For Immediate Release
Contact: Kenneth Courtney, Courtney Creative Pr.
Email: kenneth@courtneycreativepr.com
Phone: 347-243-9187
We’re In It Together: Over 400 Advocates will gather for AIDSWatch 2024 in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — AIDSWatch, the oldest and largest constituent-led HIV federal advocacy event in the country, will convene in Washington, D.C. from March 17th to 19th, 2024. Over 400 advocates from across the United States and its territories are expected to conduct nearly 200 congressional meetings to advocate for policies and programs to end the HIV epidemic by 2030, as outlined in the President’s National HIV/AIDS Strategy. AIDSWatch, which began 31 years ago with a small group of HIV advocates and allies, has grown into the country’s most impactful constituent-led HIV advocacy event today.
The theme of AIDSWatch 2024 is “We’re in This Together!” This theme underscores the collective action between people living with and impacted by HIV and congressional leaders to end the epidemic in the United States by 2030. For three days, attendees will convene to build advocacy skills, rally and meet with members of Congress, advocating for national policies that support ending the HIV epidemic, which impacts 1.2 million people in the United States.
AIDSWatch is presented by AIDS United in partnership with the U.S. People Living with HIV Caucus (the HIV Caucus) and the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation, with major support from advocacy champions Gilead Sciences, Merck and The Elisabeth Taylor Foundation.
The following events are open to the press. For outlets interested in covering these events, please contact communications@aidsunited.org
Sunday, March 17
AIDSWatch Welcome Reception
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel (2800 Potomac Avenue, Arlington, V.A. 2023)
Join us for the AIDSWatch 2024 Welcome Reception presented by the U.S. People Living with HIV Caucus. Nearly 400 individuals are expected to attend as the Caucus presents their annual Persistent Advocate Awards to community leader Timothy S. Jackson, Senior Policy Director for AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC).
Monday, March 18
Opening Plenary for AIDSWatch 2024
9:00 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.
Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel (2800 Potomac Avenue, Arlington, V.A. 2023)
AIDSWatch 2024’s opening plenary will begin with remarks from Carole Johnson, the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). After that, we’ll have a fireside chat with leaders in HIV and Health Equity, facilitated by AIDS United Board Chair Dr. Eugene McCray. Over 400 advocates will participate in advocacy training and learn about the 2024 policy priorities before concluding with a luncheon presented in partnership with The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. Speakers include:
- Dr. Eugene McCray, Board Chair for AIDS United and Former Director of the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention (DHAP)
- Dr. Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, Ph.D., Director of John Hopkins Policy Institute
- Dr. David Malebranche, M.D., M.P.H., Senior Director, Global HIV Medical Affairs
- Keiva Lei Cadena, Co-Director of the Positive Women’s Network
- Amna Osman, Chief Executive Officer at Nashville CARES
Monday, March 18
AIDSWatch Congressional Awards Reception
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Rayburn Foyer, Rayburn House Office Building (45 Independence Ave SW, Washington, D.C. 20515)
Presented by AIDSWatch and Congressional host Congresswoman Barbara Lee, AIDSWatch attendees and members of Congress are invited to attend. AIDS United will present the Congressional Leadership Award to Representative Nikema Williams, Senator Tammy Baldwin, and Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman and the U.S. People Living with HIV Caucus will present the Castro Bojorquez Positive Leadership awards to Tez Anderson, Tiommi Luckett, and Harold Phillips, the previous Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy. Members of Congress are invited to attend, and Congresswoman Barbara Lee is expected to give remarks.
Tuesday, March 19
AIDSWatch Rally and Hill Day
8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Capitol Hill
Over 400 advocates are expected to rally on Capitol Hill before meetings with congressional lawmakers about national level policies that will help end the HIV epidemic.
For full details on AIDSWatch 2024 preliminaries, receptions, policy priorities, and more, visit www.aidsunited.org/aidswatch.
Spokespersons Available for Interview:
- Jesse Milan Jr., President/CEO, AIDS United
- Carl Baloney Jr., Vice President Public Affairs and Chief Policy Officer, AIDS United
- Ronald Johnson, Longtime HIV Policy Champion and Chair of the U.S. People Living with HIV Caucus
- Elizabeth Kaplan, Director of Health Care Access, Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation
ABOUT AIDSWATCH: AIDSWatch is presented by AIDS United in partnership with the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation and the U.S. People Living with HIV Caucus. It is the largest federal HIV advocacy event of its kind. Participants are trained in practical advocacy skills and how best to share this information with policymakers and their communities. After training, participants meet with members of Congress to share their personal stories about the impact of current policies on their community and to highlight the importance of meaningful involvement of people living with HIV. Learn more at www.aidsunited.org/aidswatch.
ABOUT AIDS UNITED: AIDS United’s mission is to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S. through strategic grant-making, capacity-building, and policy/advocacy. AIDS United works to ensure access to life-saving HIV care and prevention services and to advance sound HIV-related policy for populations and communities most impacted by the U.S. epidemic. As of January 2021, our strategic grant-making initiatives have directly funded more than $118 million to local communities, and we have leveraged more than $184 million in additional investments for programs that include, but are not limited to, syringe access, access to care, capacity-building, HIV prevention, and advocacy. Learn more at www.aidsunited.org.
