Tag: Maitri

PRC Honors World AIDS Day Through Community, Storytelling, and Partnership

Posted on by Seth Abrahamson

On December 1st, PRC joined organizations throughout San Francisco to honor World AIDS Day, standing together in remembrance, resilience, and action. Across three powerful events, our team uplifted community voices, connected people to resources, and celebrated the legacies that continue to guide the fight for health equity. 

On Monday, December 1, PRC was proud to table alongside AIS Legal Referral Panel and Maitri during Project Open Hand’s World AIDS Day Open House, which also marked their 40th anniversary of service. Guests toured the kitchen and saw firsthand how meals are made, packed, and served to thousands across San Francisco. 

Project Open Hand’s CEO, Paul Hepner, reflected on the organization’s history, which began in 1985 as the first in the country to provide medically tailored meals to people with AIDS. Today, they continue serving people living with HIV/AIDS, seniors, and individuals battling cancer and chronic illness, through meal pick-up, dining services, delivery programs, and congregate meal sites across the city. Every day, Project Open Hand prepares 2,500 nutritious meals and distributes over 200 bags of healthy groceries.

PRC employees (left photo) – l to r: Troy Boyd, Supervising Employment Specialist, Dr. Deborah Hawkes, Chief Executive Officer, Salvador Viramontes, Workforce Development Navigator, Martin Muneton, Director of Client Services, Jason Cinq-Mars, Managing Legal Director, Beth Mazie, Chief Programs Officer

Chief Development Officer Randi Paul represented PRC at the National AIDS Memorial’s annual World AIDS Day event. Each year, this ceremony brings together leaders, advocates, and community members to honor the lives lost to HIV/AIDS and to recommit to advancing equity, prevention, and care.

Randi Paul, PRC Chief Development Officer with longtime PRC volunteers, Joanie Juster and Troy Brunet

Several public officials attended, including Mayor Daniel Lurie, State Senator Scott Wiener, and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. Other luminaries included Gilead CEO Daniel O’Day, Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, Representative Matt Haney, Sister Roma of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, San Francisco AIDS Foundation CEO Tyler TerMeer, and PRC longtime volunteers Joanie Juster and Troy Brunet, who was honored at the event with the 2025 Thom Weyand Unsung Hero Award.

Troy Boyd, PRC’s Supervising Employment Specialist, Devin Posey, UCSF Alliance Health Project, and community organization partner

On Friday, December 5, PRC partnered with the UMOJA Health Access Point, a collaboration with San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Rafiki Coalition, UCSF Alliance Health Project, 3rd Street Youth Center, and Sis Unleashed, for A Seat at the Red Table, an evening of celebration and dialogue centering the experiences of Black women impacted by HIV. 

Guests shared dinner, stories, solutions, and fellowship rooted in healing and resistance. Together, participants examined how HIV continues to affect African Americans, particularly Black women. The event underscored the importance of culturally grounded care and the power of community-led spaces where voices are honored rather than overlooked. 

Participants break out for group activities after opening remarks from San Francisco AIDS Foundation CEO Dr. Tyler TerMeer

At PRC, we remain committed to supporting people living with HIV/AIDS through access to care, housing, legal advocacy, treatment, workforce development, and healing-informed services that affirm every person’s worth. We also facilitate the SF Frontline Organizing Group, a network of workers dedicated to the HIV community.

Building partnerships, expanding access, and strengthening community voices to advance a future where every person living with HIV/AIDS can live stigma-free and flourish is something we pursue every day alongside our clients and partners.