SF HIV FOG hosts Latine Leadership & Health Equity Event July 10, 2025

Attendees at NaLa 2025

Each year, the SF HIV Frontline Organizing Group (FOG) offers scholarships to help frontline HIV workers grow professionally and bring new knowledge back to their communities. This year’s FOG Scholars, Pollux Lopez and Andrew Gutierrez III, attended the 2025 National Latinos and HIV (NaLa) Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. The NaLa Conference is designed to equip providers with fresh insights, proven strategies, and innovative approaches to support Latino communities more effectively. 

The scholarship program isn’t just about professional development – it’s also about strengthening San Francisco’s HIV services.

To share what they learned, Pollux and Andrew will lead a community report-back on July 10, 2025, open to HIV frontline workers. The event will focus on building community, exchanging resources, and finding new ways to work together for more equitable access to care. 

Pollux (left) and Andrew at NaLa 2025

Pollux Lopez (he/him) is a Sexual Health Counselor at the UCSF Alliance Health Project. As part of his ongoing commitment to community engagement, he serves on the UCSF LGBTQ+ Committee and is an Ambassador for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. In addition to his public health work, Pollux is a ceramic sculptor and has donated his artwork to UCSF’s annual Art for AIDS gala.

Andrew Gutierrez III (he/they) is a Program Manager of the Housing and Financial Benefits team at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. As part of his commitment to social justice and equity, Andrew teaches Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State University and has developed sexual health workshops and HIV Prevention digital toolkits distributed across the country. In addition to his work in public health and education, Andrew serves as an elected Advisory Board member of the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District in San Francisco.