Ms. Foundation: Women & AIDS Fund Convening

Women Alive Treatment Adherence Educator Norma Guerra and Executive Director Carrie Broadus at the Ms. Foundation Women and AIDS Fund Convening in December 2004.

The Ms. Foundation is a leading advocate for the issues that touch women's lives, from reproductive rights and violence in our communities to gaining access to resources to care for our families' wellbeing. The Ms. Foundation actively seek solutions for these issues, supporting cutting-edge initiatives and organizations to ensure that women and girls have the tools to lead safe, healthy lives, gain economic self-sufficiency, and hone their leadership skills. To meet these goals, the Ms. Foundation awards grants, conducts public education, and provides training and assistance in three main areas: Economic Security; Health and Safety; and Girls, Young Women, and Leadership.

Recently, grantees of the Ms. Foundation's groundbreaking Women and AIDS Fund (WAF) came together in Los Angeles for the annual WAF convening. This was the only national meeting of HIV-infected and affected women. Participants gathered to share their work and receive training on how to make their grassroots organizations more effective. The convening brought two representatives from each grantee organization to a two-day skills building session, and allowed time for grantees to network with each other, Ms. Foundation staff and Advisory Board members. The Women and AIDS convening has been critical to the success of the grantees' work. Many of these women work in isolation throughout the year. The convening is a way for the women to reconnect to their sisters nationwide who face similar challenges strive to achieve like goals, and need the same encouragement to press on. This year's grantees shared best practices, which included successful strategies on organizing, board develop ment, fundraising, and media relations. Participants represented diverse groups from across the country.

For further information on the Ms. Foundation, visit their website at www.ms.foundation.org or contact them via telephone at 212.742.2300.