Welcome New PLHIV Caucus Steering Committee Members

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3/4/2024

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The U.S. People Living with HIV Caucus is pleased to announce the appointment of several distinguished individuals to its Steering Committee. The newly appointed members bring a wealth of experience, passion, and dedication to the ongoing mission of advocating for the rights and well-being of individuals living with HIV.

The U.S. People Living with HIV Caucus is a dynamic and influential organization committed to policy change, fostering awareness, education, and positive change within the HIV community. The Steering Committee plays a pivotal role in guiding the strategic direction of the Caucus and ensuring that its initiatives align with the needs of People Living with HIV. 

The following individuals have been selected to serve on the U.S. People Living with HIV Caucus Steering Committee:

• DeKeitra Griffin, LCSW started as an advocate for HIV/AIDS as a senior in high school by taking friends to their appointments and becoming informed about HIV. He volunteered with local organizations in Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, and continued the service while attending the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, PA. DeKeitra struggled financially because his family did not agree with his sexual orientation which caused him to become a sex worker. DeKeitra experienced a traumatic event that led to him being diagnosed with HIV May 12, 2011. DeKeitra decided to move home to Dallas and finish school while changing majors from neuroscience to psychology. DeKeitra studied at the University of Texas at Arlington by completing an undergraduate degree in psychology, master of social work degree, and master of public administration degree . He serves as a board member for the Professional Association of Social Workers in HIV/AIDS. DeKeitra's resilience through homelessness, intimate partner violence, date rape, and HIV complications serves as a driving force to pursue a PhD. He attends Louisiana State University as a doctoral student within their social work program. DeKeitra's goal in life involves being an advocate and researcher for the LGBTQIA+ community by focusing on intimate partner violence, sex work, mental health, substance use, and HIV.

• Gabriel San Emeterio, LMSW: Gabriel San Emeterio (they/elle/she/he) is a queer and disabled activist from Mexico City who migrated to New York City in the late 90’s. They hold a Masters degree in Social Work with Community Organizing as a method of practice and a certificate in Social Policy from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, where she is now part time faculty. Gabriel’s life experience as a person living with HIV, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ME/CFS, and other complex chronic conditions, fuels their passion for disability justice and liberatory community work. They co-founded Strategies for High Impact and its project Long COVID Justice in 2021.

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• Kim Moon is a survivor, advocate, and educator in the field of HIV awareness and prevention. Her journey began after experiencing a traumatic event at the age of 34 and being diagnosed with HIV. Initially, Kim struggled with depression and lived in fear of the HIV virus but through trauma-informed care, counseling, and Christian counseling, she found the strength to transform her pain into power.Kim's personal experiences ignited her passion to help others facing similar challenges. She became a proactive force in the community, working to prevent the spread of HIV and sharing her story of triumph, perseverance, and tenacity as a speaker both nationally and internationally. Her aim is to empower individuals living with HIV and to help them make informed choices and engage in important and, pertinent conversations with their loved ones.For over 10 years, Kim has served as a HIV education consultant and influencer. She is a founding member of The EPIC Movement, where she sits on the executive committee, advocating for Black Cisgender Women living with HIV. Additionally, she is an employee at Ribbon, a nonprofit organization that supports communities impacted by HIV and other chronic health conditions.Kim's dedication to education is evident in her work as she has written training manuals for various companies and non-profit organizations. She has also facilitated workshops specifically tailored to women and has been actively involved in volunteer work in Georgia and Alabama. Notably, Kim played a key role in leading the Metropolitan Atlanta HIV Health Services Planning Council and chaired the Atlanta Area Outreach Initiative for approximately 4 years.As a founding member of The Sankofa Collaborative, Kim collaborates with professionals from nonprofit, public health, faith-based, and academic institutions to address HIV and social justice issues. She is also a co-host of the "Queen Be" podcast, where she candidly discusses women's issues such as HIV, social determinants of health, relationships, and mental health.Kim is the founder of Positively Beautiful, a campaign/initiative that inspires women to embrace their authenticity, dignity, and self-worth. Through this initiative, she aims to encourage, empower, and equip women for their next. In addition to her extensive involvement in nonprofit organizations, Kim has been featured in training videos for pharmaceutical companies and has been recognized by various online publications and local news outlets for her advocacy work.Kim is also the CEO and Founder of two successful businesses, ATL Moonshine Commercial Cleaning LLC, where she cleans medical buildings, surgery centers, movie sets etc... and as well her latest business endeavor is Moonstar Catering and Craft Services LLC. Where she cook and serves crafty on movie sets. Outside of her professional endeavors, Kim enjoys watching basketball and football, reading, traveling, and listening to music from various genres. However, her most cherished moments are spent with her family and her faith.

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• Michael Elizabeth is the Public Health Policy Strategist at Equality Federation. In this role, they work with member organizations to leverage their advocacy capacity to influence state and federal policy while ensuring effective implementation of those policies.Mike has spent the last 10 years rooted in LGBTQ political and community organizing ranging from LGBTQ policy work with state and local elected officials in Texas to HIV/AIDS advocacy fighting HIV Criminalization laws and for adequate public health funding and culturally competent prevention services.Michael Elizabeth is very proud of their role as former President of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus, growing the organization to be one of the most diverse and largest membership-driven LGBTQ civil rights organizations in the South, which held local elected officials accountable to the LGBTQ community while helping elect pro-LGBTQ candidates.

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"We are thrilled to welcome these exceptional individuals to the U.S. People Living with HIV Caucus Steering Committee," said Ronald Johnson and Martha Sichone-Cameron, Steering Committee Co-Chairs  "Their diverse backgrounds, expertise, and unwavering commitment to the HIV community will undoubtedly strengthen our efforts and contribute to the success of our movement."

The new Steering Committee members will join existing members in shaping the direction of the Caucus, advocating for policy changes, and leading impactful projects that address the needs of individuals living with HIV.

For more information about the U.S. People Living with HIV Caucus and its initiatives, please visit www.hivcaucus.org or contact Evany Turk at plhivcaucus@gmail.com.

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