NMAC 2023: A Year in Review

As 2023 draws to a close, NMAC’s staff reflects on the impactful moments that made this year one to remember:

The Coalition for Justice and Equality Across Movements

NMAC’s Coalition for Justice and Equality Across Movements is a finalist in the Non-Profit Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Team & Leadership category in The Anthem Community Voice Awards. This award is a testament to the dedication and hard work of NMAC staff to make the first annual Coalition meeting in Marina Del Rey, California a success. The award also reflects NMAC’s and the Coalition’s commitment to working with leaders across diverse movements to ensure that our health, safety, and constitutional rights are not under attack. We look forward to working with our Coalition partners to continue for fighting for health equality for all as we enter a crucial Presidential election year in 2024.

Winners for the 3rd Annual Anthem Awards will be announced on Tuesday, January 30th, 2024. You can vote for the Coalition online up until Thursday, December 21, 2023 by clicking here.

The Training Center to End the HIV Epidemic in America

The Training Center to End the HIV Epidemic in America, or “The Center,” remains dedicated to cultivating leaders who are well-positioned to assume the responsibility of putting an end to the HIV/AIDS crisis.

The ESCALATE program expanded our impact by conducting in-person training sessions in cities such as Memphis, TN, San Antonio, TX, and Charlotte, NC. Meanwhile, ELEVATE paved the way for digital equity through a series of HIV/AIDS advocacy webinars, offering virtual training opportunities for both English and Spanish-speaking audiences. As registration numbers continue to climb for our upcoming January trainings – ESCALATE’s in Philadelphia, PA, and ELEVATE’s in Atlanta, GA – we are eagerly anticipating a productive and leader-driven 2024. The momentum is building, and we’re excited to make a meaningful impact in the new year.

Conferences Division

The Conferences division is proud to have carried out the theme, “A Love Letter to Black Women”, through our conferences: the Biomedical HIV Prevention Summit, and the US Conference on HIV/AIDS (USCHA). The Summit featured a plenary session titled “Taking Control Over Our Bodies: Black Women, Sex, Violence, and HIV.” The event brought together a packed audience exclusive to Black women from various backgrounds. The 2023 USCHA prioritized Black women as its focus population. This was reflected in an increased selection of workshops, scholarships, networking opportunities and cultural activities throughout the conference program. All four plenary sessions of USCHA focused on the issues of Black women. We are grateful to our partners and committee members who worked to create a meaningful experience at both events.

Treatment Division (REACH/PACT)

The advocacy efforts of the HIV 50+/FAPP Aging WG initiating conversation with HOPWA’s Director, Rita Harcrow, and CMS’s Dr. Shari Ling, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and Medical Officer in the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality (CCSQ), on what these agencies are doing to respond to the specific housing and Medicare/Medicaid needs of older adults living with HIV.

The Gay Men of Color (GMoC) Fellowship successfully supported the leadership development of its 20 members, ensuring that those disproportionately affected by HIV take the lead in the movement. They were offered a series of skill-building workshops aimed at strengthening their advocacy capabilities, and a mentorship program connecting them with experienced advocates, facilitating the expansion of their work. Fellows also played an active role in shaping events such as the Summit and USCHA, in addition to initiating their own projects with the support of our mini-grants.

Looking ahead to 2024, NMAC remains committed to reducing the disparities towards gay men of color by building a stronger fieldforce by expanding the program’s reach.

Development Division

NMAC’s Development Division has strengthened in 2023! This year, our success was centered around NMAC’s annual events including BHPS, USCHA and the Hill Champions Reception. With record-breaking funds raised and attendance, we have set a high bar moving forward.

At NMAC, our partnerships will always remain a priority and the development team works to build and grow the relationships that we have with all of our supporters. Thank you for your support, sponsorship and contributions to our organization!

As of December 2023, NMAC’s Development Division is fully staffed to include three positions that will partner effectively to execute strategy and the necessary tasks to both maintain and increase revenue for NMAC moving forward.

Strategic Partnerships & Policy

In a challenging year marked by proposed cuts to HIV/AIDS funding, NMAC actively opposed reductions and, alongside Coalition partners, urged Congress to increase funding. Successful advocacy prevented the elimination of crucial HIV programs despite federal threats. NMAC also led initiatives to enhance the Older Americans Act for seniors with HIV, despite resistance in the House. While our language wasn’t included, we persist in urging Congress to do more for those 50+ and living with HIV.

Building on the theme from USCHA, NMAC hosted its largest-ever Hill Champions event, celebrating and honoring the outstanding women of the Congressional Black Caucus. On World AIDS Day, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health selected NMAC to present on the 25th anniversary of the Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) as part of their HOPE Challenge. NMAC is committed to restoring MAI funds to their original intent of supporting minority-led organizations. In 2024, our focus shifts to the elections, emphasizing health equity, anti-discrimination efforts, and HIV-related issues. Stay tuned for updates on our legislative agenda.

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NMAC got a lot done this year, and we couldn’t have done it without you- the #NMACCommunity! Thank you for all you do, and we look forward to sharing this community with you in 2024.