HIV Advocacy Network

Advocate for meaningful change

San Francisco AIDS Foundation’s HIV Advocacy Network (HAN) is a grassroots group of activists in the Bay Area fighting to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic and improve the lives of communities impacted by HIV.

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Since the early days of the HIV epidemic, AIDS activists have mobilized to fight for funding, equality and our lives. We’re applying that legacy to the modern-day context by bringing community activists together to advocate for critical policies that affect us all.
Advocacy helps me to realize that it’s not just about me, and that we can’t do this alone…
Michael Stoutmire Black Brothers Esteem Program Member

Advocacy Issue Areas

Health Justice

We fight for equitable access to healthcare for communities most impacted by the HIV epidemic.

Harm Reduction & Drug User Health

We believe in evidence-based public health policy that treats people who use drugs with dignity and respect in their journey around substance use.

HIV & Aging

Our elders fought for our rights to access healthcare ensuring HIV/AIDS would not be a death sentence. Now it’s time to step up together and fight for the right to age with dignity.

Housing & Homelessness

Housing is a human right, and we know that if you’re worried about where you’ll be sleeping you won’t be able to take care of your health. Housing is fundamental to achieving justice for our communities.

Intersectional Solidarity

We recognize the diversity inherent in the HIV movement and stand in solidarity with other progressive social justice movements working to dismantle systems of oppression that harm our communities.

Urge San Francisco to take action on Safer Consumption Services
The HIV Advocacy Network is a proud coalition member of: AIDS United • Care4AllCA • Coalition on Human Needs • Communities Advocating Emergency AIDS Relief (CAEAR) Coalition • EndHepC SF • Federal AIDS Policy Partnership (FAPP) • Harm Reduction Coalition • HIV/AIDS Provider Network (HAPN) • Homeless Emergency Service Providers Association (HESPA) • Human Services Network • Medicaid Coalition • National AIDS Housing Coalition • National Black Gay Men’s Advocacy Coalition • National Coalition on LGBT Health • National Coalition on Low Income Housing • Our City Our Home Coalition • San Francisco HIV Frontline Organizers Network (SF HIV FOG) • SAVE for All Campaign • The Food is Medicine Coalition • Yes to SCS California

How are advocacy efforts organized?

HIV Advocacy Network members are organized into the following teams:

  • Leadership Team guides the strategic direction of advocacy efforts by empowering community members in advocating for issues affecting communities impacted by HIV and is composed of the co-chairs for each of the working group teams and the coordinator.
  • Mobilization & Training Team develops strategies to train and mobilize our members at key moments around advocacy campaigns and actions.
  • Community & Outreach Team plans activities and outreach to recruit new members and build community within our group to retain members and build solidarity.
  • Policy & Education Team informs membership on the progress of different bills and campaigns.
How do members stay informed?

Members of the HIV Advocacy Network are regularly provided with:

  • Updates related to our active campaigns that may include linked articles, fact sheets, and policy briefs related to our priority issue areas.
  • Shared toolkits, guides, and trainings to help members sharpen their advocacy skills and comprehension of key legislative processes.
  • Opportunities to take action like public marches and rallies, public comments at hearings, legislative visits with policymakers, phone banks, petition drives, canvassing, tabling, and social media actions.
When is your next membership meeting?

General membership meetings are held once a month. Depending on your commitment, additional meetings may be necessary to coordinate with team members on active campaigns and mobilizations.

Sign up today to attend our next membership meeting.

HAN Leadership Team

Jonathon Salinas

Community Chair

(He/Him)
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(He/Him)

Jonathon Salinas

Community Chair

I am Jonathon Salinas (he/him), born and raised in Salinas, CA. I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2020 with community worker experience as an educator, events coordinator, and youth services advocate. My current work with the San Francisco AIDS Foundation focuses on increasing access to sexual health and HIV prevention services, particularly for communities most impacted by sexual health disparities. In my free time I like to lay in Dolores Park with a good book or visit my favorite bars, El Rio and Oasis.

Alton Lou

Outreach Co-Chair

(He/Him or They/Them)
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(He/Him or They/Them)

Alton Lou

Outreach Co-Chair

My name is Alton (he/they), I have been a PrEP Navigator for the past 3 years working in the Bay Area. HIV prevention and care has always been super important to me, as it was a vital part of my development. I hope to learn, to teach, and to grow with the community.

Jose Murillo Cisneros

Outreach Co-Chair

(He/Him)
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(He/Him)

Jose Murillo Cisneros

Outreach Co-Chair

My name is Jose Murillo (he/him). I am very enthusiastic, optimistic about new opportunities, and open minded. I enjoy challenges and have come a long way and am looking forward to doing my best to shine!

Akashdeep Singh

Policy & Education Co-Chair

(They/Them)
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(They/Them)

Akashdeep Singh

Policy & Education Co-Chair

My name is Akash Singh (they/them). I work in environmental legislation and have been volunteering as the Policy & Advocacy Co-Chair for a year. I enjoy film, baking, and writing in coffee shops.

Bravery Scott

Mobilization Co-Chair

(They/Them)
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(They/Them)

Bravery Scott

Mobilization Co-Chair

My name is Bravery (they/them). I'm a gay non-binary artist who loves to go for long walks in the redwoods and will probably give you a tarot reading. I dress in drag on Fridays.

Paul Aguilar

Mobilization Co-Chair

(He/Him/Y'all/El)
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(He/Him/Y'all/El)

Paul Aguilar

Mobilization Co-Chair

I am Paul Aguilar (he/him/y’all/el), and have been a member of HAN since 2018. In addition to being a former Policy & Education co-chair, I was one of the first to receive an End the Epidemics fellowship, and have recently become a co-chair of the Getting to Zero Consortium's HIV & Aging Subcommittee. In 2023, I received the Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal at SF Pride.

Robert Mitchell

BBE Representative

(He/Him)
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(He/Him)

Robert Mitchell

BBE Representative

I am Robert Mitchell (he/him), a long-time Human Rights Activist. My initial interest in health care really manifested itself with the onset of the AIDS crisis. Out of necessity l have become a soldier in this war on HIV and AIDS, thanks to all the guidance and mentoring from dedicated staff and other volunteers. I am a peer leader with Black Brothers Esteem (BBE) with about 20 years of focusing on a community disproportionately impacted by this virus. I passionately champion for the needs of our communities.

If you have any questions about current campaigns or initiatives, please contact Ande Stone, Director, Community Mobilization & Policy.

 

Program Director

Ande Stone

Pronouns: He/him/his

415-487-8010
astone@sfaf.org

If you have any questions about current campaigns or initiatives, please contact Ande Stone, Director, Community Mobilization & Policy.

Justice Dumlao

Justice Dumlao

Community mobilization manager

Pronouns: they/him
jdumlao@sfaf.org

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