Ribbon Establishes BWISE Center
BWISE - to Champion Black Women's Health and Leadership
This new initiative is dedicated to prioritizing the health, leadership, and well-being of Black cisgender and transgender women and girls living with HIV or who are "HIV possible." We use "HIV possible" to center possibility over stigma and potential exposure.
Enhanced Peer Involvement in Care (EPIC)
According to the National HIV/AIDS Strategy 2022-2025, Black women are disproportionately affected by HIV, more so than women of other races and ethnicities. Although annual HIV infections remained stable among Black women from 2015 to 2019, the rate of new HIV infections is still higher among Black women than among women from other racial and ethnic population groups. Conversely, retention in care and sustainable viral suppression for Black cisgender women living with HIV is lower for these same groups of women. Want to know more?
A VIIV HEALTHCARE AMP GRANT SPONSORED PROJECT
FACT: By race/ethnicity, the viral suppression rate was lowest among Black women. (55.5%)
roc4aging+
The purpose of the Ribbon Organizing Center (ROC) is to support Gilead Sciences HIV/AGE Positively initiative grantees by proviprehensive technical assistance to strengthen their capacity to respond to the changing social and health care needs of an aging HIV population, ensure access to high-quality HIV primary care and aging services, and advocate for public policies that will enhance the well-being, quality of life, and dignity of all aging persons living long and fulfilling lives with HIV.
COMMON THREADS
Common Threads (CT) is an integrated HIV trauma-informed, stigma-reduction intervention that enhances the ability of BlacBWLWH to powerfully share their lived experiences with each other and others of their choice. The purpose of the CT intervention is to enlighten participants to the commonality of certain aspects of the human experience, the interconnectedness of specific lived experiences, and how these experiences may or may not have increased vulnerability to HIV.
Community
Ribbon announces the Advocate Leaders Network
Ribbon’s Advocate Leaders Network is designed to empower a new leadership cadre among People Living with HIV (PLWH) in Washington, DC, and Maryland.
This initiative builds a powerful community of advocates who are equipped to speak out, lead change, and create new pathways for others living with HIV to engage in greater advocacy and self-advocacy.
Through the Advocate Leaders Network, participants gain tools and opportunities to:
- Strengthen their leadership voice to influence health and policy conversations.
- Advance advocacy efforts that improve HIV and chronic disease service delivery.
- Mentor and inspire peers to confidently navigate systems of care.
- Build community power that ensures PLWH are at the center of decisions affecting their lives.
This growing network is more than training—it is a movement of leaders shaping the future of HIV services in the communities they call home.
✨ Want to Learn More?
Check out the Advocate Leaders Network Q&A Overview to explore the program in greater detail.
You can contact us at admin1@ribbon3.org for more details on the program.
Margot's Cafe
Margot’s Café is a warm, welcoming virtual space created especially for women living with HIV across the United States. Each month, women are invited to come together to share, learn, connect, and grow in a safe and empowering environment.
At Margot’s Café, you’ll find a supportive sisterhood where your story matters. Every gathering offers engaging opportunities such as:
- Guest speakers sharing insight and inspiration
- Health and wellness information tailored to your needs
- Creative craft time to relax and express yourself
- Learning opportunities for personal and spiritual growth
- Meaningful conversations with women who understand your journey
Meetings are held virtually monthly, on the 2nd Tuesday from 7–8 PM ET/ 6-7 PM CT/ 4-5 PM PT
Whether you’re seeking encouragement, resources, or simply a space to be heard and uplifted, Margot’s Café is your table—pull up a seat and join us.
TRAINING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Ribbon provides capacity-building assistance (CBA), training and technical support, leadership development, organizational development, and a trauma-informed approach to health equity and racial justice. We offer workforce development and job training for patient navigators, community health workers, and peer specialists. Our staff provides meeting and conference planning for groups of 6 -500.
Contact Us to learn more.
The Ribbon Workforce Training Academy (Academy)
The Academy assists people living with HIV (PLWH) to overcome the barriers and to obtain and sustain meaningful employment. The Academy's focus is on readiness, preparation, and training (RPT) for PLWH. The Academy is designed to build the capacity of PLWH through education, training, coaching, and skills needed to perform jobs in the prevention, care, and treatment of individuals living with HIV.
