Siri Chirumamilla, DO, MS, MPH

Dr. Chirumamilla is a family and preventive medicine physician  who is currently the associate medical director within the Division of HIV and STD Programs at Los Angeles County Department of Public Health overseeing the HIV and STD prevention portfolio with a specific emphasis on biomedical interventions such as HIV PrEP, HIV PEP, and DoxyPEP. Through the lens of health equity and advocacy, her clinical and research interests center on understanding the impact of sexually transmitted infections on various communities within Los Angeles County, empowering individuals and engaging communities regarding their sexual health, and evaluating innovative strategies and barriers to access HIV and STI testing and prevention modalities.

Contact: schirumamilla@ph.lacounty.gov

Peggy Kiarie

Peggy Kiarie is originally from Nairobi, Kenya, she spent most of her life in Sweden before relocating to Los Angeles to pursue her studies. She is a devoted mother, advocate, activist, and catalyst for change both locally and globally.

Driven by a profound commitment to amplifying the voices of marginalized communities, she has consistently advocated for their empowerment. Her impactful contributions include leading global discussions on HIV/AIDS through the facilitation of a transformative Transnational Conversation between Kenya and the USA, an initiative she founded.

Currently serving as the PEP/PrEP Navigator at Watts Healthcare Corporation, she is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Business Analytics at California State University Northridge. Her mission revolves around education, empowerment, and community service, with a specific focus on promoting global dialogue and action on HIV/AIDS.

Her overarching aim is to contribute significantly to ending the epidemic while ensuring equitable care for all.

Contact: kiariepeggy@yahoo.com

Marilynn Ramos

Marilynn Ramos has eight years of dedicated experience in Homeless Services and two years specializing in domestic violence case management, she has honed her skills in providing crucial support to individuals facing adversity. These experiences have instilled her with a deep-rooted commitment to being a voice for those who often go unheard and a tireless advocate for social change.

In her current role as a Peer Navigator at UCLA and as a member of the Los Angeles Women HIV Task Force, she has the privilege of actively engaging in initiatives that aim to uplift and empower individuals
affected by HIV/AIDS. Additionally, her participation on the groundbreaking Confesiones: Mujeres VIH+ podcast has allowed her to amplify the voices of Latinx women living with HIV, contributing to national awareness and advocacy efforts.

Contact: marilynnr321@gmail.com

Thea Eskey

Thea Eskey is advocate, activist, and artist particularly concerned with the exploration of social justice issues across a broad spectrum. Thea graduated from Ithaca College with a Bachelor’s of Science in Cinema and Photography with a minor in Theatre. Through her art, Thea hopes to create space for and representation of communities that generally are not included in the conversations had today. As a recent addition to the CHIPTS CAB, Thea hopes to be a voice for the transgender community, a community that she is a part of and loves. Thea also hopes to be able help to continue the work that CHIPTS does to educate communities about HIV, a step that she believes will be essential to de-stigmatizing and ending new instances of HIV.

Contact: teskey1@ithaca.edu

Felipe Findley

Felipe Findley is a Physician Assistant providing HIV treatment and prevention services to communities of color for seventeen years getting his start in his hometown Chicago, Illinois. He currently works at Watts Healthcare Center. Social justice work has also been integral to his work, and is involved in investigating the intersections of racism, police violence and mass incarceration on health outcomes and organizing health care professionals as well as working with families impacted by police violence.

Contact: ffindley7@gmail.com

Luckie-Alexander Fuller

Luckie-Alexander Fuller is a transman who is an advocate bringing about change that builds bridges within the LGBTQI community, looking to create resources and support around trans parents. He is also the Community Outreach Liaison for Alpha Omega Nu Fraternity Inc, a fraternity for transmen, member of Los Angeles County Transgender Advisory Council and a proud member of the Brown Boi Project. Luckie has a passion for Gender and Social Justice. He is committed to giving back to the community through education and awareness. He also provides healing thru teaching mixed media art and computer technology. His experience in the community includes 7 years working as a homeless shelter manager as well as a Peer Mentor for homeless and runaway LGBT youth in Las Vegas NV and Los Angeles CA. He has done speaking engagements expressing his story of trans experience and building awareness of the transgender community. He also holds degrees in Computer Science, Math, and Culinary Arts and is currently working towards a BA in Psychology. Luckie is a dedicated member of the community and a single father raising 3 children to be open minded and free thinkers. He is an Army Brat and lived all over the world but Los Angeles is his home.

Contact: luckiealexander@invisibletmen.com

Carolyn D. Belton, MSHS

Carolyn D. Belton currently works as a Patient Care Manager at AIDS Healthcare Foundation providing psychosocial assessments and services to patients experiencing stressful life events in addition to their medical care. Carolyn has worked in the field of HIV care for five years and views it as her “passion population”.  Carolyn has been involved in direct HIV outreach and spoken at community panels addressing HIV and health disparities in communities of color, with particular focus on women.  Additionally Carolyn was a Project Facilitator on a NIH funded research study called FemAALES which focused on safer sex practices and overall esteem building for African American women in South Los Angeles.  Carolyn holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a Master’s of Science degree in Human Services (MSHS) with a specialization in Multidisciplinary Human Services.

Contact: carolyn.belton@aidshealth.org

 

Ace Robinson

Ace Robinson, MPH, MHL is a leading administrative and policy HIV advocate and population health expert who serves NMAC as the Director of the Center to End the Epidemics. In addition, he cofounded the Avielle Foundation that combats violence through brain health research, community engagement and education. Ace also serves on the boards for the Economic & Policy Impact Center (EPIC SoCal) and the UCLA Center for HIV, Identification, and Prevention & Treatment Services (CHIPTS). Prior to joining NMAC, Ace served in senior leadership roles at Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) in New York City and the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation in Cape Town, South Africa. Robinson holds a Master of Healthcare Leadership from Brown University, a Master of Public Health

Contact: ace.robinson@aviellefoundation.org

Brandon Harrison

Brandon Harrison is a dedicated public health professional and the founder and principal consultant at Continue Your Resilience. He has extensive experience providing training and technical assistance to health care organizations nationwide. Brandon has served in leadership positions implementing HIV prevention and sexual health programs across the country, particularly in communities most impacted by health disparities. Throughout his career, he has been diligent in raising awareness of issues such as stigma, HIV, gender-affirming care, violence, sex work, and other issues affecting vulnerable communities. Brandon remains a leader, supporter, and role model, inspiring others to continue their resilience

Contact: bharrison@pcdc.org

Damone Thomas

Damone Thomas got his first taste of HIV/AIDS Advocacy as a volunteer when he was a high school student in Kingston, Jamaica where he was born and raised. In 2008 Damone worked behind the scenes in several different HIV organizations learning the mechanics of advocacy, which later helped him start his own organization. In September, just two months after the XIX International AIDS Conference of 2012, Damone started his own HIV Advocacy Campaign called Healing with Hope (HwH). Along with his online effort to promote awareness to the Faith and Caribbean Community in Los Angeles County and beyond. He is currently enrolled in the BA in Human Services Administration program at Antioch University and Board Co-Chair for To Help Everyone (T.H.E) Health & Wellness Center.

Please contact Damone Thomas at HEALINGwHOPE@gmail.com