Lamar McMullen, at Empower U Community Health Center

February 2023 - Thera Community Champion

"Born and raised in Miami, I was able to learn all that I can learn from my OWN EXPERIENCE", says Lamar Lamar McMullen a 35 yr. old Bahamian American born in the late 80s, that works at Empower U Community Health Center and has been there for 5 years as of November 1. I am the Mpowerment Coordinator where he is able to provide a safe space for the LGBTQIA community to have safe conversations about HIV, STD, livelihood, and much more. He is a SGL man of color, a recovering addict with 9 years clean, and a PLWH, and is proud of who he is today. “If you knew my story you will understand,” says Lamar. He is the vice-chair of the Miami Dade Partnership Community Coalition, a CAB member for the University of Miami, an NCAB member for the Mac/Whis Combined Cohort Study, and a recipient of many awards relating to HIV advocacy and has totally changed the game in so many ways. He is a GRIOT (African Storyteller) who was a part of a docu-film called "Outrun the Sky" that was recorded back in Jan. of 2019 and was finally released in June for National Testing Day. The docu-film talks about drug addiction, suicide, abandonment issues, barriers, and more as it relates to the LGBTQ community. All the brothers in the film came from the high 5 prevalent areas in the south (Miami, Atlanta, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Jackson Mississippi)