We are pleased to bring you the October edition of the Action Report, where we share the latest news from U.S. Business Action to End HIV and its members. This month, we highlight recent member actions, recap Coalition events, and feature a new Leading By Example spotlight with Tristan Schukraft, CEO at MISTR.  

Actions From Members

• Welcome new members! Alchemy (National, Atlanta), Hopes for Healing (National, Houston), Neelyx Labs, Black Phlox Candle Company (Houston), and Sesh Coworking (Houston)
• On Tuesday, September 24, members of U.S. Business Action to End HIV were in Washington, DC, for the ¡Adelante! Summit - a convening that brought together diverse sectors of society at The White House to accelerate our nation’s HIV response in Hispanic/Latino communities.

Members CVS Health, Gilead Sciences, Grindr, KPMG, Match Group, Mercer, ViiV Healthcare, and Walgreens, as well as Accenture, Deloitte, and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) joined on behalf of the Coalition.

Each company was invited to commit to raising visibility of the impact of HIV among Latinos in the wake of attending the summit. Match Group’s Chispa and Grindr got a jump start by running campaigns across their platforms on October 15 - National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day - to increase awareness and connect users with free HIV testing resources.

• On Sunday, October 14, the Paramount Pictures AIDS Walk LA team raised over $35,000 to benefit APLA Health, which provides LGBTQ+ empowering healthcare, support services, and HIV specialty care for underserved communities in Los Angeles. Paramount Pictures is the only corporate sponsor that has been with AIDS Walk LA every year since its inception in 1985.

• This week new Coalition member Alchemy announced that it raised a $31M Seed round, led by Andreessen Horowitz and Magic Johnson Enterprises, among others.

Alchemy builds and operates in-house pharmacies for safety net clinics, with a focus on patients living with HIV and Hepatitis C. They provide the entire physical, clinical, and digital infrastructure needed to operate and grow pharmacy programs.

• Last month, ViiV Healthcare hosted a health equity panel during the 53rd Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, DC focused on the critical issues that disproportionately impact Black communities, including HIV. They examined current policies that advance and hinder access to HIV prevention and treatment for Black women and the LGBTQ community and identified strategies for aligning bipartisan policy solutions to address challenges facing communities most vulnerable to HIV. Several Coalition members, including Walmart, CVS Health, and Uber, were in attendance.

Actions From the Coalition

• Mario Harper and Caroline Jackson were proud to be in Houston to host the inaugural convening of the Coalition’s new Houston Chapter on September 25, 2024, in partnership with the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce.

Over 50 local business leaders, community experts, and health advocates gathered to explore actionable steps businesses can take to enhance employee health and accelerate the local HIV response. HIV community leaders from Legacy Community Health, the Montrose Center, and Allies In Hope shared key challenges in the local epidemic and identified specific opportunities for companies to lean in. Companies in the room also shared ways they hope to get involved. The group is excited to get to work at the first Houston Chapter meeting on February 12, 2025.

• On October 16, the Coalition hosted a virtual World AIDS Day Workshop for Employers to help companies prepare for World AIDS Day on December 1st.

Special guests Angel Rua from Chevron, Chris Way from KPMG, and Shawnte Rothschild from CVS Health provided insights on instigating corporate engagement on HIV, how they plan to honor World AIDS Day this year, and best practices and tips to activate. Attendees also got early access to the World AIDS Day Toolkit for Employers.

WATCH THE WORKSHOP RECORDING

• Unfortunately, due to Hurricane Milton, the Out & Equal 2024 Workplace Summit in Orlando from October 7-10 was cancelled. We were sorry to miss the opportunity to share the stage with HRC, Chevron, and Accenture to highlight how businesses can leverage their influence, resources, and innovation to accelerate an end to our nation’s persistent HIV crisis. A possible virtual version of the presentation may occur in the coming weeks - TBD!

Coalition in the News

• I'm another statistic. I feel let down': How HIV prevention stays out of reach for many, Fierce Healthcare (October 13)

Opportunities for Action

• World AIDS Day, December 1, is an opportunity for people across the world to unite, reflect on how HIV has impacted communities across the globe, remember those who have lost their lives to HIV and AIDS, and recommit to meaningful actions that accelerate progress toward an end of HIV.

To support companies in taking action, this week HAA released a refreshed World AIDS Day Toolkit designed for employers. The toolkit offers six impactful actions your workplace can take to raise awareness, combat stigma, create a supportive environment, and engage with local community groups. There are also new case studies to inspire action. And don't forget to share your World AIDS Day plans so your work can be highlighted in a corporate round-up in December.

DOWNLOAD WORLD AIDS DAY TOOLKIT

• The White House Office of National AIDS Policy, in collaboration with The Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy at the Department of Health and Human Services is seeking input on the next National HIV/AIDS Strategy, as well as the National Strategic Plans for Sexually Transmitted Infections, Vaccines, and Viral Hepatitis.

For the plans to be most relevant and effective, they are inviting input from a wide variety of individuals and organizations that work in or have an interest in these important public health issues. If you are interested in responding, the public comment period ends on December 6, 2024, at 11:59 pm ET. Comments must be submitted via the online form. For more information, visit HIV.gov.

HIV in the News

• Why progress against HIV/AIDS has stalled among Hispanic and Latino Americans, ABC News (September 24)
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• NEW: Medicare Part B Coverage of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV Prevention, HIV.gov (October 1)
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• CDC Awards $10M in PrEP Funding to Five Jurisdictions, NASTAD (October 15)

Leading by Example

“Leading by Example” is a series from U.S. Business Action to End HIV highlighting inspiring business leaders who are accelerating progress toward an end to the HIV epidemic in the U.S.
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Tristan Schukraft

CEO

MISTR
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Why do you believe it's essential for businesses to play a role in our nation's efforts to end the HIV epidemic?

It’s important for businesses, especially any business that touches the LGBTQ+ community, to make an effort in ending the spread of HIV. As a business we can make real changes, far more than someone on their own. This takes form in DEI initiatives, healthcare coverage, financial contributions, and our platforms. MISTR takes immense pride in our marketing because we are plastering social media and public spaces with the message of safe sex and HIV prevention, breaking down decades of stigma.

What is MISTR most proud of so far about your work to address HIV?

One thing that we are proud of is the sheer number of people (over 396K) that we have gotten prescribed to PrEP through our platform since 2018. Our ultimate goal is to eventually eradicate HIV, and this generation is the first generation that has the opportunity to do so with help from a company like MISTR. It’s been over a decade since the FDA first approved PrEP in unaffected adults. I strongly feel that we owe it to those who lived through the AIDS crisis and lost their lives and loved ones to take a proactive approach to our sexual healthcare.

Why is it important for MISTR to be part of HAA's U.S. Business Action to End HIV coalition?

MISTR is an active member of the Health Action Alliance (HAA), which is aligned with our mission to end HIV. Through HAA, MISTR has been able to partner with major corporations to educate their employees on PrEP and the importance of regular HIV testing, while fighting HIV stigma. It has also allowed MISTR to build stronger partnerships with other member organizations, like Walmart, to expand the reach of MISTR to new populations.

Look for Tristan’s complete profile on the Health Action Alliance website next week!

Coming Up

• November 21: U.S. Business Action to End HIV Annual Coalition Meeting, 10am-3pm ET, Rollins School of Public Health - Emory University, Atlanta (For Coalition member companies) - Email for invitation information
  
  
• November 21: U.S. Business Action to End HIV Annual World AIDS Day Reception, 5-7pm ET, Rollins School of Public Health - Emory University, Atlanta - Email for invitation information
  
  
• December 10: Los Angeles Business Action to End HIV Inaugural Convening, 6-8pm, The Chapel in Los Angeles - Early registration

Thank you for your commitment and leadership. Let's keep up the momentum!

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