We dedicate this newsletter to the beautiful memory and ground-breaking leadership of long-time NWPC Board Member, April Watkins, who passed away on January 28, leaving a singular legacy of powerful advocacy and innovation advancing access to employment services for many people living with HIV and barriers to employment. | |
- A Message from NWPC's Newly Appointed Director of Training and Education, Charles Shazor Jr.
- NWPC and North Carolina Central University Co-Present 4th Annual Half-Day Virtual Training Institute on HIV and Employment
- NWPC and the NY Statewide Peer Network Co-Present Special Meeting on Employment and Employment Resources for People Living with HIV Across New York State
- NWPC's Board of Directors: 2026 Officers and New Members
- NWPC Awards the 2nd Annual April Watkins Leadership Award to Dennis Reilly of PRC in San Francisco
- SNAPSHOTS: short updates and reports
| | |
A Message from NWPC's Newly Appointed
Director of Training and Education, Charles Shazor Jr.
| | |
"I’m excited to share that I’ve stepped into a new role as Director of Training and Education at the National Working Positive Coalition (NWPC). This transition feels both deeply personal and profoundly aligned with the work I’ve been called to do.
NWPC’s mission advancing employment equity, leadership, and dignity for people living with and at risk of acquiring HIV mirrors my own commitment to health equity, social justice, and community led change.
In this role, I’ll be leading national training and education initiatives that center the lived experiences of people living with HIV, strengthen workforce capacity, and support advocacy and leadership development across the country. After more than 18 years working across public health, HIV advocacy, and community engagement, I see this moment as an opportunity to deepen impact by investing directly in people ensuring they have the tools, knowledge, and support needed to thrive personally and professionally."
| | |
NWPC and North Carolina Central University Co-Present
4th Annual Half-Day Virtual Training Institute
on HIV and Employment
| |
We had the honor to collaborate for the 4th year with North Carolina Central University’s Counseling Education Program to present a half-day virtual training institute on HIV and employment on March 27 (click to view agenda), made possible with the generous support of ViiV Healthcare, and our extraordinary and brilliant partner at NCCU, Dr. Regina Gavin Williams. In this year’s training we focused on the complex intersection of HIV, mental health, and employment with 118 participants including students, faculty, and practicing alumnae counselors from across the network of HBCU’s, vocational rehabilitation counselors, and HIV service providers, policymakers, and advocates.
Keynote speaker Harold Phillips, CEO of NMAC, and former Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, powerfully established a foundation for the institute’s panels. Larry Bryant, Jr. moderated the panel discussing, “The Intersections of Employment and Mental Health: Counseling Needs and Experiences of Black People Living with HIV,” including Kimberly M. Canady, William Francis, Bridgette Picou, and A.J. Scruggs. Antoinette Jones moderated the panel discussing, “Employment and Mental Health Related Needs and Strategies Unique to Lifetime HIV Survivors or People Who Acquired HIV at Very Young Ages,” including Ashley Casen, Mario Castillo, Omar Paul Cintron, and Alyssa Crawford. The final panel of the institute, moderated by Martha Cameron, convened members of NWPC’s Research Working Group discussing “Research and Reflections Related to HIV and Employment,” including Jen Yung-Chen Chiu, Liza Conyers, Attia Khan, Farbod Pour, Marcus Weathers, and SungWon Yoon-Lee .
| | |
NWPC and the NY Statewide Peer Network:
Exploring Resources to Address Employment Needs and Interests of
People Living with HIV Across New York State
| | NWPC led planning and the presentation of a special two-hour statewide meeting for people living with HIV and service providers across New York State on employment and employment services, on March 30, in partnership with the NY Statewide Peer Network, and the NYSDOH AIDS Institute. 97 people participated in this extraordinary meeting including presentations by 10 programs and agencies of key resources available around the state that are vital to addressing the employment needs and interests of people living with HIV. | | |
Meet the 2026 Officers and New Members:
The National Working Positive Coalition Board of Directors
| | |
NWPC Awards the 2nd Annual April Watkins Leadership Award to
Dennis Reilly of PRC in San Francisco for an Extraordinary 28 Years of Providing and Overseeing Employment Services
for People Living with HIV
| | |
We had the honor to partner with The Reunion Project and a powerhouse TRP San Francisco Bay Area Planning Group to present a two-day community convening of long-term survivors of HIV in SF on February 13 & 14. On Day 1, NWPC led the presentation of a full-day community employment event including the opportunity to award the 2nd Annual April Watkins Leadership Award to Dennis Reilly, Managing Director of Workforce Development at PRC in San Francisco, spotlighting his extraordinary contributions over 28 years of providing and managing employment services there for people living with HIV and other disabilities.
| | |
SNAPSHOTS:
- NWPC Prepares Launch of the National HIV & Employment Resource Center: online information resource center to provide information and linkage to services and resources for people living with HIV, service providers, policymakers, and advocates
- NWPC Partners with The Reunion Project for Presentation of Community Convenings for Long-Term Survivors of HIV in Chicago (5 days in October & December, 2025, and February 2026) and San Francisco (2 days in February)
- Local HIV Employment Services Networks: Current NWPC collaborations launching and supporting local HIV employment services network are continuing in Chicago, IL; Hartford, CT; and Birmingham, AL
| | | | |
