Champions of Change

Champions of Change: Fighting Aids

This month marks the 30th year of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. While much progress has been made, including the release of the first comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy by the President last year, more is needed and it will take all of us. As the President has said, “government cannot take on this disease alone.” These Champions of Change that met here at the White House are living examples of both the progress made and challenges we continue to face. This is an opportunity to recommit ourselves and to learn more about the inspiring work of these Champions of Change in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Jury has been an AIDS advocate since 1995. He is currently the Director of Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team (APAIT) in Los Angeles which provides HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, research,...

Christian F. Castro is Program Director of the Latinos in the Deep South Program of the Latino Commission on AIDS. The program aims to build local leadership, network development and coalitions,...

While Hadiyah Charles has an overall interest in health and wellness, she is especially committed to working on the integration of sexual and reproductive health and HIV policies, services,...

Ms. Chamblee is an Executive and a seasoned advocate within and for the Transgender community. Ms. Chamblee brings over 20 years of solid community-based organizing experience to bear on issues...

Diagnosed with HIV at 21, while a student at the University of Houston, Ms. Gray started her career as a juvenile health educator at AIDS Foundation Houston. For the past 20 years, Ms. Gray has...

Beri Hull is the Global Advocacy Officer for the International Community of Women Living with HIV and AIDS (ICW). ICW has around 15,000 members from 120 countries; ICW is the only global network...

Cleve Jones, founder of The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. Cleve Jones lives in San Francisco, California and works as a community organizer for UNITE HERE, the international union...

Appointed President/CEO of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) in February 2011, David Ernesto Munar brings to his work more than two decades of accomplishments fighting HIV/AIDS. Munar has...

Ron Simmons, Ph.D., has served as the Executive Director or President/CEO for 18 years. Under Dr. Simmons leadership, what began as a self-help group for HIV-infected Black gay men is today one of...