With National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day on October 15, we recognize the urgent need for HIV prevention and treatment for Hispanics/Latines. Latines now make up nearly one-third of new HIV diagnoses in the U.S., despite comprising only 19% of the population. While annual HIV infections have decreased in the general population, the Hispanic community has seen a troubling rise, particularly among young Latino men who have sex with men, who now represent the highest number of new HIV cases in the country.

This NLAAD, we’d like to highlight and salute some of the Hispanic/Latine leaders we collaborate with for their tireless efforts in fighting HIV/AIDS in the communities we serve:

Lymaris Albors, CEO, Acacia Network: Under Lymaris’s leadership, our provider partner and sponsor organization Acacia has become one of NYC’s leading human services organizations and the largest Hispanic-led nonprofit in the State, serving over 150,000 individuals every year.

Guillermo Chacón, President, Latino Commission on AIDS (LCOA): An Independent Director on Amida Care’s Board, Guillermo founded the Hispanic Health Network and heads LCOA, which spearheads HIV health advocacy for Latine communities at national level.

Elisa Crespo, Executive Director, The NEW Pride Agenda: Since July 2021, Elisa has served as Executive Director of NEW Pride Agenda, statewide LGBTQ+ advocacy organization and Amida Care’s fellow member of the NY Trans Health Coalition, which launched a highly successful PrEP campaign. In November 2024, Elisa will become Executive Director of the Stonewall Community Foundation, one of Amida Care’s close partners.

Cristina Herrera, CEO & Founder, Translatinx Network: Under Christina’s longtime leadership Translatinx Network has become a nationally recognized provider of services for transgender, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and LGBTQ communities in NYC. TransLatinx is one of Amida Care’s fellow NY Trans Health Coalition members, launching a highly successful PrEP awareness campaign.

Freddy Molano, Vice President of Infectious Diseases and LGBTQ Programs and Services, Community Healthcare Network (CHN). A longtime advocate for equitable health care, Freddy heads CHN, the largest network of community health centers in NYC offering affordable health care. CHN is a member of the NY Trans Health Coalition and provides access to PrEP among many health services.

Liaam Winslet, Executive Director, Colectivo Intercultural TRANSgrediendo: A longtime community leader, health educator and transgender rights activist and advocate, Liaam leads Colectivo Intercultural TRANSgrediendo, one of Amida Care’s fellow NY Trans Health Coalition members and a tireless advocate for immigrants, trans and sex worker rights.

We know we cannot end the HIV/AIDS epidemic without Hispanic communities, and we celebrate these leaders for their ongoing work to educate, treat and provide support for Latine New Yorkers.