2019 USCA Impact Report by NMAC

2019 IMPACT REPORT

ENDING THE

EPIDEMICS IN THEIR MEMORY PAUL. MICHAEL. BOBBY. BRANDY. CALU. CRAIG. DAVID. RICHARD. STEPHEN. RUSS. MICHAEL. EAZY-E. ARTHUR. PEDRO. SYLVESTER. ELIZABETH. HALSTON. PERRY. ROBERT. RYAN. RUDOLF. PETER. ALVIN. KEITH. AMANDA. SEAN. ZACHIE. ALISON. BOB. NKOSI. COLIN. MARLON. MAX. STEWART. MICHAEL. WILLI. TINA. HERB. ISAAC. ESSEX. PATRICK. VITO. LEONARD. RANDY. BOBBI. SUNNYE. JEFFREY. JIM. BJ. TERRY. JACI. CAROLYN. LAWRENCE. JOHN. YVONNE. DENNIS. MARY. PETRA. MELENIE. ALBERT. MARTY.

UNITED STATES CONFERENCE ON AIDS - SEPT 5-8, 2019 MARRIOTT MARQUIS WDC #2019USCA WWW.2019USCA.ORG

ABOUT USCA NMAC leads with race to urgently fight for health equity and racial justice to end the HIV epidemic in America. The United States Conference on AIDS (USCA) is the largest HIV-related gathering in the United States, bringing together thousands of participants from all segments of the HIV epidemic. This year was the 23rd annual USCA. With a theme of “Ending the Epidemics in Their Memory,” this year’s conference brought together more than 3,000 people in Washington, DC to learn more about the federal plan to end the epidemic and how to implement it effectively.

FORMAT USCA is a three and a half day conference that features plenary sessions, an exhibit hall, institutes, posters, and workshops. USCA offered nearly 300 workshops and institutes at three levels of instruction (introductory, intermediate, and advanced). Introductory levels were primarily didactic. Intermediate level sessions were didactic and interactive, while advanced level sessions were designed to maximize interaction between attendees and participants.

OPENING PLENARY The opening plenary featured an unprecedented opportunity for the HIV community at large to hear from the federal leaders who are creating and implementing the plan to end the epidemic. In a format based on Sunday morning TV news shows, Joy Ann Reid, host of “AM Joy” on MSNBC, held interview sessions with CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield, Indian Health Service Principal Deputy Director Rear Admiral Michael Weahkee, NIAID Director Dr. Robert Fauci, and Associate Administrator and Chief Medical Officer for the HIV/AIDS Bureau of HRSA Dr. Laura Cheever. A planned protest occurred during Dr. Redfield’s remarks.

Joy Reid and NIAID Director Dr. Robert Fauci

Associate Administrator and Chief Medical Officer for the HIV/AIDS Bureau of HRSA Dr. Laura Cheever

American Indian blessing at the opening

Joy Reid and Indian Health Service Principal Deputy Director Rear Admiral Michael Weahkee

CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield

GILEAD PLENARY On Friday, Gilead’s plenary explored the past, present, and future of the epidemic through video, music, and spoken words. An HIV timeline of events in the history of the epidemic along with remarks from activists who were there reminded all attendees of how far we’ve come. Featured speakers also spoke of their lives in the present and the challenges they continue to face. And special guest speaker Iyanla Vanzant galvanized the audience to keep moving forward in their work.

Ranyiah Copeland, Black AIDS Inst.

Douglas Brooks, Gilead

Carmarion Anderson, NMAC CAP

Che, UT Southwestern

Staci Bush, Gilead

Iyanla Vanzant

Jose’ Ramon Garcia Madrid, NMAC CAP

Nicole Becton-Odum

U=U PLENARY U=U (Undetectable=Untransmittable) was the focus of Saturday’s plenary. U=U is a critical tool to help end the epidemic by bringing people living with HIV into the prevention process. It also removes the fear of passing HIV along from the most intimate moments of their lives. Saturday’s plenary featured special performance by Branden + James (who are a serodiscordant couple) and Jade Elektra, who performed “Undetectable,” her version of Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable.”

Deondre Moore and Bruce Richman

Branden + James

Murray Penner

The full panel

Jade Elektra

PREP PLENARY USCA closed with a plenary focused on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and its vital role in ending the epidemic. NMAC Associate Policy & Advocacy Manager led a panel discussion with advocates about the importance of PrEP and the need for its adoption in all communities. The plenary closed with a celebratory hand off to San Juan, Puerto Rico, the host of USCA in 2020. The PrEP panel

Moderator Sable K. Nelson, NMAC

The DC Host Committee

Handoff to the San Juan Host Committee

ATTENDEES The 2019 USCA had a total of 3,523 in these categories: Sponsors Exhibitors Speakers Host Committee CAPs Youth Scholars 50+ Scholars Social Media Fellows Gay Men of Color Fellows Reclaiming Our Place at the Table Advocates Scholarships Volunteers Vendors Media/Press

50+ LIVING WITH HIV SCHOLARS

The HIV 50+ Strong and Healthy Program offers support and engagement opportunities for those HIV-positive and over the age of 50 who struggle with isolation and the need to overcome depression. The HIV 50+ program allows them to reinvent themselves and become active and productive individuals in the community. The program is composed of 51 individuals who either work with PLWH or are HIV positive and over the age of 50. The program consists of educational webinars, mini-grant and internship opportunities, sponsorships to conferences, and involvement at USCA. Thanks to Gilead for their support of this program.

YOUTH SCHOLARS NMACâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Youth Initiative (YI) is sponsored by ViiV Healthcare and partnered with Advocates for Youth. The program aims to assist young leaders in the fight to end the HIV epidemic, in becoming more effective and informed health advocates, and empowering them to become more active in their communities. Each year the program selects 30 qualified youth ages 21-25, both living with HIV and HIV negative allies to build their capacity to partner with a local community agency. This year, USCA saw 28 Youth Scholars plus five alumni who served as mentors.

SOCIAL MEDIA FELLOWS Each year, 18 Social Media Fellows are selected to attend USCA. Fellows use their social media skills to help spread the word about HIV prevention, care, and treatment and expand their abilities through interacting with others in the field. Through interaction with peers and other USCA attendees, the Fellows enhance their skills and their understanding of the epidemic. Thanks to Gilead for their support of this program.

GAY MEN OF COLOR FELLOWS The Gay Men of Color Fellowship in Biomedical HIV Prevention recruits 20 gay men of color from the targeted 48 counties in the federal plan to end HIV and trains them to become educators and advocates for Biomedical HIV prevention in their communities. The fellows participate in four educational video conferences and trainings at the 2019 United States Conference on AIDS (USCA) and 2019 Biomedical HIV Prevention Summit. After completing the program, they train their respective communities using the information they learned. The overall program goal is to increase literacy related to biomedical HIV prevention and policy. Thanks to Gilead for their support of this program.

RECLAIMING OUR PLACE AT THE TABLE Fourteen Reclaiming Our Place at the Table advocates sponsored by Merck were brought to USCA from jurisdictions identified in the federal plan to end the epidemic. The advocates received training to prepare them to work within their communities to successfully execute the federal plan. The goals of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Reclaiming Our Place at the Tableâ&#x20AC;? program are to: 1. Create a cadre of HIV Advocates who influence federal funding allocation and policies to bend the curve of new HIV infections, retain people of color living with HIV in care, as well as increase healthcare access and utilization for people of color who are living with, affected by and at risk for HIV. 2. Raise the issue of race and elevate the concerns of people of color who are living with, affected by and at risk for HIV.

THE GATHERING OF THE 57 (G-57) NMAC was honored to organize and facilitate the Gathering of the 57 (G-57), the first meeting of representatives from the 57 jurisdictions identified in the federal plan to end the HIV epidemic and many of the federal leaders responsible for the planâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s implementation. The meeting was meant to bring all participants together to talk, ask questions, share concerns, establish connections, and develop a sense of unity in this process. Representatives from 38 jurisdictions were ultimately able to join the meeting. NMAC will continue our organizing and education efforts with the G-57 going forward.

Sally Bouse: Administrative Programs Mgr. of Prevention & Intervention for Sexual Health & Harm Reduction Services for the Okla. Health Dept., Leo Parker: STD Prevention Director of Tenn. Dept. of Health and Kendra Jackson: Director of HIV/STD Div. of the Miss. Health Dept.

Linda Scruggs, Director of the NMAC Training Center

Dr. Janet Memark: District Health Director of Cobb & Douglas Public Health Department (Georgia) and Mario Perez: Director of the Division of HIV & STD Programs at LA County

Paul Kawata, NMAC Executive Director

Dr. S Elizabeth Ford: Director of DeKalb County Board of Health

INSTITUTES Institutes are longer workshops that focus on the issues of impacted populations and interest groups. This year’s topics included youth, faith, aging, housing, the South, intersectionality, social media, trans populations and racial/ethnic groups. Institutes are conducted by conference partners and NMAC’s Constituent Advisory Panel members.

OPENING RECEPTION The DC Host Committee presented a reception to welcome USCA attendees to the nation’s capital. The reception included an exhibition ball that featured Dominque Jackson, Mother Elektra from “Pose,” and a special performance by Mykki Blanco.

EXHIBITORS

Nearly 80 companies, organizations, and providers took part in the USCA Exhibit Hall, offering attendees an opportunity to learn more about their services.

ATTENDANCE

MOBILE APP PERFORMANCE This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mobile app had over 2,850 users logged in, the majority of users using iOS. Over 23,500 users offered contributions, with a total usage time of 148 Thousand minutes. Sessions were viewed over 203,000 times.

QUOTES & AFFIRMATIONS “Thanks NMAC and Paul Kawata for changing the meaning of being an activist woman living with HIV with young kids. This is historic to create space for women with young kids at the conference.” – Claire Gasamagera “This week reminded me that we still have a lot of work to do in regards to ending the HIV epidemic. At this moment, we must focus on preserving and enhancing the lives of Black communities working across this country to eradicate HIV/AIDS in the United States. The road to ending HIV is made more clear when we come together as Black people - gay and heterosexual men, cis and transgender women and men, and youth working alongside our elders in this movement to take strategic action. To all who attended the conference and crossed my path, thank you! Thank you for the valued conversations that served to recharge and give renewed strength for the work ahead. My heart is full and my hands are ready to work!” – Venton Hill-Jones “As I reflect on my time at the United States Conference on AIDS (USCA), the largest national conference on HIV/AIDS, all I can think of is how grateful I am. I was afforded the opportunity to co-facilitate trainings and mentor and empower the next generation of leaders in the HIV movement via the Youth Initiative Scholar Program. Never in a million years did I think me being this open about my HIV diagnosis would take me to places I could have only imagined being. I’m forever in awe of the elders who have paved the way for me to exist authentically in my truth.” – Marnina Ross-Miller “2019 USCA doesn’t owe me a thing! As I sit on this train headed back home, reflecting with a charge & pledge! We are the solution! U=U, PrEP & PEP, Transmen & GNC masc space! The category is LIVE, LOVE, POSE! Alex from ‘Noah’s Arc!’ Meet Tyrenne, he asked me to be his dad! I learned how to pray in Hawaiian language! Aloha! I am she & she was me! Say their names! BLACK TRANS LIVES MATTER! PROTECT BLACK TRANSWOMEN! I AM FULL.” – Jevon Martin “Biggest learning experience of my life to date…USCA 2019. I learned so much more about myself than I ever would have imagined. I got some work to do so I can do some work. I met the most amazing people and got to reacquaint myself with some old friends. I got my tarot read. I presented, I cried it out, I laughed, and I found sides of myself I didn’t know. I connected with some amazing people. I have opportunities I couldn’t even have imagined I’d leave with. I spent time with people I admire and learned from them. I got to watch my peers and colleagues present impressively well.” – Janine Brignola “We are two aspiring physicians - specifically working with infectious diseases. My time here at the USCA 2019 conference and being accepted on a national level has proven to be yet another amazing opportunity for career development, professional networking, and introspective behaviors.” - Jacundo Ramos

A special thank you to our sponsors THANK YOU SPONSORS