There was a time when an HIV diagnosis was often viewed as the end of a person’s future. It carried fear, uncertainty, and a stigma that isolated countless people from their families, communities, and even themselves. Today, medicine has changed. Science has changed. But for many people, stigma has not. That reality is exactly why

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Ju’ShayDee Lathan is an artist, creative visionary, community advocate, and co-founder of New Jersey Black Pride, Inc., the state’s first Black Pride organization. For years, she has used photography, visual art, storytelling, and community engagement to create spaces where people feel seen, valued, and celebrated. Known for her