May 15 - May 18GLOW en Español – Training #1
Houston, TX- July 17 - July 20
GLOW – Training #2
Fort Lauderdale, FL - October 16 - October 19
GLOW – Training #3
Charlotte, NC
About GLOW (Growing Leadership Opportunities for Women)
GLOW (Growing Leadership Opportunities for Women) is a community-driven and an HIV status neutral program that empowers women through a holistic approach to health and wellness. With a focus on behavioral and systemic change, GLOW enhances access to integrated HIV and STI services, particularly for women from communities facing marginalization. Going strong since 2019, we’re proud to celebrate our sixth year of programming!
Through a community engagement model, GLOW fosters safe spaces for authentic conversations, using storytelling to address lived experiences and taboo topics such as HIV and HIV stigma. This approach raises awareness, strengthens advocacy, and fosters empowerment among women.
GLOW’s Mission: Increase women’s awareness that leads to positive action & equitable access to health resources, especially for HIV prevention, treatment and care.
GLOW’s Value-Add
- GLOW provides leadership development by connecting participants with experienced mentors in HIV advocacy, public health, and professional growth. It also offers networking opportunities to help women advance in their careers.
Program Evolution
- 2019: GLOW emerged as a response to the absence of a dedicated program for women in NMAC.
- Initially starting as a program exclusively for cisgender women, the first cohort of GLOW was scheduled for February 2019.
- Due to changes in funding, the program persisted and experienced transformation to become more inclusive.
- 2022: GLOW gathered community feedback from around the country
- We hosted 14 community engagement sessions around the U.S.
- This served as an opportunity to actively listen and engage the thoughts, concerns, and ideas of women from various walks of life
- The spectrum of community feedback was the foundation of refining the program to make it more accessible and universal for Women of Color
- 2023: GLOW returned to its roots of inclusivity
- We made a significant stride towards inclusivity by re-engaging the original cohort and extending a warm invitation to transgender women.
- This decision highlights the importance of GLOW’s commitment of creating an inclusive space that ensures that all women are provided with a platform to thrive and succeed.
2024: GLOW en español was introduced, with four successful trainings in Puerto Rico, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York. 2025: Based on participant feedback, GLOW will omit breakout sessions so that all participants can engage together, maximizing learning and networking opportunities.
2025: Based on participant feedback, GLOW will omit breakout sessions so that all participants can engage together, maximizing learning and networking opportunities.
GLOW Purpose and Objectives
A. Program Objectives:
- Provide a comprehensive sexual health and wellness training program.
- Create a safe space for women to engage in candid and authentic discussions about taboo topics.
- Increase women’s knowledge of HIV/STIs, empowering them to make informed decisions about their health.
- Enable women to share the knowledge they acquire with their peers through our mini-grants program.
B. What to Expect During GLOW:
Through GLOW, women will gain valuable insights, develop leadership capabilities, and enhance their communication skills. With a blend of interactive educational sessions, GLOW offers a safe and supportive environment for women to thrive and flourish.
Our carefully crafted curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including:
- Holistic Health & Self-care
- HIV/STIs Prevention and Treatment
- Sexual Health Empowerment (cis and trans)
- Reproductive Health & Justice (cis and trans)
- Advocate For Your Health & For HIV Stigma Reduction
- Professional Development: Resume/Interview Skills and Mini Grant Strategic Planning
C. What is Possible After GLOW
Upon completion of the program, GLOW offers participants the opportunity to apply for a mini-grant. The purpose of this grant is to assist with resources to help create a project that will reach GLOW’s population of focus and build knowledge, skills, and empowerment at the local level. By providing women with the tools and resources they need to succeed, including education on sexual health, HIV/STIs, and strategies for keeping people in treatment, these programs can help close the gender gap in leadership and promote greater gender diversity in organizations, ultimately contributing to the reduction of HIV/STI rates in communities.
Who should be a part of GLOW?
- Demographic Considerations: GLOW is designed by and for Women of Color. This program is open to cisgender and transgender women, aged 18 and older. Our priority populations for 2025 are Latina and Black women. We will cover the travel expenses for 5 individuals from each training (see below), while the remaining 10 participants will need to be from the local area where the training is being held.
- Interest and Commitment: Participants should demonstrate a genuine interest in enhancing their understanding of sexual health and wellness and a commitment to actively engage in the training program. The training is designed for individuals at a basic to intermediate level of HIV knowledge. It is particularly beneficial for those who are new to the topics we will cover and are looking to gain foundational understanding.
- Willingness to Contribute: Participants should be open to participating in candid and authentic discussions about sensitive topics related to sexual health and be willing to contribute to creating a safe and supportive environment for all participants.
- Awareness and Learning Goals: Participants should express a desire to increase their knowledge and understanding of HIV/STIs, indicating a willingness to learn and apply this knowledge to make informed decisions about their own health and well-being.
- Community Engagement: Preference may be given to individuals who show enthusiasm for sharing the knowledge and skills gained during the training with their communities, as demonstrated by past involvement in community initiatives or a commitment to participate in the mini-grants program to disseminate information among peers.
2025 GLOW Training Events Format
In 2025, GLOW will host 3 training events.
- Selection Priority: For each training session, GLOW will prioritize 10 attendees from the local area where the training is held.
- Session Size: Each of the 3 training events is designed for a maximum of 15 participants.
- Length: Training schedules will run from Thursdays to Sundays. Based on feedback from community engagement sessions in 2022, we learned that women prefer a weekend format.
- Training Structure:
- Thursday: Half-day session from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm for hotel check-ins and a group welcome dinner
- Friday and Saturday: Full training days from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm (including breakfast and lunch)
- Sunday: A half-day training session from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm (including breakfast and a lunch graduation celebration)
- Accommodation: NMAC will cover hotel accommodations for all GLOW attendees (travelers and local participants) of all 3 sessions in 2025.
Food and Transportation stipends: A welcome dinner on Thursday as well as breakfast and lunch will be provided on Friday through Sunday. Participants will receive a stipend for dinner meals not covered and ground transportation from home/airports to arrive and depart training hotel.
2025 GLOW Training Schedule and Applications
GLOW en Español – Training #1
May 15 - May 18Language: This training will be conducted in Spanish. Logistics: GLOW will provide flights for up to five individuals to attend the training, with 10 spots reserved for locals in Houston.
GLOW – Training #2
July 17 - July 20Language: This training will be conducted in English. Logistics: GLOW will provide flights for up to five individuals to attend the training, with 10 spots reserved for locals in Ft.Lauderdale.
GLOW – Training #3
October 16 - October 19Language: This training will be conducted in English. Logistics: GLOW will provide flights for up to five individuals to attend the training, with 10 spots reserved for locals in Ft.Lauderdale.