COMMUNITY FUND: ALLISON M.

Meet Allison - In 2016, she co-founded HIV Cure Research Day (December 14) with her best friend, Kimberly Knight, in North Carolina to promote collective ownership over finding a cure for HIV. They also ensure that marginalized communities no longer have to struggle to receive adequate and equal access to health care. Historically, marginalized groups have been exploited in research studies and rarely benefited from medical innovations, due to disparate education and access. HIV Cure Research Day seeks to empower community members to transform the way that scientists, government entities, and businesses engage with low-income and marginalized people about research and healthcare access.

For the past 14 years, Allison has dedicated her life’s work to ending HIV stigma in southern US communities. While in grad school at UNC Chapel Hill, she worked on a project that engaged Black communities to become more involved in building trust around HIV clinical trials and having input into how they are rolled out in their communities. She now trains Faith leaders to not only educate them on how to address HIV stigma in their communities but also fund their efforts to increase sustainability. People living with HIV often call Allison in tears telling her that they feel seen and honoured by her work.

As a survivor of intimate partner violence, she found herself resonating so closely with the men and women who have been impacted by HIV, whether through their experiences living with it or through their connection as loved ones impacted by it. She started a nonprofit organization to help amplify awareness about HIV Cure Research Day but has only relied on grants and volunteers. We donated $1000 to go towards building a website to bring this awareness day to a national level.

_______________________________________

Know someone that needs a pick-me-up? Learn more about our community fund, where 2% of monthly net sales are dedicated to a personal cause nominated by you.