Women in Motion, Tia Washum in the Momlight
There is no question that December is busy - with holiday gatherings to attend, winter activities to squeeze in, and the hustle of time off from work or school. But, did you know December is also HIV/AIDS Awareness Month, which kicked off with World AIDS Day on December 1? To our benefit, Tia Washum of Women In Motion found a few minutes to educate us about the ongoing HIV/AIDS crisis and the work they’re doing to prevent its spread.
Women In Motion outreach event.
Much has changed since the onset of the AIDS epidemic in the early 1980s. For some, especially those who grew up in Indiana, our earliest knowledge of HIV/AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is tied to Ryan White; a young Hoosier diagnosed in 1984 at age 13. With no cure and ineffective treatment at the time, it’s no surprise that stories like Ryan’s led to fear and discrimination.
Ryan White (Image source: The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis)
While there is still no cure for or vaccine against HIV/AIDS, the disease is no longer the death sentence it was in the past. Today we have access to new treatments and methods to reduce the risk of perinatal transmission of HIV during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
However, factors like access to care and the stigma that surrounds HIV/AIDS play a role in the ongoing epidemic:
Marginalized groups continue to be infected at alarming rates.
A large percentage of those eligible for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a medication that can be taken to prevent contracting HIV, don’t fill the prescription.
In 2019, 1 in 8 individuals living with HIV weren’t even aware they had it, a statistic that worsens for high-risk groups.
We still face misinformation about the facts that would lead people toward effective treatment and prevention.
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It was a desire to reduce the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS and a vision to reach and educate women of color in particular that led Pamela Goodwin, Founder, and Executive Director, to start Women in Motion in 2003. The nonprofit’s mission, “Education is Prevention,” guides its efforts to combat misinformation, support prevention, encourage testing, and bring hope to those impacted by HIV/AIDS.
Reaching Out House Party (Tia center, founder Pamela far right)
Tia, mom to her adult children and a Community Outreach Worker with Women in Motion, comes from a long line of helpers. The example and influence of her parents taught her to have a “heart for the people.” Her own story contributes to her passion for combating HIV/AIDS. As someone with a history of addiction who is now 28 years sober, Tia did not contract HIV but acknowledges, “I put myself at high risk for so many years, and I didn’t get anything, so for that, I’m grateful, but it can happen. This is one of the ways to give back, and thank God for giving me my life back so I can live a different way.”
Volunteers for Women in Motion. (Pictured: Zina, Shirley, and Angel)
Tia’s role with Women in Motion is to share her knowledge in places others might not readily go. She does a lot of education with homeless populations and in recovery houses, but also in churches and schools. Women in Motion has a judgment-free approach, understanding that some people will have sex and some will use drugs but wanting them to be as safe as possible. In addition to providing information, Women in Motion also distributes “safer sex kits” containing protection for various methods of sexual activity and “bleach kits” to reduce risks from needle sharing or reuse.
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“I have to do a lot of self-care because of the job I’m in,” notes Tia. She spends her free time reading or going for long walks, praying, and meditating to “get replenished and keep things in perspective.”
Tia Washum, HIV counselor for Women in Motion
Today, HIV/AIDS remains a worldwide epidemic, and we can all play a role in breaking the stigma and correcting misinformation. “Information is planting seeds whether they hear us or not,” Tia urges. “If you’re aware and you’ve got the information, pass it on! Pass the information on to someone that just might need it.”
Support the work Tia is doing by volunteering or making a donation. You can follow Women in Motion here or consider attending an HIV education event on the second Tuesday of each month.
Other orgs to watch: Damien Center / Brothers United / HIV Modernization Movement
