2020 USCHA Impact Report

VIRTUAL

US Conference on HIV AIDS

Family Re u n

ion 2

IMPACT REPORT Virtual Conference

October 19-21, 2020 #2020uscha

uscha.life

About U S CHA NMAC leads with race to urgently fight for health equity and racial justice to end the HIV epidemic in America.

The United States Conference on HIV/AIDS (USCHA) is the largest HIV-related gathering in the United States, bringing together thousands of participants from all segments of the HIV epidemic. This year was the 24th annual conference.

C

Form at

October 19-21, 2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s conference was held online instead of in person. The theme for this year, “Family Reunion 2,” reflected the need for connection and support in the face of isolation brought on by the pandemic.

About U S pening P C H A O lenary More than 6,000 people registered to attend the conference.

Form at Gilead P le n ary

Opening P l

ViiV Ple

Exh

enary

nary

Gilead P le

y n r a This year’s USCHA was a three-day online conference that featured four plenary sessions, an exhibit hall, institutes, and workshops. USCHA offered nearly 100 workshops and institutes at Youtintermediate, h Sc h and advanced). three levels of instruction (introductory, s o r l a Introductory levels were primarily didactic. Intermediate level sessions were didactic and ViiV Ple

C

Exh

Gay

interactive, while advanced level sessions were designed to maximize interaction between attendees and participants.

Quotes & Affi

nary

50+

Opening P l

enary

This year’s opening plenary consisted of pre-recorded segments, including remarks from NMAC Executive Director Paul Kawata, Black AIDS Institute Executive Director Raniyah Copeland, NMAC Conferences Director Tara Barnes-Darby, and community leaders and advocates. The plenary was a ringing endorsement of Black Lives Matter and for equality and equity for all.

Gilead P le

ViiV Ple

nary

Youth Sc h Quotes & Affi

n ary

Exh

olars

r m a ti o n s

Board & S taff

Gay

50+

Gilead P le

n ary

Exh

“Creating A Different World” Gilead’s plenary was a live discussion on how to remove stigma and prejudices that create inequalities and health disparities within our system. Panelists included:

ViiV Ple

nary

• Moderator: Bevy Smith, TV Personality and Entrepreneur

• Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick, MD, MPA, MPH, Infectious disease physician, CDC-trained medical epidemiologist, and founder of Grapevine Health • Kendrick T. Clack, MS, APRN, FNP-C, AAHIV-S, Minority health advocate and the leading voice of healthcare service in marginalized communities • Raniyah Copeland, MPH, President, Black AIDS Institute

Youth Sc h Quotes & Affi

olars

r m a ti o n s

Board & S taff

Gay

50+

ViiV Ple

nary

“Positive Action: How Arts and Culture Can Spark Change and Combat Stigma” ViiV’s expert panel discussion spotlighted culture work developed by ViiV Healthcare and their Positive Action grantees and partners and examined the intersection of health disparities, COVID-19, HIV and activism – and how arts and culture can help people understand more clearly the work that needs to be done to address these issues moving forward. Panelists included: • Moderator: Marc Meachem of ViiV Healthcare • Dwain Bridges of THRIVE SS discussing Outrun the Sky and its impact on audiences • Jennie Smith-Camejo of PWN discussing the impact of the PWNCares series on WOCLWH • Roxie Johnson, actress in Take My Hand, sharing her awareness experience • Louie Ortiz-Fonseca, creator of The Gran Varones, discussing how his work is reframing HIV and changing the narrative • Cory Gibson, actor, Ms Hope Chest in AMAIC

Youth Sc h

• George Johnson, BET

Quotes & Affi

olars

r m a ti o n s

Board & S taff

Gay M

50+ S t

A

Closing P l e

n ary

This year’s closing plenary featured recorded interviews with multiple federal leaders in the plan to end the epidemic, including Harold Phillips, Chief Operating Officer of Ending the HIV Epidemic; Dr. Maureen Goodenow, Director, Office of AIDS Research, NIH; Dr. Jonathan Mermin, Director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC; Dr. Laura Cheever, Associate Administrator for HIV/AIDS Bureau, HRSA; and Dr. Neeraj Gandotra, Chief Medical Officer, SAMHSA. The plenary closed with remarks from Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of NIAID.

Attend ees

ary

ry

y

rs

ions

Institu

tes

Exhibit Hall/ J

o b F air

Loun g es

Gay Men of Colo

50+ S trong & He

r Fellowship

a lt h y S c h ola rs

y

ry y

y rs

yons

rfs

ons

A teand e b i it tH h x E ll/ Jeosb F air USCHA attendance included the following groups: Sponsors Exhibitors Speakers CAPs Youth Scholars 50+ Scholars Gay Men of Color Fellows Reclaiming Our Place at the Table Advocates Scholarships Media/Press Workshop Liaisons Lounge Coordinators Gay Job Fair Participants

Institu Loun gte s es

bietnH ExhiM of a Cll / J

oeblloFwashiirp olor F

Lounaglth eysScholars

50+ S trong & He

Gay Men of Colo

r Fellowship

The COVID-19 pandemic has added additional hurdles to those aging with HIV. On our HIV ronthrive g & to 50+ Strong and Healthy program a space to amplify their voices and 50+ S twe Hcreate e a rs year’s USCHA we held l t lathis advocacy work while at the same time breaking withhisolation. y SchoFor workshops featuring some of the members of the cohort. They were able to talk about the mini-grant projects sponsored by NMAC, how to build virtual communities during this COVID era, among other topics. We also invited experts from the field to talk about the National Agenda to end HIV, comorbidities, and aging-related health issues. But not everything was so serious, we also had an amazing virtual party filled with a lot of dancing and laughs!

I o u Y thnSstcithu te s olars

ary

ary

ry

During USCHA, ViiV Youth initiative hosted four days of half-day HIVrelated trainings. Before USCHA, there was a pre-meeting that allowed the Youth Scholars to grow closer to each other through bonding games and activities. The scholars were also able to meet and hear about the personal lives of the sponsors of the program.

During the conference, the youth had a series of webinars they attended. The topics discussed during the webinars were disclosure, marketing and communication, and structural stigma. These webinars served as guides to assist with planning and implementing of their World HIV/AIDS Day projects. Lastly, the scholars were also able to explore the conference by going to the Youth Institute, job fair, and plenary sessions.

oteisb& Qux h it A Hffi

E

BoarLdo& unSg e s f taf

Gay Men of Colo

ars

a ti o n s

aff

allr/mJationsair ob F

r Fellowship

HIV prevention doesn’t stop because of COVID-19. At the Gay Men of Color fellowship program, we train members on current biomedical prevention methods while supporting them to pass that information to peers in their communities. As part of USCHA, we S trofonour g& 50+some Hea to showcase the developed workshops featuring members work they do in their lthy Sthe olars of the pandemic chchallenges communities and also how they have been able to overcome to implement the program. Conversations revolved around safer sex during COVID, peereducation efforts to empower and advocate, and how racism is impacting access to biomedical prevention among gay men of color.

Gay

50+ S

Loun g es

ry

ars

HA

ti o n s

USCHA offered four virtual lounges at this year’s conference: the Trans Lounge, the 50+ Lounge, the Youth Lounge, and the PLHIV Lounge. Inside the lounges, participants could find opportunities to network, take Men of Co aythe part in fun activities, or just G enjoy lo r company of others. With so much isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the lounges became popular places to socialize.

o s l i ng C r t o S n g & Pl + 50

Fellowship

e nSachrolyars

Hea lt h y

Attend ees

aff

Institu

ary

ary

ry

Institutes are in-depth sessions that focus on the issues of impacted populations and interest groups.

This year’s topics included COVID, hepatitis, aging, housing, youth, trans populations, and racial/ethnic groups. Institutes are conducted by conference partners and NMAC’s Constituent Advisory Panel members.

tes

Exhibit Hall/ J

o b F air

Loun g es

Exhibit Hall/ J

ry

Loun g es

y

rs

ions

ff

o b F air

Age Range 1500

n oproviders f Col took part in the USCHA Nearly 40 companies, organizations, Exhibit Hall, Gay Meand or Ftheir wship elloservices. offering attendees an opportunity to learn more about 1200

900

For the first time, USCHA offered a jobs fair to match hiring organizations with community members looking for employment. Nearly 30 organizations participated.

600

50+ S trong & He

300

0

Under 20

Attend aalthy Scholars nce

20-25

26-34

35-44

45-54

55-64

65+

Ethnicity 2000

1500

1000

500

0

African American American/ Indian/ Black Alaska Native

Asian

Caucasian

Latina or Hispanic

Native Non Hispanic Hawaiian or Pacific Island

Other

*Numbers are representative of USCHA participants that disclosed their demographic information. Does not include entire attendance.

Attend a nce Sexual Orientation 3000

Sexual Orientation

2500

3000 2000

2500 1500

2000 1000

1500 500

1000 0

Asexual

Bisexual

Gay

Heterosexual

Lesbian

Other

Prefer Not Queer Questioning Same to Disclose Gender Loving

Two Spirit

500

Gender Identity 0 3500

Asexual

Bisexual

Gay

Heterosexual

Lesbian

Other

Prefer Not Queer Questioning Same to Disclose Gender Loving

Two Spirit

Gender Identity

3000

3500 2500

3000 2000

2500 1500

2000 1000

1500 500

1000 0

Androgy- Cross nous Dresser

Female

Male

FTM to Gender Gender Trans Man NonQueer Conforming

Intersex

MTF or Trans Woman

Other

Prefer not to disclose

Two Spirit

Androgy- Cross nous Dresser

Female

Male

FTM to Gender Gender Trans Man NonQueer Conforming

Intersex

MTF or Trans Woman

Other

Prefer not to disclose

Two Spirit

500

0

*Numbers are representative of USCHA participants that disclosed their demographic information. Does not include entire attendance.

Attend a nce Age Range 1500

1200

900

600

300

0

Under 20

20-25

26-34

35-44

45-54

55-64

65+

Ethnicity 2000

HIV Status 4000 1500 3500

3000 1000 2500

2000 500 1500

1000 0 500

0

African American American/ Indian/ Black Alaska Native

Negative

Asian

On PreP

Caucasian

Latina or Hispanic

Positive

Native Non Hispanic Hawaiian or Pacific Island

Prefer Not to Disclose

Other

Undeclared

*Numbers are representative of USCHA participants that disclosed their demographic information. Does not include entire attendance.

Quotes & Affi

r m a ti o n s

This conference is excellent!

Thanks to everyone Thank you to all sponsors, for making this NMAC and all attendees for happen...whatB anoard &a much needed forum for so S tcommunities. many USCHA 2020 aff incredible virtual is a bright light during these conference, my first! challenging times. Stay well.

I can’t imagine all the Thanks to everyone for making hard work involved, I this happen...what an incredible am super impressed. virtual conference, my first! I can’t imagine all the hard work Here’s hoping that involved, I am super impressed.

2021 allows us to be Here’s hoping that 2021 allows us together again. to be together again.

The virtual platform was extremely impressive and very easy to navigate. This is one of the best virtual conferences I have attended.

The set up was phenomenal it was like being at the conference. The Topics were great and the interviews and real time sessions were on par.

This conference is so much more person/community-focused compared to others that are for providers and staff. I love the presentations by PLWHA for PLWHA. The topics were very relatable to the work that I do. The speakers were REAL and engaging.

Awesome job overall despite the limitations due to the current pandemic!

USCHA did not disappoint me. I may not have been able to join all the workshops but thanks to Demand I have been able to see what I wanted.

Thanks Paul and staff for a great conference even if you couldn’t go to Puerto Rico.

50+ S

2020 Spo

n s ors

A Special Thank You to our Sponsors

who have made significant contributions to the United States Conference on HIV/AIDS.

PRESENTING SPONSOR PRESENTING SPONSOR

PREMIERE SPONSORS

COLLABORATING SPONSOR

THERA

technologies

COLLEAGUE SPONSOR

Board & S taff Board of Directors Chair John W. Hill, Jr., JHill Group, Miami Beach, FL Co-Chair Lance Toma, San Francisco Community Health Center, San Francisco, CA

Secretary Therese Rodriguez, Asian Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV/AIDS, New York, NY

Treasurer Valerie Rochester, AIDS United, Washington, DC

Board Members Brenda Hunt Borderbelt AIDS Resource Team (BART) Lumberton, NC

Leonardo Ramon Ortega, MD, MPH Shalom Health Care Center, Inc. Indianapolis, IN

Rev. Ed Sanders Metropolitan Interdenominational Church Nashville, TN

Monica Johnson HEROES - Helping Everyone Receive Ongoing Effective Support Columbia, LA

Mario Perez County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health Office of AIDS Programs & Policy Los Angeles, CA

Evelyn Ullah Unique Solutionz Miami, FL

Kelsey Louie, MSW, MBA Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) New York, NY

Carlos E. Rodríguez-Díaz, PhD, MPHE, MCHES Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University Washington, DC

Norm Nickens San Francisco, CA

Rodolfo R. Vega JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. Boston, MA

Staff Executive Office Paul Akio Kawata, Executive Director Kim Ferrell, Director of Operations

Development Robert York, Development Director Diane Ferguson, Development Associate

Government Relations Joe Huang-Racalto, Director of Government Relations & Public Policy

Conferences Tara Barnes-Darby, Director of Conferences Alison J. McKeithen, Conferences Manager Shanta’ Gray, Conferences and Registration Coordinator

Treatment Moisés Agosto-Rosario, Director of Treatment Damián Cabrera-Candelaria, Program Manager Anthony Anderson, Program Coordinator

NMAC Training Center to End the Epidemic Ace Robinson, Director Charles Shazor Jr., Associate Program Manager Gabriella Spencer, Program Coordinator Terrell Parker, Associate Program Manager Lauren Miller, Health Equity Program Coordinator

Communications Chip Lewis, Communications Director