I am honored to nominate Ashton Whitehead for a Thera Thursdays Award in recognition of her extraordinary resilience, leadership, and unwavering commitment to serving the community. Ashton's journey is one marked by profound loss, strength, and purpose. After losing her child to AIDS due to failures within the healthcare system, she transformed her pain into passion, dedicating her life to ensuring that others have access to education, support, advocacy, and compassionate care. Rather than allowing tragedy to define her, Ashton has used her lived experience to become a powerful voice for People Living with HIV and those affected by HIV. As one of the coordinators of MPowerment, a Detroit-based support group led by and for People Living with HIV, Ashton consistently creates safe spaces where individuals can find encouragement, resources, and community. Her leadership helps empower others to navigate their own journeys with dignity and hope. Ashton also participated in the EHE in the D digital campaign, courageously sharing her story to help educate the community, reduce stigma, and inspire conversations around HIV awareness, testing, treatment, and prevention. Her willingness to be visible and vulnerable continues to impact countless lives throughout Detroit and beyond. Those who know Ashton recognize her as the epitome of passion and excellence in community service. She leads with compassion, advocates with purpose, and serves with a level of authenticity that inspires everyone around her. Her dedication to uplifting others, especially those who have been marginalized or overlooked, exemplifies the spirit of healing, empowerment, and community that the Thera Thursdays Award seeks to honor. For her leadership, advocacy, resilience, and lifelong commitment to serving others, I wholeheartedly recommend Ashton Whitehead for this recognition.