Tammie Ross, Board Chair
My name is evangelist Tammy Ross I was born and raised in Jacksonville Florida I’ve been in the ministry for over 30 years or more I was a peer educator national educator peer I worked at Shane hospital at the rainbow clinic for patients I was a pure I also worked at medicine for in Augusta Georgia as a peer in the clinic I am a member of the pwn I also work that the Saint Stephen’s ministry as a peer educator I am a mother one the bishop Dejuan A Bell Sr and the grandmother of three and a great grandmother of one.
Gwen Hart - Co Chair
Gwen Hart is a retiree of Orangeburg Consolidated School District #5 Special Education Educator. She has served as a Community Advisory Group Member (CAG) affiliated with EXPORT-Center of Excellence in Partnership, Community Outreach Research on Heath Disparities and Training at University of South Carolina Institute for Partnership to Eliminate Health Disparities and Claflin University. She received her BA Degree in English Education from Claflin University. Her mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive, and to do so with some passion, compassion, some humor and some style.
Amber Geohaghan - Board Development Chair
Amber Geohaghan M.Ed is a HIV AIDS Advocate and Entrepreneur from Orangeburg South Carolina. Her journey began in 2005 as a HIV AID Peer Educator with the Orangeburg, Calhoun and Allendale and Bamberg’s volunteer youth Prevention Program. Throughout the years she has been apart of many local, statewide and national events that focus on women and African Americans living with HIV/AIDS. As a 2011 Biology/Chemistry and 2019 Master’s in Counseling Education/ SC Teaching certificate in Guidance Counseling/ Career Development Facilitator Graduate from South Carolina State University. She continued to advocate for social justice and participate in community events as it relates to HIV/AIDS and continuing education.
Advocating for domestic violence victims and the decriminalization of HIV.AIDS throughout the state of South Carolina and nationally are her passions. Her past employment and service includes the Department of Social Services and the Social Security Administration. She is the Owner of Golden Retreat Adult Boarding Home and Consulting, and 24/7 Ideal Homecare Agency. Both organizations are geared towards providing services to those who are underprivileged in our community and provide direct services and resources to those living and thriving with HIV/AIDS.
She currently serves at the Board Development Chair for A family Affair Living Our Best Life.
Estoria Wright - Board Secretary
Estoria Wright is an advocate who fearlessly speaks out loud about her HIV status. She is a native of Miami, FL and relocated to Columbia, SC in 2010. While living in SC she was held against her will and taken advantage of by someone she thought she could trust at which time she contracted HIV. After being diagnosed in 2014, her journey of survival began. Her motivation is to help others to do the same, survive.
Estoria attended the Women’s Empowerment Academy (WEA) in 2015 where she found her voice of advocacy. The WEA was created and is spearheaded by the South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council (SCHAC) and P.O.S.I.T.I.V.E. Voices (PV), a Women’s Health Advocacy Network of HIV+ women who openly disclose their status, speak with legislation, and share their “story” to impact change around the world.
As a successful graduate of the WEA, Estoria decided to apply to become a member of P.O.S.I.T.I.V.E. Voices and was nominated and selected in 2016. As a PV member and graduate of the WEA, she has blossomed and started using the information that she learned to educate others. Her peers were so proud of her growth that she was invited to do her first speaking engagement at Benedict Collage for a World AIDS Day Event in 2015.
She has become an active volunteer for many activities with local agencies and is also a member of several statewide organizations such as Positive Women Network,SC HIV Task Force (SCHTF) and the Positive Advocacy Committee (PAC).
May 6,2019 she was featured in the Taddneepaper and The Body as one of the 11 Women Leading the U.S. Fight against H.I.V. 2019.
Estoria is a powerful representative for people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) and a strong leader in the battle to win the war against HIV and AIDS.
David Lee Smith - Fundraising Chair
David Lee Smith is a native of Union, South Carolina. He is the son of Lee Robert Smith and Dorothy Susan Smith. David is the CEO and Founder of Smith Consulting Firm. As a Consultant David provides services for physically, mentally, or emotionally ill or injured people who wish to receive care in the comforts of their own home. He is also a contracted driver for Claflin University.
David received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Benedict College in 1997, and his Master of Arts Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from South Carolina State University in 2008. He is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and Certified Global Career Development Facilitator. He received certification in HIV/AIDS Community-Based HIV/STD/Hepatitis Prevention through SC DHEC and The South Carolina HIV/AIDS Clinical Training Center is located at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Infectious Disease Division, in Columbia.
He began working in the field of HIV/AIDS in 2006 with Minority AIDS Council. As an HIV/AIDS advocate, he has been advocating for people living with HIV/AIDS. David became saddened by the stories he heard from people who were living with the virus, their daily struggles were heartbreaking. Having seen their ups and downs, lack of community support, lack of family support, and intolerable medical treatment and discrimination. He saw a community ravaged by HIV/AIDS. It has destroyed many homes. He made it his personal goal to make a difference. He stepped in and demanded change. He has empowered people in his community living with HIV/AIDS to stand up and fight for their rights.
LYNN T. KIDD, M.Ed. - Board Member
As an HIV advocate, consumer and educator Lynn provides endless service to the residents of Columbus and has extended her efforts statewide, nationally as well as internationally. Lynn is currently a statewide member of Women We Think 4 A Change who plans and organizes HIV webinars and retreats in Ohio. Lynn is past COHPA (Central Ohio HIV Planning Council) Co-Chair but continues to volunteer her time to sit on committees in order to stay abreast of HIV policies that are being made and services rendered that will affect persons living with HIV. As well as to prevent those who are not living with HIV from becoming infected. In the past Lynn served as a HIV board member with several organizations locally, statewide and internationally. Lynn provides STI Prevention Education at various Central Ohio alcohol and drug treatment programs to adults. For 22 years Lynn’s experiences include numerous speaking engagements and media appearances providing HIV awareness, education and support to those infected and affected with HIV. Her mission is to help reduce the rate of HIV infection among all people by being visible and living to break the silence. Lynn is from Springfield, Ohio and currently resides in Columbus, Ohio and has lived in several American cities as well as England and Jamaica. She continues to travel internationally. Lynn received a Masters in Education from The Victoria University of Manchester, England.
Melissa Rivers - Board Member
I have served in my community as an advocate for people living with HIV. I have been a member of several support groups such as the Love Your Life support group, A place to nourish your Health support group, In the meantime, leave no one behind support group sessions and as of 2022 become a board member of A Family Affair Living Our Best Life. My passion is to work with the youth to ensure they live the quality of life they deserve.
