Positive Women’s Network–USA Has Not One but Two Executive Directors

“We believe in sharing power,” says HIV advocacy group PWN-USA, now under the co-directorship of Venita Ray and Naina Khanna.

March 9, 2021 • By Trent Straube

“We hold at our core the truth that when we uplift Black women, we all win,” stated the HIV advocacy group Positive Women’s Network–USA (PWN-USA) as it announced it will now be led by two codirectors. Venita Ray and Naina Khanna will jointly serve as the organization’s first co–executive directors, according to a PWN-USA announcement.

The self-described “feminist and antiracist” group serves women living with HIV, most of whom are Black and brown women and people of transgender experience. The move to a codirectorship will help keep PWN-USA accountable to the populations it represents and help align the group’s decision-making structures with its values.

“We believe fundamentally that leadership is abundant,” declares the PWN-USA statement. “We value collaboration, not competition; sharing power, rather than hoarding power. We believe that the strength of multiracial formations lies in authentic respect for our varied struggles and clear analysis of how resources must be moved to align with our goals for equity and liberation.”

PWN is thrilled to announce that we have transitioned to a co-executive director model. Please join us in welcoming...
Posted by Positive Women’s Network - USA on Monday, March 8, 2021

Previously, Ray served on PWN-USA’s board of directors before becoming the organization’s deputy director. Khanna had been serving as the group’s executive director. Both women are living with HIV and have been involved in numerous other HIV advocacy efforts.

The plan is for Khanna to eventually step down and for Ray to mentor and train incoming leadership.

More details will be made available during two upcoming listening sessions. The first, for PWN-USA members only, is slated for Friday, March 26, A second one, open to the public, will take place the following Friday, April 2. You can sign up for the listening sessions on PWN-USA.org.

The news arrives as National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day approaches Wednesday, March 10. In related news, see the HIV and Women section of POZ’s HIV Basics.