Aracelis Quinones, at LCOA

May 2026 - Thera Community Champion

Aracelis Quinones is the coordinator of Poder Latino, a program of the Latino Commission on AIDS. She leads a group of HIV-positive Latinos who meet monthly for trainings on HIV policy, advocacy, self-care, and empowerment—all with the goal of improving health outcomes and boosting self-esteem. A proud Puerto Rican mother and grandmother, Aracelis is a survivor of HIV, hepatitis C, substance abuse, and domestic violence. Her lived experience drives her deep commitment to educating others, especially Spanish-speaking communities, about viral suppression, access to care, and long-term retention in treatment. She has been instrumental in promoting U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable), fighting HIV-related stigma, and empowering people living with HIV to see themselves as essential partners in ending the HIV epidemic.