Participants will examine how personal narratives and culturally relevant messaging build trust, reduce stigma, and motivate communities to seek care and support. By moving beyond data-driven approaches alone, this session highlights how emotional connection is essential to developing an effective public health strategy.

This presentation affirms that the scientific evidence for U=U is settled, while addressing ongoing gaps in understanding and communication. It examines implementation as a workforce challenge that extends beyond a simple knowledge gap. Finally, it explores the next phase of embedding U=U into systems, policy, and culture.

Join the Thera Community Team for our next session, led by Will Cobbs, Jr., PhD, MPH, MA, Principal Researcher, AC Research, Inc. This presentation uses evidence-based interventions, including Storytelling for Empowerment, Seeking Safety, and RESPECT, the program addresses substance use behaviors, mental health, and HIV testing and treatment among adults 18 and older, with a special focus on those who are HIV positive or at heightened risk. The Puerto Rican Cultural Center (PRCC) delivers substance abuse, HIV prevention, and treatment services to Latino and African American men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender individuals who have sex with men (TSM) in the Chicago Metropolitan area. Findings reveal critical cultural nuances...

Join the Thera Community Team for our next session, led by Dr. Oni Blackstock, Founder & Executive Director, Health Justice. This presentation examines how the historical erasure of cisgender and transgender women from the HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to shape current HIV inequities. From activism demanding the CDC recognize women with AIDS to ongoing viral suppression challenges, the talk connects history to actionable solutions. Participants will learn evidence-based interventions, including the CUES framework for intimate partner violence, long-acting injectable ART, and bundled approaches to care.

Join the Thera Community Team for an important session, “Implicit Bias and Barriers to Accessing Healthcare,” led by Rev. Dr. Tommie Watkins, Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. By the end of this session, participants will understand how implicit bias, stigma, discrimination, systemic inequities, and HIV criminalization laws shape healthcare experiences and HIV outcomes in Black communities. They will recognize the significance of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day as a tool for education, prevention, and community engagement, and apply strategies to reduce bias while advocating for equitable, culturally responsive, and stigma-free HIV care.

Join the Thera Community Team for an important session led by Dr. DaJaneil S. McCree, behavioral and social scientist, health equity advocate, and award-winning author. This webinar will explore the consequences of intimate partner violence (IPV) on Black women living with HIV, examining how systemic inequities, trauma, and racism intersect to impact physical, emotional, and reproductive health. Participants will gain insights into how IPV affects HIV care engagement, treatment adherence, and overall well-being, while learning trauma-informed, strengths-based strategies to support Black women navigating violence and structural barriers to care. This session emphasizes culturally responsive, patient-centered approaches that recognize t...

Mable Taplin RN, MSN, Associate Director, Community Engagement explores the intersection of HIV, hormonal shifts, and overall wellness for women. It focuses on how HIV can influence physical, emotional, and sexual health, especially during transitions like menopause. Participants will learn about changes in body composition, increased cardiovascular and metabolic risks, and the role of chronic stress. The session also highlights the impact of stigma and the importance of mental health support. Emphasis is placed on culturally responsive care, self-advocacy, and practical steps to improve quality of life. Resources and strategies are tailored for real-world application, including how to access trusted support networks. The goal is to e...

Join the Thera Community Team for an impactful session led by guest speaker Armando Molina, CHW-I, Director of Organizational Development at Valley AIDS Council. This presentation will explore a Whole Person Care approach to HIV treatment, empowering healthcare providers and staff to deliver services with cultural humility. Participants will gain insights into how this inclusive, patient-centered model addresses the complex needs of individuals living with HIV — recognizing the importance of community, mental health, lived experience, and dignity in care delivery.

Join the Thera Community Team along with guest speakers Malcolm Reid, Founder of the United Arc Advocacy Group and long-term HIV survivor, and Kae Greenberg, Staff Attorney at the Center for HIV Law and Policy, for a powerful conversation in recognition of National HIV and Aging Day. This webinar will explore the current legal landscape for people living and aging with HIV. Participants will gain critical insights into how recent legal changes affect access to services, the unique challenges faced by those aging with a criminal record, and proactive steps to protect their rights and decision-making autonomy as they grow older.

Join the Thera Community Team and guest speaker, Shadawn McCants, LPC, NCC, CDWF, for a powerful conversation on exploring body-centered approaches to mental health for individuals living with HIV. Traditional talk therapy isn't the only path to healing—this webinar will highlight how somatic and holistic methods can support emotional wellness and resilience for those navigating life with HIV. Discover practical strategies that go beyond the therapy room and center the whole person in the journey toward healing.

In this session, special guest David D. Robertson, a licensed clinical social worker, global health scholar, and grief-informed technologist, invites us to rethink how we engage with grief in our work. Through a blend of global insight, research, and practical tools, this talk will explore how grief shows up in our clients, our communities, and ourselves and how naming it can be the first step toward healing.

Join the Thera Community Team and guest speaker, Ian L. Haddock, for a powerful conversation on honoring resilience, reclaiming joy, and building sustainable solutions in the face of ongoing challenges. This webinar will explore community-driven tools like social enterprise, strategic partnerships, and meaningful involvement to help us move forward—together.

Join the Thera Community Team and special guests, Dr. Ulysses Burley, Founder of UBtheCURE LLC, and Rev. Dr. Sande Bailey-Gwinn, Founder of Foundations For Living, who will explore the critical role that faith communities play in the fight against HIV by emphasizing innovative, community-driven approaches that integrate biomedical advancements. They will highlight faith-based models that combine spiritual, cultural, and scientific perspectives to support HIV research and enhance community-based education efforts. Drs. Burley and Bailey-Gwinn will examine how faith can act as a social determinant of health and how biomedical research institutions are leveraging faith-based partnerships to raise awareness and improve access to informati...

What if harm reduction wasn’t just about safety, but also about pleasure, freedom, and joy? This workshop reimagines harm reduction as a tool for empowerment, offering culturally responsive strategies for substance use and sexual health that center Black queer experiences. Attendees will explore practical, judgment-free strategies for navigating chemsex safely—ones that honor desire, connection, and well-being. Participants will also discover community-driven solutions that move beyond stigma toward healing and liberation.

HIV care for women should encompass a whole woman approach, and this includes healthy sex and feeling empowered about their bodies. Whether it is for prevention planning, or talking about sex after HIV, a therapeutic clinical relationship is built on trust and communication. This talk will explore why clinicians and women living with HIV should be talking about sex, the approach to sex-positive language, and how it impacts women’s overall health and wellbeing and the relationship between women and their providers.

This panel will explore the most pressing systemic and cultural barriers that hinder access to HIV care and contribute to low viral suppression rates in African American communities. It will also examine the role of faith-based institutions in shaping perceptions of HIV and their potential to serve as allies in advancing health equity. The discussion will conclude with a focus on actionable solutions, highlighting proven strategies and community-driven initiatives that have successfully increased care engagement and improved health outcomes in African American communities.

An insightful webinar that delves into innovative healthcare partnerships designed to tackle the goal of Ending the HIV Epidemic. Learn how to strengthen partnerships and grow relationships with key stakeholders, deepen your understanding of healthcare systems, and discover creative strategies to improve linkage to care, retention, and viral suppression outcomes.

Join us for a meaningful conversation about the effects of stigma and its continued impacts on HIV in the South. We will also discuss how we can work to shift the narrative. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a crucial dialogue to create positive change!

Here We Go Again… Disclosing Your HIV Status: Tools to Overcome Stigma

Addressing HIV Disparities in Hispanic and Latino Communities - Join us for an insightful webinar that delves into the unique challenges and disparities faced by Hispanic and Latino communities in the fight against HIV

An informative session where we'll explore community empowerment and wellness models designed to enhance cultural awareness and pride among adult transgender women of color. Participants will learn strategies on how to engage transgender women of color in providing HIV prevention/treatment. 

This session serves as a great starting point for those seeking to make a difference and will cover various topics such as understanding the legislative process, leveraging your voice effectively, federal legislative updates, and impactful methods for driving change. This introductory session offers valuable insights and sets the stage for further exploration into the realm of advocacy and activism. Don't miss out on this opportunity to equip yourself with the essential tools for driving meaningful change!

Using Community Science to Develop Culturally Relevant Interventions for ETE - The communities most impacted by HIV have been the innovators in creating interventions that make an impact in their communities. They are often not considered the scientists behind creating and curating lifesaving modalities. In this session, our guest speaker, Ian L. Haddock, will discuss the importance of community science in ending the HIV epidemic. This presentation gives tangible ways for the community to advocate for their inclusion in intervention and engaging ways for healthcare, academic, and other institutions to be more inclusive of lived experience in their programs.

Discover the crucial link between mental health disorders and HIV acquisition in our upcoming webinar, exploring how these interconnected issues amplify health disparities in marginalized communities, especially Black and Brown individuals. Gain insights into combating stigma and fostering a more inclusive healthcare system—don't miss this important conversation!

This webinar will give participants a thorough understanding of HIV statistics among young people in the United States. During this session, we will explore the variations in knowledge and awareness of the disease across different generations, and suggest effective ways to increase HIV awareness and knowledge among young people and future generations. By the end of the webinar, attendees should have the knowledge and tools they need to create impactful HIV awareness campaigns.

In this informative webinar, we will describe the epidemiology of anal cancer in people with HIV; discuss anal HPV and HPV vaccination for people with HIV; and discuss expert recommendations for anal cancer screening for people with HIV.

An open discussion led by the Thera Community Team and National HIV Consultant and Advocate, Leisha McKinley-Beach on the heartache of losing loved ones to complications of HIV in Black communities.

Dr. Bonnie Thomas, Medical Director at Howard Brown Health, provides us with a timely update about COVID-19, Influenza, and Monkeypox.

Join us for an engaging webinar where we'll explore critical aspects of healthcare and social equity. Our objectives are to illuminate the presence of inequity, inequality, and oppression within healthcare systems, dissect the distinctions between equality, equity, implicit bias, and intersectionality, and delve into the barriers hindering self-acceptance and self-awareness among clients, including addiction and historical trauma linked to systemic bias. Through powerful personal narratives, we'll empower participants to mobilize their social and spiritual networks to combat intersectionality, fostering a path towards wholeness and healing.

Although most people commonly believe that the medical data collected by their doctors is 100% private, that could not be further from the truth. All kinds of caveats and exceptions to medical privacy exist, including when data is requested by members of law enforcement. And in over two-thirds of the United States, people living with HIV can and are subjected to prosecution. It is against that backdrop that the CDC engages in molecular surveillance, the collection of certain data about EVERY person who has a positive HIV test, without their knowledge or consent. Attendees of this webinar should leave with: a better understanding of what HIV criminalization is; baseline knowledge about the history and process of molecular surveillance;...

Transgender women of color in the South face barriers to HIV services, including stigma, discrimination, inadequate employment, housing, healthcare access, and restrictive policies. Overcoming these challenges is crucial to improving the quality of life for black transgender women at risk for and living with HIV. Learn from transgender leaders about best practices and how public health initiatives can help the community thrive.

Join us as we embark through an empowering and transformative training designed to deepen our understanding of transgender identities and foster a healthier relationship with our own individual and unique genders. Drawing upon the latest research, personal narratives, and inclusive practices, this training encourages participants to reflect on their own gender identities and examine how societal norms and personal experiences have shaped their understanding. We will create a safe and supportive environment to address questions, concerns, and misconceptions, while cultivating empathy, respect, and allyship towards transgender individuals. By the end of this training, participants will emerge with a greater awareness of the nuances with...

Join us for an impactful webinar as we delve into the transformative power of collaboration and coalition building in the fight against HIV. In this session, we will examine the potential of an egalitarian style of leadership in your work, define ways to collaborate and build coalitions, and discuss the power of working together.

This interactive webinar will define trauma and explore trauma-informed care approaches. It will also help the participant to recognize signs of trauma and the effects of trauma on preventing, testing, and treating HIV. It has been demonstrated that trauma-informed care improves health and allows for a comprehensive and holistic approach to various treatments, including HIV. We will discuss the importance of developing HIV treatment programming that considers all the needs of those most at risk to assist in treatment, testing, and prevention effectively.

This presentation will discuss the disparities between HIV & Homelessness; treatment and suppression challenges in this population; and how to reach Millennials & Gen Z

This highly interactive workshop explores the historical context of Black women, their sexual image, sexuality, and how it impacts HIV prevention. This workshop will explore the sexual pleasure of Black women and how it can be integrated into the HIV prevention landscape. Lastly, the workshop will explore the solutions to including Black women in culturally relevant HIV prevention and linkage to care from a sex-positive pleasure-focused perspective.

Presenters Kamaria Laffrey and Lashanda Salinas will outline for participants what HIV criminalization looks like beyond the courtroom, how a person living with HIV is faced with a lifetime of ramifications from the criminal justice system which further perpetuates stigma. Lashanda will be sharing her personal lived experience as a survivor of HIV criminalization and explain to participants that they care about HIV criminalization, they just may not know it yet.

This presentation discusses realities of Sex Workers, differences between trafficking and consensual engagement and harm reduction in the profession.

During this presentation, we will examine vaccination rollouts of Hepatitis A, Meningococcal disease, and Monkeypox this year across the U.S. We will discuss what key insights we have learned, and what public health strategies from these rollouts could be used to minimize new HIV cases and the stigma surrounding HIV.

Based on an article by the National Medical Association, Black people are disproportionally disadvantage in every major category of mortality. Similarly, Black people are not well represented in Clinical Trial access and participation. There are a multiple reasons why Black individuals are not participating in Clinical Trials, but the four major reasons are: lack of awareness, economic factors, lack of tailored communications, and mistrust of private and governmental systems. The purpose of this webinar is to: provide education and awareness on the fundamentals of Clinical Trials; engage participates in a lively discussion about the truths and prevailing myths of Clinical Trials; and encourage participants to have a call to action in ...

The monkeypox virus is a member of the orthopoxviral family, albeit less virulent and infectious as its sibling the smallpox virus. The current 2022 outbreak has become a public health emergency, currently infecting over 9,600 people in the U.S and 30,000 globally. The current outbreak has also disproportionately impacted gay & bisexual men and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) and could further the stigma they face daily. This stigma isolates and delays the delivery of critical healthcare services, if not preventing them altogether. The U.S public health system is overstretched and underfunded, which underscores the anemic response to both COVID and Monkeypox. Health Inequity is the underpinning of the unclear and slow guid...

This presentation will provide an understanding of how gender dysphoria within young transwomen of color and gender non-conforming people can create a context of risk (mental health, substance use, and HIV). It will also discuss HIV prevention and substance use treatment strategies that have been developed within a culturally defined community of wellness approach combatting transphobia and racism amongst young adult transwomen of color. Finally, this session will explain that evidence-based and treatment models must be fluid, culturally respectful, cutting edge and current in their implementation to meet the mental health, HIV treatment and substance use prevention efforts of young, transwomen of color.

This presentation covers basic terminology such as how a bill becomes a law, how to use you voice effectively, federal legislative updates, and the most popular methods for affecting change. This introductory session provides a foundation for future learning opportunities and will include information on how to be more involved.

Understanding HIV Stigma means starting at the root and uncovering the misconceptions, biases, and language that keeps society full of trauma and triggers around HIV. Further, as people who participate in this work, it is essential for us to have tangible ways to change our outlooks that contribute to stigma remaining pervasive in society. In this training, we will speak on the implicit and explicit bias that contributes to stigma societally and professionally and give tangible ways to reduce stigma; thereby, helping to reduce the transmission of HIV and the uptake of PrEP and ART for people most affected by HIV.

We discuss actions we can take NOW to end HIV.  We will also discuss the work currently being done at the national and local levels. Members of the Professional Association of Social Workers in HIV & AIDS (PASWHA) and Community members will share their perspectives including lived and professional experiences.

An estimated 2.4 million elders identify as LGBTQ in the United States, with another generation aging into elderhood expecting that number to double. Unfortunately, there is no data available regarding the number of Canadians aged 65 and older who identify as members of the LGBTQ community – which only further cements the urgency of this education. The healthcare and aging services industries are ill equipped to support the unique needs of the transgender community. While conversations have advanced to make visible the invisible generation of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual elders - who have shown themselves to be the most resilient - research, best practices, and inclusive care continue to alienate our trans elders. This is a co...

Black Women and HIV Research: Join our esteemed panel of Black women researchers and study participants as we explore the state of Black Women in HIV Research today, discuss strategies for increased representation of Black women in key roles in HIV research, new initiatives developed to increase Black women's engagement in HIV research, and offer strategies for building trust to increase Black women's participation in research studies.

"HIV in Black America: Faith, Family, and the Future of HIV” will explore the intersections of faith (or religion) and family in relation to developing sustainable support systems for Black people living with HIV. This webinar will also examine the influence and the responsibility that Black led organizations have on changing the trajectory of HIV  in the Black Community

Transportation Equity or the ability to move across your community has become ever important. Transportation equity must be incorporated into our everyday conversations, whether it is to your HIV provider, affordable grocery store, or safe-green space to exercise. Join Daniel D. Driffin and Daniel J. Downer to learn more and discuss strategies to improve transportation equity and improve health outcomes. 

51% of PLWH in the U.S. are over age 50 and this trend is accelerating. Join a practical, clinical conversation about special considerations for treating and caring compassionately for older PLWH now and for years to come

When one thinks about prevention, it's most likely that one thinks about sexual transmission. However, prevention is about much more than just transmission. In this THERAThursdays community conversation, we will explore what it means to look at and understand what prevention really means from a perspective that prioritizes persons living with HIV and what that truly means as it relates to prevention.

The human bond with service and support animals has been shown to offer positive mental health and wellness benefits to People Living With HIV and other conditions. Join our conversation on the powerful healing, therapeutic effects of loving pets.

Continuity of HIV Care for Latinx Communities

A dynamic conversation led by Justin Smith, Director of the Campaign to End AIDS, Positive Impact Health Centers.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is extremely common and can lead to anal cancer that is on the rise among people living with HIV. Learn more about screening, treatment and a historic, current, nationalwide research study focused on HIV+ people.

A Conversation about Inequities impact on Ending the HIV Epidemic and What You Can Do About It.

Social Work is key to reducing new HIV infections and ensuring health equity. Through its multifaceted interventions, research, and advocacy, Social Work as a profession is well poised to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States. Social Workers navigate every system along the HIV Care Continuum to ensure optimal well-being of persons living with HIV/AIDS. Whether it is addressing the physical, mental health, or the basics social needs of individuals, Social Workers are working in a variety of roles to end the epidemic. This session will discuss the National Social Work Strategy to End HIV/AIDS, a plan developed by the Professional Association of Social Workers in HIV/AIDS (PASWHA).

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the U.S. have increased in recent years. Did you know that it can be harder to treat STIs if you have HIV, especially if you have a low CD4 count? Join us for TheraThursdays to learn more from Dr. Ken Mayer about STIs Among People with HIV.

We Are Family, I Got All My Sisters and Me_ Stories From Women on the Frontlines of the HIV Movement

Dr Thomas is back with important information on COVID-19 and vaccines

Listen in as Larry Scott-Walker from ThriveSS talks about the importance of support!

Gabe Maldonado gives us Tools for Combating Stigma in the Healthcare System & Promoting Resiliency in Vulnerable Communities

Mental Health check-in with Shadawn McCants 

Dr Bonnie Thomas talks us thru the intersection of HIV, COVID-19 and influenza!

This webinar introduces a novel yet true concept, V=V, (Viremia=Vulnerability) Together we explore how uncontrolled viral load (Viremia) leads to vulnerabilities physically, socially and emotionally. We will explore the varied context, constraints and factors that leads to uncontrolled viral loads, often leading to heighten vulnerability on multiple fronts; while simultaneously introducing strategies to mitigate the vulnerabilities. Damon Johnson, JR.