But I’m Still Here… The Bravery of Living with HIV for Over 40 Years

But I’m Still Here…

The Bravery of Living with HIV for Over 40 Years

March 24, 2026

By Joanna LaBelle

My journey started with a positive diagnosis for HIV in 1983. It left me thinking I was going to die tomorrow.

Stigma said if you were HIV+ that you were going to die. Society was confirming that I was going to die, too, and people were actually dying everywhere from the disease. I was thinking I was next.

I was lost trying to seek solutions, and I chose to get high with [read more]

But I’m Still Here… The Bravery of Living with HIV for Over 40 YearsTia Tyree2026-03-24T21:00:17-04:00

Not on the Syllabus: STIs on College Campuses

March 23, 2026

By Brielle Collins

In the midst of exams, situationships, and extracurriculars, the last thing a college student wants to hear back from a doctor is: you have a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Alongside the possible physical discomfort and somewhat awkward conversation with your physician to discuss the diagnosis, there is the need to have a conversation with your partner. However, what often also comes along with these responsibilities is carrying the stigma of having an STI, and there really should not be, because most people carrying STIs are [read more]

Not on the Syllabus: STIs on College CampusesTia Tyree2026-03-30T10:23:57-04:00

Reflecting on Another Successful International Conference on Stigma

February 7, 2026

As the new year begins, it is always a good time to reflect on the positive aspects of the last year. For those working to end stigma, the International Conference on Stigma is an integral part of those efforts.

The 16th Annual International Conference on Stigma was a hybrid conference held from November 18-20, 2025. With two days virtual and one day in-person at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C., about three hundred people participated [read more]

Reflecting on Another Successful International Conference on StigmaTia Tyree2026-02-25T13:43:10-05:00

The Overwhelming Concept of Contraception

By Brielle Collins

January 26, 2026

Entering college, the decision of whether or not to get on birth control loomed over me. There were endless options and, most importantly, pages of seemingly threatening side effects that felt like they would alter my life. Overall, navigating sexual health and wellness as a woman gets unnecessarily complicated, incredibly overwhelming, and completely impossible.

You don’t want to get pregnant, but sometimes you don’t want to rely solely on a condom. You start weighing your options, scrolling through TikTok, Googling late at night, and talking to friends about the potential side [read more]

The Overwhelming Concept of ContraceptionTia Tyree2026-02-25T13:43:46-05:00

Dating Life as a College Student – Episode Three

By: Kamoria Reese

July 9, 2025

In my new audio blog series, I sit down with fellow college students to explore how they navigate the complexities of dating. They candidly share their safety strategies, the challenges they encounter, and what they seek in a partner. Each conversation offers practical advice and concludes with participants describing their dating lives in just three words. Together, these stories provide relatable insights and support for anyone navigating the modern dating landscape.

In this interview, I spoke with Tay, a college sophomore [read more]

Dating Life as a College Student – Episode ThreePatricia Houston2026-04-29T09:48:37-04:00

Why I Chose the Wellness Space: My Journey Through Shame, Stigma, and HIV Advocacy

By Karla Scipio, RN, MPH

May 29, 205

I didn’t just choose wellness. Wellness chose me—through pain, purpose, and powerful moments that shaped my calling. I graduated from nursing school during a time when HIV was still surrounded by fear and ignorance. We learned about gonorrhea and syphilis, but trichomoniasis and chlamydia were barely mentioned. HIV was whispered about, if mentioned at all.

I became a nurse, because I almost died during childbirth. That near-death experience shifted my life’s direction. I didn’t want to diagnose others from afar. I wanted [read more]

Why I Chose the Wellness Space: My Journey Through Shame, Stigma, and HIV AdvocacyPatricia Houston2026-02-25T13:56:00-05:00

Dating Life as a College Student – Episode One

By: Kamoria Reese

May 25, 2025

In this new audio blog series, I interview fellow college students to learn how they stay safe dating and the biggest concerns they face. I hear honest insights into the challenges of dating in college and what they desire in a partner. They also offer practical advice and describe their dating lives in just three words. Together, their experiences and perspectives offer valuable insight, support and relatability for anyone dating in today’s world.

The first interview is with Ashley, a college [read more]

Dating Life as a College Student – Episode OnePatricia Houston2026-04-29T09:49:51-04:00

Dating Life as a College Student – Episode Two

By: Kamoria Reese

June 4, 2025

In this newly launched audio blog series, I engage with fellow university students to delve into their approaches to safe dating and the primary concerns they encounter. They share candid reflections on the complexities of college dating and describe the qualities they seek in a partner. Additionally, they provide advice and describe their dating experiences in just three words. Together, their narratives offer meaningful insights, support, and a sense of connection for anyone navigating the modern dating landscape.

The second interview [read more]

Dating Life as a College Student – Episode TwoPatricia Houston2026-04-29T09:51:22-04:00

My Empowering Experience Working on the Empowerment Grant

By: Kamoria Reese

July 10, 2025

I am a sophomore majoring in Biology on the Pre-Med track, and I want to share my journey working with the Empowerment Grant this spring semester. This opportunity not only gave me professional experience, but also personal growth that I truly value.

While working on this grant, I’ve gained a lot of valuable skills. I learned how to manage my time more effectively, take constructive criticism with an open mind and, most importantly, I learned not to be afraid to speak up. Looking [read more]

My Empowering Experience Working on the Empowerment GrantPatricia Houston2026-02-25T13:47:42-05:00

When the White Coat Changes: Lessons from a Transition in HIV Care

By Afrekete*

July 3, 2025

Recently, when my trusted doctor retired, it stirred emotions that I was not prepared for. As a Black woman aging with HIV, losing a provider who had become part of my healing journey felt like a gut punch, because I did not always have compassionate care.

After I was first diagnosed, I was under the care of a highly regarded White male doctor. His reputation was stellar, but for more than three years, I never reached undetectable. Every month, my labs T-cell count hovered between 365–400, and [read more]

When the White Coat Changes: Lessons from a Transition in HIV CarePatricia Houston2026-02-25T13:56:46-05:00