Episode 23, ACT 2: Queens of Empowerment

In Episode 23, Act 2: "Queens of Empowerment", Courtney continues her conversation with a panel of extraordinary women who use art to create community, to heal and as activism. This inspiring community of women, led by Shirlene Cooper and Esther McGowan, are artist members at Visual AIDS, a non-profit organization established in 1988, which is committed to using art in AIDS activism and support HIV+ artists. In their conversation, this passionate, driven group of women discuss Visual AIDS's programs like Love Positive Women, which aims to create hundreds of paper Valentine's Day cards, made by hand, to be mailed to women around the world living with HIV; and Women's Empowerment Art Therapy Workshops, which employs art-making "to reduce stigma, build community, and empower women living with HIV." They also share their personal stories, how they, as women who are themselves living with HIV or AIDS, have used art to not only change their outlook on the value of life, but also the intrinsic positive impact they've seen on other women who have taken part in their programs.