’ the 2010 collection of poetry, LOVE B.O.A.T.S. the ep, released in 2014, and EMERGE the 2017 collection of poetry.	Book Description:	Emerge is a front row seat to the last 28 years of Mary Bowman’s journey through life, exploring her relationship with love, pain, and triumph. It is an honest and raw, first-hand poetic account of what it means to Emerge; To rise from an inevitable death in order to freely live. Sort of how a caterpillar dies intentionally to both its title and cocoon, emerging the butterfly that always was, always is, and always will be.

Mary Bowman is an internationally recognized motivational speaker, singer, and poet native to the Washington, DC area. Drawing from personal experience, both transparent and vulnerable whether, in poetry or song, her words allow her access to spaces that aren’t traditionally artistic. From local open mic nights to international conferences and beyond, Mary shares herself openly and proudly. Mary’s life and work have been featured in various mediums; print publications, as well as broadcast television and radio networks. Her powerful performance caught the attention of the editors of A&amp;U Magazine and led them to invite Mary to grace the cover of the August 2016 issue. Mary is humbly continuing to carry out her vision to inspire people to find their own personal empowerment and freedom through her art. Mary has three projects available for purchase, ‘LOTUS’ the 2010 collection of poetry, LOVE B.O.A.T.S. the ep, released in 2014, and EMERGE the 2017 collection of poetry. 	Book Description: 	Emerge is a front row seat to the last 28 years of Mary Bowman’s journey through life, exploring her relationship with love, pain, and triumph. It is an honest and raw, first-hand poetic account of what it means to Emerge; To rise from an inevitable death in order to freely live. Sort of how a caterpillar dies intentionally to both its title and cocoon, emerging the butterfly that always was, always is, and always will be.

Mary Bowman - EMERGE

Hank Trout

Hank is a 64-year-old Gay man, a 37-year resident of San Francisco, a 28-year Long-Term HIV/AIDS Survivor (diagnosed in 1989), a writer and occasional editor.  In the early 1980s, He wrote a lot of fiction and edited Drummer, Malebox, and Folsom Magazines.  Then AIDS hit, and suddenly the act of writing fiction seemed frivolous, almost disrespectful, and so Hank stopped writing.  For more than thirty years, He stopped writing -- the things that He knew He needed to write about were simply too painful even to contemplate, let alone write about.  Then, finally, in 2015 his fiance Rick convinced him, that it was time to push through that pain and get back to writing.  His "second act" began with the publication of his poem "Tornado" in A&amp;U: America's AIDS Magazine, where he has published since January 2016 and have recently been named an Editor-at-Large. His bi-monthly column in A&amp;U, "For the Long Run," addresses issues we Long-Term HIV/AIDS Survivors face.

Hank Trout - For the Long Run

Jack Mackenroth

Jack Mackenroth is most widely known for his participation as a fashion designer on season 4 of Project Runway. He became one of the nations most visible HIV activists when he disclosed his positive HIV status on the show. It was the first public television disclosure since Pedro Zamora in 1994. Jack currently works as a media strategist for Housing Works in New York. There he art directed the New York based #PrEPheroes campaign to promote PrEP and he is currently promoting the Housing Works fundraiser, Braking AIDS Ride. He also plans to personally raise $75,000 and participate in the 300 mile bike ride in September. (He raised $56,000 in 2014) In 2013 he was the creator of the multi-media anti-stigma and HIV testing initiative, “HIV Equal”. On World AIDS Day 2014, he conceptualized and launched the HIV Shower Selfie Challenge with the hashtag #weareALLclean, which went globally viral in multiple countries with over 26 million social media impressions and translations in over 10 languages. From 2014 to 2016, Jack was the Senior Communications Officer of MSMGF—The Global Forum On MSM and HIV.Jack has two bachelor’s degrees from the University of California at Berkeley and one from Parson School of Design. He has been HIV positive for 28 years, since the age of 20.

Jack Mackenroth - Braking AIDS Ride

Dale Morris

Brady Dale

Known for his deeply Southern accent, Brady Dale Morris is a national HIV advocate and public speaker living in Nashville, Tennessee.  After receiving an AIDS diagnosis in July 2009, Brady began a downward spiral into drugs, alcohol, and depression that led him down a path that ended in several suicide attempts. While recovering from his last attempt, an acquaintance approached him and told Brady he too had recently been diagnosed and needed help in what steps he should take next. That was Brady’s “light bulb” moment and from that day he has dedicated himself to helping those newly diagnosed with HIV and combating the stigma directly felt by others living with HIV.  As an independent advocate, he uses his online reach to promote factual and accurate health information about UequalsU and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP.)  Additionally, Brady works in several large capacities with big organizations including: Tennessee AIDS Advocacy Network (TAAN,) Tennessee Association of People With AIDS (TAPWA,) Community HIV AIDS Partnership (C.H.A.P.,), is a founding member of the National Steering Committee for Prevention Access Campaign’s #UequalsU message, and has served as the Co-Chairman of the Nashville Regional HIV Planning Council for the past two years.

Brady Dale Morris shares his story

Eric Wilkins

Donning his running shoes, Jamil Eric Wilkins triumphantly races for his life against HIV. Athleticism has become the hallmark by which he thrives over his condition and the stigma associated with living with HIV.?He often thinks back to his  first week on the track team when his knees gave out and he chose to continue his pursuit anyway. That same strength presented itself years later when he was on the cusp of advancing from HIV to AIDS. "My emotions had more calluses than my feet, but I refused to give up on myself, as I didn’t in the beginning," he said. Along with running being an outlet to earn his right to live, Jamil feels that his running mastery gives him the authority over his condition to make it happen. "We run races counterclockwise on a track, which meant that each time I placed one foot in front of the other I felt I was turning back the clock just enough to reclaim the power over my life," Jamil says.Jamil feels that the moment we are presented with a life-changer and we make the choice to rise above it, we are setting the tone for what’s to come. His athleticism led him to the Braking AIDS Ride and the Positive Pedalers, whose mission is to eliminate the stigma behind HIV by being a positive public example. After 14 years of running, Jamil gets to take on new, hopeful challenges and show others what living with HIV can look like.

Donning his running shoes, Jamil Eric Wilkins triumphantly races for his life against HIV. Athleticism has become the hallmark by which he thrives over his condition and the stigma associated with living with HIV. ? He often thinks back to his  first week on the track team when his knees gave out and he chose to continue his pursuit anyway. That same strength presented itself years later when he was on the cusp of advancing from HIV to AIDS. "My emotions had more calluses than my feet, but I refused to give up on myself, as I didn’t in the beginning," he said. Along with running being an outlet to earn his right to live, Jamil feels that his running mastery gives him the authority over his condition to make it happen. "We run races counterclockwise on a track, which meant that each time I placed one foot in front of the other I felt I was turning back the clock just enough to reclaim the power over my life," Jamil says. Jamil feels that the moment we are presented with a life-changer and we make the choice to rise above it, we are setting the tone for what’s to come. His athleticism led him to the Braking AIDS Ride and the Positive Pedalers, whose mission is to eliminate the stigma behind HIV by being a positive public example. After 14 years of running, Jamil gets to take on new, hopeful challenges and show others what living with HIV can look like.

Jamil Eric Wilkins - Shares his story

Mark S. King

"Award-winning writer and activist Mark S. King is the force behind the blog My Fabulous Disease. He has been speaking out on behalf of people living with HIV since testing HIV positive in 1985. His blog has been nominated for a GLAAD Media Award three times and won the Nat'l Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association award twice. He was named "One of 13 Legendary AIDS Activists" by HIV Equal, and he tries not to let any of this make him feel old."

Mark S. King - My Fabulous Disease

Davina Conner

Davina Conner (Dee) was diagnosed with HIV 21 years ago. She’s an advocate, radio host,speaker,   a   founding   steering   committee   member   of   Prevention   access   campaign(UequalsU), Co-Chair of PWN Colorado and a member of the Denver HIV Planning Council,  Dee   obtained   her   Associates   Degree  in Public Health in  2018  and  is   now working towards her Bachelor’s Degree. She started a non-profit organization called PozHaven Foundation that started out as grassroots advocacy Dee mentors those newly diagnosed and individuals who are struggling mentally by way of telephone or in-home mentoring. She’s one of 4 advocates that is in the first UequalsU campaign in the United States called Positive Series. Davina started advocating because of the stigma that many go through being diagnosed with HIV and is determined to work hard for women of color, trans women and all women with HIV. Davina’s podcast Pozitively Dee Discussion has been running for 4 years and Dee uses her show as a platform to educate individuals who are HIV positive and HIV negative. Dee feels that reaching everyone on all levels in all   states   will   show  others  that   HIV  is  not  a  death  sentence   at   all   and   is   very manageable. Standing for the rights of everyone no matter how they choose to live. We have one life to live and Dee wants people to know that they can live their best life regardless of what they feel has hindered them. Dee works to inspire, encourage and motivate others to live their best life and says once you change your way of thinking it gives you a different perspective in life and God then leads you in the way you should go.

Davina Conner - Pozitively Dee Discussion

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