A Girl Like Me LIVE

The Well Project is committed to supporting agency and health literacy among women living with HIV. An important way we achieve this goal is by developing and providing access to HIV information that is culturally responsive, scientifically accurate, and women-focused. This is not always the case with information found online. On Thursday, May 21, 2026, we held the 43rd episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE! Co-hosts Bridgette Picou, LVN, ACLPN, and Ciarra "Ci Ci" Brown discussed the critical issue of finding reliable HIV-related information on the internet, covering the varying types of misinformation (malinformation, misinformation, and disinformation) and their impacts on societal HIV-related stigma. They also explored the growing role of AI, as well as effective strategies to help sift through the noise and enhance information literacy. Let this important conversation be a tool in your toolkit for navigating the ever-shifting landscape of online health media.

As women age with HIV or grapple with a new HIV diagnosis at any age, overall health matters. Understanding overall health means identifying conditions that can affect how we feel and take care of ourselves. Things like cardiac health, bone density, kidney disease, and diabetes directly impact our health, and women can benefit from understanding the relationship between HIV and co-occurring conditions. In episode 42 of A Girl Like Me LIVE, Ciarra "Ci Ci" Brown and our very own community advisory board member Robin Barkins explore various aspects of managing multiple health conditions, practical strategies to reduce contributing factors, and ways we can support each other as a community aging with HIV in a healthy manner. Check it out!

In our latest language survey, The Well Project, along with a group of expert advisors, sought to understand the extent to which women and nonbinary adults living with HIV experience stigmatizing language; its impact on the individual; and potential effects on engagement in the healthcare system. On Thursday, March 26, 2026, cohosts Olivia G. Ford and Bridgette Picou, LVN, ACLPN, discussed critical findings from our community-based survey on this crucial topic, recently released in a report titled "Stigmatizing Language in Healthcare Settings: Results from The Well Project's Research Among Women and Nonbinary Adults Living with HIV." They also explored how involving women living with HIV in the development and implementation of community-based research adds to the value of its outcomes. Be sure to check out this lively, interactive conversation about what we learned from our survey!

On Thursday February 26, 2026, we held the 40th episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE, delving into the transformative practice of mindfulness and its profound impact on women living with and vulnerable to HIV. This episode explored how mindfulness techniques can help women reclaim their power, mitigate stress, and foster a deeper connection with themselves. In an inspiring conversation, Ciarra "Ci Ci" Brown and The Well Project community advisory board co-chair Louise Vallace talk about the importance of cultivating a mindful mindset in managing the emotional aspects of living with HIV. You're not going to want to miss this discussion emphasizing the significance of self-care, mental well-being, and community support for women living with HIV. Check it out!

On January 22, 2026, we hosted a transformative episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE, hosted by Ciarra "Ci Ci" Brown and community advisory board co-chair Lynette Trawick. In this powerful discussion, we confronted the societal expectation that women must always be the "strong ones," exploring the mental and emotional toll this can place on those managing an HIV diagnosis. In this interactive session, our cohosts shared their personal journeys and strategies for self-care, community connection, and empowerment. By highlighting the often-overlooked emotional experiences of women living with HIV, we explored opportunities for women living with HIV to advocate for their own needs and well-being.

On December 17, 2025, we held another interactive live episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE. Hosted by Bridgette Picou, LVN, ACLPN, and Dottie Rains-Dowdell, DHSc, the discussion explored the multifaceted journey of perimenopause and menopause for women living with HIV, covering symptom management, healthy coping strategies, and the power of community and storytelling in navigating this transition. We discussed the emotional rollercoaster that often accompanies perimenopause, sharing experiences and insights that resonated with many in our community. With an aim to foster a sense of sisterhood, this conversation empowered participants to build their own support networks while addressing the unique challenges they face. Whether you're navigating this transition yourself or simply want to learn more, you're not going to want to miss this episode!

In episode 37 of A Girl Like Me LIVE, we emphasize the significance of being proactive in healthcare encounters. Cohosts Ciarra "Ci Ci" Covin, MS, HS – BCP and Bridgette Picou, LVN, ACLPN discuss preventative screenings and the importance of self-advocacy for women living with HIV. The conversation includes vital discussions around comorbidities like heart disease, diabetes, and bone health, equipping you with the tools to prioritize your well-being. We also introduce useful resources designed to help women living with HIV to navigate their health needs and encourage open conversations with their medical team. Whether you're living with HIV or advocating for someone who is, this episode is filled with practical insights and empowering strategies to ensure comprehensive care.

The words people use to talk about HIV can affect the way people living with HIV feel about themselves. These words can also have an impact on how others view people living with HIV. In episode 36 of A Girl Like Me LIVE we explore the profound impact that language has on the wellness and overall health of women living with HIV. Co-hosts Ciarra "Ci Ci" Covin and Aryah Lester delve into the critical role that words play in shaping our identities and fostering connections within both personal and community contexts. We reference our current survey, "Words Matter: Experiences of Stigmatizing Language Among Women Living with HIV" which seeks to illuminate how the language used in healthcare settings can significantly influence the lives and care experiences of women living with HIV. Watch as we highlight the evolution of language in our communities and discuss how choosing the right words can enhance women's healthcare experiences and empower them as they navigate lives with HIV. Whether you are a provider, advocate, or simply passionate about inclusive language, this episode is for you! Don't miss this important conversation on the importance of language and its impact on the wellness of women living with HIV.

Bringing a new baby home can be a beautiful time – and an overwhelming one. The postpartum period often leaves women feeling unsupported and uncared for as they adjust to massive changes in their lives, relationships, and bodies. The "baby blues" and other intense feelings can be particularly impactful for women living with HIV, as remaining in care and on their treatment routine is vital for their own and their babies' health. Check out this episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE, held on September 25, 2025, as cohosts and mothers Ciarra "Ci Ci" Covin and Ashley Cason dive into a discussion about the challenges many parents face during the postpartum period, explore valuable resources, and discuss practical strategies to navigate this unique journey. Whether you're a caregiver, mother, or simply want to support one as she experiences the postpartum period, this conversation is for you!

There are many ways in which physical activity can improve your health – it can build and maintain muscle, increase your endurance, and strengthen your heart. For people living with HIV, those benefits may improve overall quality of life. On Thursday, August 28, 2025, we held another enlightening episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE. The cohosts of this episode, Ciarra "Ci Ci" Covin and Kim Canady, led a discussion around the vital role of physical activity and exercise in our lives, highlighting how motivation from peers can make all the difference. Regular physical activity may not only enhance your appearance but also significantly boost mental well-being. Whether you're a fitness enthusiast or just starting your journey, this discussion will inspire you to prioritize your health and happiness.

On Thursday July 31, 2025, 12pm ET / 9am PT, The Well Project hosted another powerful episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE as we discussed the importance of community for mothers living with HIV as they advocate for their children - and for themselves. Co-hosted by Ciarra "Ci Ci" Covin, Alyssa Crawford, and Heather O'Connor, this episode explores the value of building supportive networks, the role of advocacy in day-to-day life, and much more! From creating supportive environments for our children to self-care routines that empower us, you're not going to want to miss this conversation with these phenomenal mothers. 

The journey towards prioritizing self-care and self-love is an important one for all women. As we work together to destigmatize HIV and address health disparities for women living with the virus, a sense of peace with who we are becomes especially important as it can have a vital role in overall well-being. On Thursday June 26, 2025, we held episode 32 of A Girl Like Me LIVE. Cohosts Ciarra "Ci Ci" Covin, MS, HS – BCP and Bridgette Picou, LVN, ACLPN led an empowering discussion exploring their own personal stories and insights, the essential themes of self-love and self-care, and offered practical techniques for prioritizing your mental and emotional health amidst the challenges life brings.

Each year, National HIV Testing Day (#NHTD) is observed on June 27 to bring awareness to the importance of getting tested for HIV. The Well Project held a very special episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in commemoration of National HIV Testing Day, which delved into the diverse narratives and experiences of women living with and vulnerable to HIV. Co-hosts Ciarra "Ci Ci" Covin, Bre Azanedo, Ashley Cason, and Heather O'Connor brought a wealth of perspectives, each offering unique insights and empowering stories that shed light on the importance of HIV testing. Together, the co-hosts engaged in heartfelt discussions, shared personal anecdotes, and offered invaluable advice on navigating healthcare and advocacy within the context of HIV. 

There are several terms with similar meanings that are used to describe HIV transmission at birth or early in life, and those who acquired HIV this way. Some terms come from the community itself, while others are more clinical – and some may be considered stigmatizing. It may be confusing for those who do not share this experience to know what term they ought to use. Many who were in attendance at the 2023 US Conference on HIV/AIDS were able to witness a historical moment where the community itself identified that they are to be referred to as “Lifetime Survivors” and/or “Dandelions”. More listening, more opportunities and spaces for women who acquired HIV early to connect – and more following the lead of women who have spent a lifetime figuring out, with few models is essential. Join The Well Project for a very special episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE where Ci Ci is joined by three dynamic women: Kim Canady and Dandelions, Inc. Co-Executive Directors Antoinette Jones and Derinthia Williams to discuss the importance of identity, language, The Dandelions Movement, the US Conference on HIV/AIDS recap, and more! This episode is going to be a great one! We can’t wait to see you there!

Human sexuality exists on a dazzling spectrum. There are many ways that individuals express, and describe, their romantic, physical, and/or emotional attractions to other people. While everyone is unique in the way they experience (or do not experience) attraction, there are groupings within the spectrum of sexuality that people may use to label that aspect of their identity. Labels can be awkward – though they can also help people find others who identify in similar ways, to find community or intimate partnership. The Well Project invites you to join us for the 29th episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE for a discussion on women, sexuality, and HIV co-hosted by Ciarra "Ci Ci" Covin and community advisory board member Marnina Miller. These two powerful advocates engaged in a lively discussion on points related to how sexuality is defined sexuality and stigma, steps that one can take to find a community of support, and so much more! You are not going to want to miss this powerful discussion as The Well Project celebrates Pride Month!

Research shows that loneliness is a factor in how well people age. When you add the feelings of stigma and shame that sometimes accompany life with HIV, these feelings can be magnified and may also bring a sense of isolation. Quality of life and the desire to engage in care may be negatively impacted when one is experiencing loneliness related to their HIV diagnosis. On Thursday, April 27th at 12pm ET, The Well Project streamed the first Women Like Us - Aging Positively episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE where The Well Project’s stakeholder liaison, Bridgette Picou, LVN, ACLPN was joined by long-time The Well Project collaborator and fierce advocate, Gina Brown, RSW as they discussed the different types of loneliness, factors unique to women that can increase these feelings, and the importance of building community as we age with HIV. This interactive discussion explores what contributes to loneliness, how women’s experiences of living with HIV can compound the problem, and what women can do to balance these feelings and learn to age positively! The dynamic conversation between these two advocates is one you won’t want to miss.

On Wednesday, March 29th, 12pm ET The Well Project hosted the 27th episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE where Ciarra "Ci Ci" Covin was joined by community advisory board member Kim Canady to discuss the topic of HIV, women, and sexual pleasure. The discussion includes highlights from The Well Project's poster presentation "Facilitating Engagement about Sex and Pleasure Between Providers and Women Living With HIV" at the 2023 International workshop on HIV and Women in Seattle, Washington, as well as presentations at USCHA and SisterSong's "Let’s Talk About Sex" conferences in 2022. Ci Ci and Kim discussed some key takeaways from the presentations, reactions from health care providers and community members, and some of The Well Project's SHE/HER/THEY educational resources. Don't miss this interactive and candid conversation as we continue to advocate for advancing HIV programming and care that is inclusive of the "whole woman".

The fourth session of Leadership Exchange LIVE (BEEEBAH Edition) features Ciarra “Ci Ci” Covin (The Well Project) and Lealah Pollock, MD, MS (University of California, San Francisco). Join this powerful discussion as they discuss recent updates to the Perinatal HIV Clinical Guidelines. Updates to the section Infant Feeding for Individuals with HIV in the United States now assert the need for shared decision-making between providers and parents living with HIV and increased support from providers for parents' infant-feeding choices. This is big news! Join this discussion to learn about these updates; hear Ci Ci relate her own experiences and describe what these changes can mean for women and other birthing people living with HIV; and listen as Lealah shares what this means more broadly for the landscape of breast/chestfeeding and HIV. The Well Project's Leadership Exchange LIVE (BEEEBAH Editions) is a series of exchanges with thoughtleaders on breast/chestfeeding and HIV, a program that has been essential to our efforts to raise awareness, inspire action, and ensure that women living with HIV can experience their fundamental right to make informed, uncoerced infant-feeding decisions.

Historically, women across the gender spectrum have been insufficiently included and involved in HIV research. Such exclusion has resulted in limited knowledge about important aspects of women’s experiences of HIV that would inform their active participation in decision-making about their health and well-being. Join us for a special A Girl Like Me LIVE where Ci Ci is joined by Women’s Research Initiative on HIV/AIDS member Tonia Poteat, PhD, MPH, PA-C to discuss the importance of including all women in HIV research. This interactive discussion explores what contributes to the little knowledge about women’s experiences of living with HIV, how women can get involved in clinical trials or research development, and the importance of community engagement in advancing the meaningful inclusion of all women in HIV research, and more! This episode will be one that you don’t want to miss!

While the reasons are unclear, studies have shown that, in the general population, women are two times more likely to experience depression than men. Women living with HIV across the gender spectrum are even more likely than women in the general population to experience mental health challenges. The holiday season can be a tough time for many individuals, for many reasons, and having a community of support may prove to help cope with feelings of loneliness, isolation, and sadness. On Thursday December 15, 2022 The Well Project streamed its 25th episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE co-hosted by Ci Ci Covin and community advisory board members Heather O'Connor and Masonia Traylor as they explored ways to cope with mental health around the holidays. You're not going to want to miss this amazing discussion with these amazing women!

Talking with adolescents and teens about sex and HIV can be anxiety provoking, but these conversations are so important as we seek to ensure that they are equipped with accurate and up-to-date information about HIV prevention and awareness. It may not be the easiest conversation to have, but there are ways that you can educate yourself and resources to help you! On October 26th at 12:00 pm ET, Ci Ci was joined by Kimberly Canady and Ieshia Scott, two long-time community advisory board members, for the 24th episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE. You're not going to want to miss the chance to learn from these advocates about how they have initiated the conversation about HIV prevention and awareness with youth in their communities, tips for when to begin talking with children, and what you can do to create a supportive and loving environment in which adolescents and teens will feel comfortable asking questions and empowered to make healthy life choices. This episode is sponsored by Theratechnologies. Visit https://cdn.fs.pathlms.com/4oiXe0vRdGQpqWg8RqwQ to view their Screening Guide for Lifestyle Diseases

September is recognized as Healthy Aging Month. Join for a special A Girl Like Me LIVE in honor of National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day (#NHAAD). In the US, the first cases of HIV emerged among young men, but today we know that the epidemic affects both women and men of all ages, including older women. Despite the tremendous improvements in HIV drugs that now enable many people to live long and healthy lives with HIV, there are ways that living and aging with HIV is different from aging while HIV-negative. In the 23rd episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE, Ciarra “Ci Ci” Covin was joined by The Well Project founder Dawn Averitt for a powerful discussion about aging and HIV. Dawn, who was diagnosed with HIV in 1988, shared her experience as a woman who is aging while living HIV/AIDS, the importance of taking care of oneself, the need for research in women who are aging with HIV, and much more! This episode is sponsored by Theratechnologies. Visit https://cdn.fs.pathlms.com/4oiXe0vRdGQpqWg8RqwQ to view their Screening Guide for Lifestyle Diseases

The patient-provider relationship is established when a provider attends to the medical needs of a patient. Depending on a number of factors, this dynamic can have both positive and negative effects on the person receiving care. Strong patient-provider relationships established on trust, shared-decision making, and effective communication can have a positive impact on people living with HIV and these relationships often prove to have an impact on their overall health outcomes. On Wednesday August 31, 2022, 12pm EST, Ciarra “Ci Ci” Covin was joined by The Well Project Medical Editor, Theresa Mack, MD, MPH as they had an insightful conversation on the importance of patient-provider relationships for women living with HIV, share suggestions for overcoming barriers that may exist in this context, and much, much more! This episode is sponsored by Theratechnologies. Visit https://cdn.fs.pathlms.com/4oiXe0vRdGQpqWg8RqwQ to view their Screening Guide for Lifestyle Diseases

Health disparities are differences in health that are linked to unjust social conditions (income inequality, racism, gender bias, and many more). A health disparity can be a higher rate of a disease among certain groups than others – even, in many cases, despite ongoing prevention efforts. HIV is just one example of an epidemic that is made worse by health disparities. In the 21st episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE, Ci Ci was be joined by author, community advocate, and transformational speaker Connie L. Johnson. Connie and Ci Ci discussed health inequities and health disparities faced by Black women and others who are living with HIV. Come take part in this interactive discussion to explore the root of these disparities and how they impact the daily lives of women living with HIV. This episode is sponsored by Theratechnologies. Visit https://cdn.fs.pathlms.com/4oiXe0vRdGQpqWg8RqwQ to view their Screening Guide for Lifestyle Diseases.

Women living with HIV across the gender spectrum are more likely than women in the general population to experience challenges to their mental health. Among many people, accessing mental health care can carry stigma, and can even be discouraged by some family members and friends. Additionally, women, often primary caregivers, will care for others before caring for themselves. In the 20th episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE, Ci Ci is joined by Raenisha Love, LCSW as they discuss mental health care from both the perspective of a therapist who offers non-judgmental, empathic services to individuals across the gender spectrum and a woman living with HIV who sought out mental health care. You’re not going to want to miss this dynamic conversation between two powerful women as it relates to the importance of mental health care (in addition to HIV treatment) for overall well-being for women living with HIV.  This episode is sponsored by Theratechnologies. Visit https://cdn.fs.pathlms.com/4oiXe0vRdGQpqWg8RqwQ to view their Screening Guide for Lifestyle Diseases  

Telling someone you love that you are living with HIV can be really hard. Living with HIV can often impact not just the person who received the diagnosis, but also those around them - including family, friends, and other people they are close with. During the month of May, and beyond, we celebrate the special dynamic of motherhood as it relates to HIV. In the 19th episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE, Ci Ci is joined by her own mother, Carol Coleman; Lynette Trawick and her mother-in-law Karen Trawick; and mother-daughter duo Michelle and Raven Lopez in a heartfelt conversation meant to shed light on these multiple, diverse perspectives of motherhood and HIV. Tune into this enlightening, powerful discussion among women living with HIV and their mothers!

No one should be punished simply because they have a health condition. But in many areas of the world, laws and practices unfairly punish people living with HIV because of their HIV-positive status. In other words, people living with HIV can face criminal charges for engaging in acts that would not be considered criminal if a person who is not living with HIV engaged in them. This is often called HIV criminalization. Join Ci Ci as she chats with Black feminist attorney Mandisa Moore-O'Neal about criminalization and HIV, how HIV-specific laws and policies affect the reproductive rights of Black women, and how all this connects with criminalization of Black women’s bodies, including their parenting choices, more broadly. You’re not going to want to miss this important discussion during Black Maternal Health Week 2022.

"Serodifferent relationship" and "mixed-status couple" are terms often used to describe a couple or relationship in which one partner is living with HIV and the other is not. Romantic and intimate relationships can be challenging for anyone, and differing HIV statuses may be part of that. But nowadays, we have more information and more tools than ever to help serodifferent couples have healthy relationships and great sexual lives with one another, with infinitely less worry about HIV transmission. Listen as Ci Ci joins Lynette and Daniel Trawick, a married, mixed-status couple as they discussed stigma, how U=U has impacted their relationship, and much more! You’re don't want to miss this very vulnerable and passionate conversation about serodifferent couples.

People living with HIV can hold negative beliefs about HIV that cause them to stigmatize themselves (also known as internalized stigma). For many women living with HIV, the negative stories we tell ourselves have more consequences than the stigma we’re subject to from others. Self-stigma can be particularly challenging when it comes to what we believe we deserve when dating. Tune in to the 15th episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE, where Ci Ci joins Michelle Anderson of The Afiya Center to have a vulnerable conversation about how stigma, especially internalized stigma, can affect the dating choices and experiences of women living with HIV. Join us for this powerful conversation as we discuss the impact of the stories that we tell ourselves.

The Well Project commemorated World AIDS Day 2021 by launching our new, three-year project, BEEEBAH (Building Equity, Ethics, and Education on Breastfeeding and HIV)! The first session featured Ciarra “Ci Ci” Covin (The Well Project) and Allison Agwu, MD, MPH (Johns Hopkins). Ci Ci relates her personal experiences as a woman living with HIV, new parent, and advocate; Allison shares insights from her work caring for women living with HIV across the lifespan (from pediatrics to adults), including women who choose to breastfeed. We look forward to the first in this series of exchanges with various thoughtleaders on breast/chestfeeding and HIV – essential to our efforts to raise awareness, inspire action, and ensure that women living with HIV can experience their fundamental right to make informed, uncoerced infant-feeding decisions. BEEEBAH is a comprehensive, multi-tiered project that expands upon The Well Project’s existing efforts around breast/chestfeeding and HIV and has received funding from ViiV Healthcare’s Positive Action for Women initiative.

Throughout their lives, women may experience multiple forms of oppression and discrimination based on gender, race, sexual identity, socioeconomic status, or other factors. The oppression and discrimination are often reinforced through language. Adding an HIV diagnosis can magnify this oppression and affect self-worth, confidence, and self-identity. The words that are used to talk about people living with HIV affect the way people living with HIV feel about themselves. In the fourteenth episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE, Ci Ci joined long-term survivor Vickie Lynn in speaking about the significance of the language we use to talk about HIV. Join us in the final discussion of 2021 as these two extraordinary women talked about why the language we use is important, how we can bring awareness to its importance, and what people can do to evoke change.

People of trans experience, particularly women and femmes of color, endure targeting for horrendous acts of violence and even murder in racist, sexist, transphobic, anti-Black societies around the world, including the US. This terrible fact gave rise to Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), on which we honor our family of trans experience who have lost their lives to various forms of violence. It has also evolved into a day to honor and lift up the immense power, creativity, collective survival, community healing, and mutual aid that so many individuals and communities of trans experience embody and model. For our 13th episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE, honoring TDOR, Ciarra "Ci Ci" Covin is joined by Tiommi Jenae Luckett, an activist and emerita member of The Well Project's CAB, to discuss the importance of remembrance and resilience.

There is no one "best" way to tell others (disclose) that you are living with HIV. It may be important to share that information with health providers other than your HIV care provider so that you can get the best possible care. But who do you tell; how do you start that conversation; and what is helpful to be prepared for? On the 12th episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE, our host Ciarra "Ci Ci" Covin explored these questions and more along with CAB member Bridgette Picou, a licensed vocational nurse and a woman living with HIV. Bridgette shares her expertise on both sides of the client-provider relationship.

As we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, staying connected to our community and sharing up-to-date information is key. In the 11th episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE, Ci Ci, Community Advisory Board chair Gina Brown, RSW and Oni Blackstock, MD discuss the COVID-19 vaccine, clinical trials, and more about what you need to know to keep yourself safe. Ms. Brown speaks about her initial hesitancy and ultimate path to getting the vaccine, including the questions she posed to doctors she trusts, which helped her make her decision. Dr. Blackstock provides invaluable provider insights and answer questions you may have about the vaccine – including around the Delta variant and boosters. Check out this very important discussion.

Let’s talk about sex! The ninth episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE is a fun conversation between Kimberly Canady, Aryah Lester, and Olivia G. Ford, as we celebrate Sexual Health Month. Some women may feel that their dating and sexual lives are over once they receive a positive HIV diagnosis and this does not have to be true! While HIV can affect one’s self-esteem and confidence, it is important to believe that you deserve love and affection and to know that it is possible to receive it in positive and healthy ways. This is something worth celebrating! Stop in and listen to this exciting conversation as these women navigate positive sexual health while living with an HIV diagnosis. You’re not going to want to miss this one!

National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day is honored on September 18th of each year to bring attention to the many, many people who are living long and fulfilling lives with HIV and to also highlight their distinct needs. The eighth episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE was a dialogue between Ci Ci, Gina Brown, and Porchia Dees, during which they discussed the unique experiences of women who have been living with HIV over the course of many years. Two different perspectives were highlighted in this conversation – long-term survivors who were diagnosed as adults and those who were diagnosed as babies. In a space created to listen to voices of women living with HIV as they express their needs and describe how they think those needs should be addressed, they cover topics including the dramatic impact of HIV treatment, important social issues that don’t always get enough attention in the conversation around HIV/AIDS, and what aging truly means to them.

The ninth in our The Well Project Leadership Exchange series features a conversation between The Well Project Community Advisory Board member Masonia Traylor and SisterLove Founder and President and WRI member Dázon Dixon Diallo. Don't miss this moving conversation about serving Black women living with and vulnerable to HIV and the ways in which global and domestic advocacy work can inform each other.

In the seventh episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE, Ci Ci Coleman talked with Community Advisory Board Members Ieshia Scott and Destiny Smith about parenting and sharing your HIV status with your kids. Living with HIV has its challenges and so does parenting. This discussion highlights how these mothers have managed their HIV diagnoses while parenting, how they talk to their children about HIV, and tips they have for other parents living with the diagnosis. No approach is one-size-fits-all and this is part of what was explored during our conversation. Learn tips on how to talk to your children about HIV and gain support from our diverse community with these wonderful mothers during this episode. Make sure to check out this amazing and vulnerable conversation!

The eighth in our The Well Project Leadership Exchange series features a conversation between The Well Project Community Advisory Board member, Senior HIV Testing Coordinator at Black AIDS Institute, and HIV advocate/influencer, Porchia Dees and Gilead Science’s Principal Medical Scientist and WRI member Gina Brown, MD. Join us as these inspirational leaders talk about pregnancy and HIV and the ways that treatment and care have and continue to evolve.

In this episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE, Ci Ci talked with Heather Rhea O'Connor of the International Community of Women Living with HIV - North America about Breastfeeding and HIV in honor of National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. As mothers, these two amazing advocates discussed their personal experiences around the information they received from providers concerning their ability to breastfeed, how they have chosen to make informed decisions to feed their children, and the work that they have done to assist other parents to make the best choices for them and their families. You do not want to miss this informative discussion between two mothers fighting for the right to feed their children as they choose.

The seventh in our The Well Project Leadership Exchange series features a conversation between The Well Project community advisory board (CAB) member, HIV advocate, blogger, and author Destiny Smith and The Well Project CAB chair and WRI member and Gina Brown, RSW, community engagement manager for the Southern AIDS Coalition. Please tune into to this incredible cross-generational dialogue and hear what each of these remarkable advocates had to learn from the other.

In this episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE, Ci Ci Coleman talked with Community Advisory Board member Masonia Traylor about pregnancy and HIV. These two powerful advocates dispel the myths and misinformation that continue today despite decades of science and evidence proving that women living with HIV can have healthy pregnancies. Both Ci Ci and Masonia shared their personal experiences being pregnant while living with HIV—including Ci Ci's current pregnancy!

In this episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE, Ci Ci talks with Community Advisory Board member Katie Willingham about U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable). These amazing leaders talk about what U=U means to them and the impact that learning about it has had on their lives. They also discuss their experiences sharing the message with others in the community, including providers!

The sixth in our The Well Project Leadership Exchange series features a conversation between one of The Well Project’s newest community advisory board (CAB) members, Katie Willingham, and WRI member and partner Naina Khanna, co-executive director of Positive Women’s Network – USA (PWN-USA). Please check out this fascinating discussion to learn more about these two amazing women, their journeys to HIV advocacy, and about how they practice self-care, particularly in these extremely challenging times. The Well Project Leadership Exchange is a new series connecting thoughtleaders in the HIV community to explore one another’s work, activism, and personal experiences. Credits and thanks to Farah Jeune for video editing and production, Sweet Potato Design for logo development, Katie Willingham and Naina Khanna for participation, and The Well Project team.

The fifth in our The Well Project Leadership Exchange series features a conversation between The Well Project community advisory board (CAB) and Women’s Research Initiative on HIV/AIDS (WRI) member Gina Brown, RSW and our WRI member Chuck Wira, PhD. Gina is a community engagement manager at the Southern AIDS Coalition and Chuck is a professor at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College. They are both long-time and highly valued members of the WRI. Please check out this warm dialogue as two long-time colleagues learn new things about each other and the ways they are each working to change the landscape of HIV for women. The Well Project Leadership Exchange is a new series connecting thoughtleaders in the HIV community to explore one another’s work, activism, and personal experiences. Credits and thanks to Farah Jeune for video editing and production, Sweet Potato Design for logo development, Gina Brown and Chuck Wira for participation, and The Well Project team.

We are really excited for our next episode, in which Ci Ci will talk with Community Advisory Board Chair Gina Brown, RSW about COVID-19 vaccination. These two inspiring women will talk about Gina’s personal experience with the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as clinical trials and vaccine hesitancy.

In the second episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE, Ci Ci will talk with Community Advisory Board Member Marissa Gonzalez about Dating and Disclosure. These two phenomenal leaders will describe their personal experiences with disclosure along their journeys living with HIV, offer tips for others, and discuss challenges they have faced.

The fourth in our The Well Project Leadership Exchange series features a discussion between our global ambassador and community advisory board (CAB) member Bose Olotu and our board member Judy Auerbach, PhD. Bose was one of The Well Project’s original CAB members (starting in 2014) and has served as a global ambassador for the organization since 2015, as she conducts grassroots outreach and education for adolescents and women in Nigeria. Judy became a member of our Board of Directors in 2013 and is a professor in the school of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco. She is also a long-term Advisory Board member for our Women’s Research Initiative on HIV/AIDS (WRI). Join us to hear the remarkable conversation between these two leaders on opposite sides of the world as they talk about what it will take to change the world for women and girls living with HIV. The Well Project Leadership Exchange is a new series connecting thoughtleaders in the HIV community to explore one another’s work, activism, and personal experiences. Credits and thanks to Farah Jeune for video editing and production, Sweet Potato Design for logo development, Bose Olotu and Judy Auerbach for participation, and The Well Project team.

The third in our The Well Project Leadership Exchange series features a discussion between our global ambassador and community advisory board (CAB) member Maria Mejia and our board member Linda Scruggs. Maria joined The Well Project in 2010 as one of the very first bloggers for A Girl Like Me. She has been a CAB member since 2014 and served as a global ambassador for the organization since 2015. Linda became a member of our Board of Directors in 2019 and is the founding director of Ribbon Consulting Group. This engaging dialogue between two brilliant leaders delves into mentorship and the vital role that self-care plays in the lives of advocates. The Well Project Leadership Exchange is a new series connecting thoughtleaders in the HIV community to explore one another’s work, activism, and personal experiences. Credits and thanks to Farah Jeune for video editing and production, Sweet Potato Design for logo development, Maria Mejia and Linda Scruggs for participation, and The Well Project team.

Join us for the first episode of A Girl Like Me LIVE to commemorate both the 40th anniversary of the first reports of what would come to be known as HIV and honor HIV Long-Term Survivors' Day.