HIV Is Not a Crime Day ❤️ Closing Black History Month and Stepping Into Women’s History Month
As Black History Month comes to a close, I am reflecting on a month that was both full and meaningful. February 28 marked HIV Is Not a Crime Day, a reminder that stigma and outdated laws do not prevent HIV. Equity, access, compassion, and science do.
Public health is not only about data.
It is about dignity.
This month, I had the privilege of leading two webinars with the National Association of Doctors of Public Health:
Is the DrPH Right for You and Life After the DrPH: Careers, Leadership, and What Comes Next.
These conversations centered career pathways, leadership development, and the responsibility we carry as public health professionals to move strategy into action. Black History Month is always a time to honor legacy. It is also a time to build what comes next.
Moving Into Women’s History Month
As we step into Women’s History Month, the work continues.
Engaging Girls & Young Women in HIV Prevention
I am partnering with the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Southeast AIDS Education and Training Center for a webinar focused on HIV prevention strategies across the lifespan for girls and young women, an often underserved population in prevention efforts.
Featuring my brilliant colleague Brittany M. Williams.
Register here:
https://www.seaetc.com/event/?ER_ID=94504
Profs & Pints Northern Virginia
A Practical Guide to Social Change
March 15, 2026 | 5:30pm–8:00pm
Crooked Run Fermentation
This research-based talk explores how communities move from intention to measurable progress. We will discuss coalition building, testing ideas before scaling, using real data to guide decisions, and applying continuous improvement frameworks that create lasting impact.
Tickets:
https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-social-change
Guest Lecture
I will also be guest lecturing at the Columbia School of Social Work on March 26 on Health Equity and the Social Determinants of Substance Use. Conversations with future social workers are always energizing because they are shaping systems that touch real lives every day.
Launching: Real Talk Real Impact Podcast 🎙️
I am excited to officially share the launch of the Real Talk Real Impact Podcast, where I will host conversations with leaders, innovators, and disruptors advancing equity, entrepreneurship, and public health.
We focus on practical insight, lived experience, and real strategy that listeners can apply in their own work and leadership journeys.
Interested in being a guest?
Sign up here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdG-EAywTOiBy42TkxyfFBSgfQUmnH_ahjVNRnB_W1M0ARr2Q/viewform
Black History Month reminds us to honor the shoulders we stand on. Women’s History Month calls us to continue building forward. HIV Is Not a Crime Day reminds us that justice must remain at the center of public health.
The work continues. And we continue it together.
