In 2026, the HIV epidemic is metro-Atlanta is alive and well. 90% of all new HIV cases impact Black and BROWN women. HIV is now a chronic disease similar to all the others: diabetes, High Blood Pressure, and obesity. The majority of people contracting the disease in 2026 are Black women. I reached out to the Empowerment Resource Center (ERC) founded by Jacqueline Brown to ask her about the challenge and how it should be addressed. Along with The Local Take will host Thrift and Thrive on July 18th from 11AM - 3PM at 2WThrift located at 300 Wharton Circle, Atlanta 30336.
I asked Brown how she came to be involved in the work of HIV advocacy. She mentioned hearing a report on NPR twenty years ago, which reported that the age of transmission for HIV in women had shifted from 18-34 year-olds to 15 - 34 year-olds. She had two daughters, and she began to advocate and increase awareness within her sphere about preventing HIV.
Some folks may not know that the science around HIV has never been better. PREP is a once-a-day pill you take that reduces your risk of contracting HIV by 99%. Additionally, those with an HIV diagnosis who take their medicine obtain a viral load so low that HIV is no longer transmittable. Additionally, in the 80s and 90s, it took several days to get the results from an HIV test. Today it takes minutes. In fact, partners can test together as a part of foreplay.
I asked Brown about sexual health as part of our overall healthcare and why people need to understand their own basic biology. She speaks about Atlanta being part of the Bible Belt and that the entire Southeast Region has the highest rates of HIV transmission. The stigma around sexuality is strong in our communities. Brown shares that some people believe that contracting HIV is inevitable, and of course, if you take PREP, it is completely avoidable.
I asked Brown about the Empowerment Resource Center and the steps they take if someone receives a positive diagnosis. Even though HIV is considered a chronic disease that people live with, it is something that can be avoided altogether with changes in behaviour. We have the solution; we just need to make sure everyone knows.
For more information on the Empowerment Resource Center