Sisters On The Frontline

March 31, 2021 @ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm CDT

The CIRCLE Project invites you to join us on Wednesday March 31^st as we close out Women’s History Month with an extended Real Talk (11:00am-1:00pm CT). We will hear from four dynamic Black women who will share their personal and professional perspectives on the social changes affecting the lives of Black, LGBTQIA, and drug using communities. The conversations will be informed by decades of providing direct services to at risk and HIV positive individuals locally and nationally. This Real Talk episode will cover health equity and social justice, including current topics like Black Lives Matter; what does that mean for people living in poverty, how do mental health or substance use change the narrative? What roles do harm reduction and advocacy have in HIV service organizations or medical facilities. We cannot begin to talk about Black Lives Matter without ensuring the physical and mental health of Black and Brown people. We look forward to a lively discussion and celebrating the work of these dynamic Black Queens.

Speakers

Tammy Morris

CEO, Aliveness Project of Northwest Indiana

Tammy Morris started working in HIV services as a Case Manager, and 26 years ago she stepped into the role of Executive Director at the Aliveness Project of Northwest Indiana. Tammy is driven by a desire to ensure all people are treated fairly, and she is committed to providing health education, harm reduction, and essential services to individuals infected and affected by HIV in northwest Indiana. She graduated from Indiana University and currently lives in Lake County.

Mimi Gardner

Chief Behavioral Health and Addictions Officer, HealthLinc

Mimi E. Gardner is a graduate of the University of Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts and a Master
of Arts. She is currently enrolled at Johns Hopkins, School of Public Health, working on her
Master of Public Health. Her significant knowledge and experience in the behavioral health field
provides her with the ability to be creative and innovative with underserved populations.
Gardner is responsible for guiding the behavioral health care initiatives of HealthLinc and its
providers. Previously, she served as the Vice President of Accountability and Provider Relations
at Behavioral Health Systems of Baltimore, where she focused on addressing access to care
and best practices in treatment and recovery. Additionally, she served as the Chief Clinical
Officer for Green Door Behavioral Health and as President and CEO of Capital Community
Services in Washington D.C., an outpatient community mental health center where she was
responsible for the oversight, supervision and quality assurance of all clinical services.

Orisha Bowers

Regional Director, National Harm Reduction Coalition

Orisha Bowers, Ph.D. is the Regional Director at National Harm Reduction Coalition. She is a lifelong community advocate, educator, and leader. Dr. Bowers, also an ordained minister combines her love for women’s health, rights, and justice with research and interdisciplinary studies to continue to creatively transform the community for universal liberation.

Debra Stanley

Executive Director, Imani Unidad

Debra Stanley has served national, statewide and local communities since 1992 as an educator, advocate, trainer, collaborator and consultant. She is founder and executive director of Imani Unidad whose mission is to infuse social justice into social, emotional and behavioral health. Her passions are harm reduction and restorative/healing justice as they relate to HIV, HCV, substance use and criminal justice.