At present, A Family Affair Living Our Best Life (AFA) is the only organization in South Carolina founded by a Black Woman living with HIV for more than thirty years. AFA’s board is comprised of Black Women living with HIV, affected family members, and concerned congregation and community members. Our board lives in the community and shares their stories with the purpose of tearing down the intersectional walls of stigma and trauma. We put a face to HIV, this constituency supports the following activities:
Support Groups
A Family Affair runs two spiritual based support groups, Life Beyond the Sign and Love Your Life.
Keeper of Memorial Garden
The Serenity Garden is the first Memorial Garden decided to those who have lost their lives from complications of AIDS in South Carolina. The mission of this Serenity Garden is to maintain a dedicated space in Orangeburg, SC, where anyone who has been touched by HIV and AIDS can grieve openly without being stigmatized. Those who visit find comfort among others whose lives have been affected by HIV and AIDS and can experience the feeling of renewal and hope inherent in nature.
Raising Our Awareness and Representation (SC ROAR)
A retreat for black women living with HIV over the age of fifty. This event spreads knowledge about living our best life as we age.
Technical Assistance Provider
Provides subject matter expertise in partnerships with entities involved in trauma-informed support, intergenerational dialogue, helping people organize positively, and repeal of HIV criminalization laws.
Micro Enterprising
A Family Affair’s, a Reflection of You is a microenterprise program designed to address income insecurity for rural women living with HIV in South Carolina. A Reflection of You addresses poverty by providing women living with HIV with the opportunity to become crafters and entrepreneurs. A Family Affair’s microenterprise program is based on Common Threads, a peer-led HIV training that addresses social determinants of health as an integrated prevention, trauma-informed, and vocational development training. The training is designed to increase self-esteem, sociability, economic well-being, and HIV-self management while at the same time reducing the stigma and resulting silence and isolation associated with HIV and AIDS. A Family Affair honors and pays homage to South Carolinian, Juanita Williams, Mastercraft, and Common Threads Trainer. Juanita uses her gifts and talents as a crafter to address poverty as a social determinant of health.
