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It feels like we just celebrated the start of a new year and now here we are closing out the first quarter of 2025. With March historically being Women's History Month, the word for the month is POWER!
March brings the opportunity to honor the incredible contributions of women past and present. In this edition, we spotlight the women driving change in our communities—from our phenomenal March Task Force member spotlight to the success of the Implementation Science Workshop at Morehouse School of Medicine, sponsored by Viiv Healthcare Limited. Women continue to be a powerful force leading the charge!
This month, some of our team traveled to New Orleans for the 18th Health Disparities Conference while some made national headlines for powerful stories of thriving with HIV from right here in Atlanta.
There’s so much to explore in this issue, so take 10 minutes and dive in. We also invite you to actively participate—whether through volunteering, joining us virtually or in person or welcoming us to your events in 2025. Your involvement is invaluable. Connect with us through our Georgia Thrives website contact form or on our social media platforms.
Remember, you are the driving force behind bringing our vision to life. Together, we are making Georgia THRIVE in 2025!
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Meet Masonia Traylor
Founder and Executive Director, LadyBurgAndy Inc.
Masonia B. Traylor is the mother of two beautiful children and was diagnosed with HIV in late 2010, while pregnant with her daughter. Since then, she has dedicated her life’s work and legacy to being a compassionate HIV/AIDS activist, advocate and certified speaker.
Born in Allentown, Pennsylvania and raised in Decatur, Georgia, Masonia is an alumna of Georgia State University. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Lady BurgAndy Inc., a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Lady BurgAndy Inc. focuses on providing services and programs for women and youth in underserved communities in the Southeastern United States who are severely impacted by HIV.
Masonia is an Emmy-nominated producer and co-star of the Hulu series UNEXPECTED. She has been featured in PEOPLE, TIME, National Geographic, ESSENCE and Positively Aware, a leading national HIV magazine. She serves as an ambassador for several organizations, including her own Lady BurgAndy’s She’s Positive, Heather Ivy, Inc.—an Atlanta-based organization advocating for Black cisgender women living with HIV—and two national HIV-related communications campaigns: the CDC’s Stop HIV Together and Kaiser’s Greater Than AIDS.
Masonia is on a mission to help people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS live freely, without the heavy burden that society imposes upon knowing one’s status. She has helped over 100,000 youth with HIV prevention efforts, impacted millions worldwide and is dedicated to building communities of women living with HIV. Her goal is to reach 1,000 Black women living with HIV in the South.
📷 Photo Credit: Latricia Buffington, Precious “T” Photography
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HIV PrEP Talk: Navigating Policy, Progress and Perspectives Webinar
Monday, April 28
1-2:30 p.m. EDT
Stay informed and engaged in the evolving landscape of HIV PrEP access and policy! This interactive webinar will provide essential education on HIV PrEP, explore policy shifts in Georgia and Louisiana and offer expert insights through a dynamic panel discussion and breakout sessions.
PRE-REGISTER HERE
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The Implementation Science (IS) Workshop, sponsored by ViiV Healthcare Limited on February 27, caught the attention of nearly 100 participants in both virtual and in-person formats. This dynamic event explored research on HIV disparities and inequities in communities heavily impacted by HIV/AIDS.
Keynote speaker Alison B. Hamilton, PhD, MPH, led an insightful discussion on Implementation Science highlighting how this approach helps integrate and sustain evidence-based practices in routine health care. The workshop featured panel discussions with HIV-focused IS experts including Dr. Courtney Bonner (RTI International), Dr. Natalie Crawford (Emory University), Dr. Rasheeta Chandler (Emory University), Dr. Dazon Dixon Diallo (SisterLove Inc.), Dr. Corliss Heath (SAVE Inc.), Dr. Rhonda Holliday (Morehouse School of Medicine) and Dr. Jessica Sales (Emory University). Dr. Alison Hamilton served as moderator.
In the afternoon, in-person attendees participated in breakout sessions covering key IS topics, fostering deeper discussions and engagement. The workshop provided an invaluable opportunity to advance knowledge and collaboration in the fight against HIV disparities.
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The 18th Health Disparities Conference brought together a diverse group of students, clinicians, policymakers, educators, researchers and community health leaders to advance health equity. Under the theme "Collaborative Solutions for Health Equity: Sustaining Social Determinants of Health Models", the conference explored strategies to integrate health equity solutions into community and policy frameworks for lasting impact.
Attendees engaged in thought-provoking keynote sessions, interactive workshops and breakout discussions covering critical health disparities topics. The event provided a platform for networking, research presentations and discussions on lived experiences fostering collaboration across disciplines. This year's conference reinforced the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing health disparities and promoting social justice.
Dr. Maisha Standifer and Allyson S. Belton, MPH, represented the MSM Satcher Health Leadership Institute at a pre-conference workshop while SHLI Program Manager Evan Martin, LCSW-C, and MSM student Monica Rivera distributed goodie bags that included at-home HIV test kits.
| | April 10 is National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day. Feel free to share these posts on your social media platforms. Simply download the design and copy the text. Tag us and we will make sure we like your post! | | |
National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day is April 10! 📢
Did you know nearly half of the young people living with HIV are unaware of their status?
Get tested 🩺 Learn about PrEP 🗣️Break the stigma!
We're in this together to end this together. ❤️ #SHLI #MSM #NYHAAD #StopHIVTogether #YouthEmpowerment #GeorgiaThrives
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🚨 Knowledge is power and it starts with YOUth! 🚨
Did you know that young people (13-24) make up 21% of new HIV cases in the U.S.?
You are not immune. Get tested 🧪 Learn prevention tools 🛡️ Raise awareness 🎤
We're in this together to end this together. ❤️ #SHLI #MSM #NYHAAD #StopHIVTogether #YouthEmpowerment #GeorgiaThrives
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"Let me be clear -- HIV is not a death sentence. But what is deadly is silence, shame and misinformation."
- Masonia Traylor
Task Force Member Masonia Traylor joined Dr. Maisha Standifer in a powerful and candid conversation with Black Enterprise on the critical need for change when it comes to Black women and HIV care.
The article, published on National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, is a must-read.
Special thanks to Black Enterprise reporter Janeé Boldenn for handling our message with care!
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| Which option best represents your thoughts about our monthly Georgia Thrives newsletter? | | | | | | | | National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day (#NYHAAD) | | | | | National Transgender HIV Testing Day (#NTHTD) | | | | | HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (#HVAD) | | | | | Hepatitis Testing Day (#HepTestingDay) | | |
The Satcher Health Leadership Institute encourages everyone to get tested and know their status. Click here (pages 37-38) to view a listing of local area testing sites (Source: NIH-funded Center for AIDS Research at Emory University). Together, we can mark another milestone in the Black community's ever-evolving history of better tomorrows and brighter futures.
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