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North Texas HIV Stigma Reduction Summit

A Day and a Half Regional Convening on Ending HIV Stigma in North Texas

Dallas, Texas | Friday–Saturday, July 17–18

The North Texas HIV Stigma Reduction Summit is a day-and-a-half regional convening bringing together healthcare providers, public health leaders, community-based organizations, advocates, policymakers, and people with lived experience to address one of the most persistent barriers to HIV prevention, treatment, and care: stigma. Hosted in Dallas, Texas, this Summit will create a collaborative space for education, dialogue, and strategy-building focused on: • Reducing HIV-related stigma across healthcare and community systems • Advancing status-neutral prevention and care approaches • Strengthening provider communication and cultural humility • Elevating community voices and lived experience • Aligning regional partners around practical, scalable stigma-reduction strategies Through plenary sessions, interactive panels, workshops, and networking opportunities, the Summit will equip the North Texas workforce with tools to improve trust, access, and outcomes across the HIV continuum of care.

About the Summit

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Audience & Reach

• 150–250 regional participants
• Healthcare providers & clinic leadership
• Public health departments & health jurisdictions
• Community-based organizations & advocates
• Policy leaders & funders
• Emerging leaders and community ambassadors

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This Summit provides sponsors with high-impact visibility among decision makers and frontline leaders shaping HIV prevention and care in North Texas.

Sponsorship Levels & Benefits

For Sponsorships please contact Nathaniel 

Why
Sponsor
This Summit

Proposed Impact & Outcomes

Next Steps

By sponsoring the North Texas HIV Stigma Reduction Summit, partners will:


• Demonstrate leadership in advancing equity, dignity, and access in HIV prevention and care
• Align with regional efforts to reduce stigma and improve health outcomes
• Engage directly with healthcare providers, decision-makers, and community leaders
• Gain meaningful brand visibility in a high-impact, mission-driven setting
• Support practical solutions that strengthen trust, care engagement, and retention

• Increased provider confidence in stigma-free communication
• Strengthened regional collaboration across systems and sectors
• Dissemination of best practices in status-neutral and person-centered care
• Expanded community-informed strategies to reduce stigma and improve access
• Post-Summit resource toolkit shared with all participants

We welcome the opportunity to customize sponsorship packages to align with your organization’s strategic priorities, focus areas, and community investment goals.

For sponsorship inquiries:
Nathaniel Holley
Nathaniel@freeluxproject.org

Priority Topic Areas

We are seeking submissions that align with one or more of the following areas:

  1. Storytelling as Resistance & Healing

  • Lived experiences of people living with HIV

  • Creative storytelling (film, poetry, digital media)

  • Disclosure, identity, and personal transformation

  • Intergenerational narratives, including aging with HIV

   4. Sex, Pleasure, and Liberation

  • Moving beyond fear-based sexual health messaging

  • Conversations around intimacy, desire, and HIV

  • Breaking shame cycles in marginalized communities

   7. Structural Inequities & Access to Care

  • Barriers related to housing, employment, and healthcare

  • Policy challenges and community-driven solutions

  • Navigating local and national support systems

    2. Stigma in Healthcare Settings

  • Patient experiences of bias and discrimination

  • Building culturally competent and affirming care systems

  • U=U awareness and provider education gaps

  • Strategies to rebuild trust in healthcare

   5.Youth, Social Media, and Digital Advocacy

  • Leveraging social platforms for HIV education

  • Addressing misinformation online

  • Engaging younger audiences in prevention and care

   8.Innovative Community Based Interventions

  • Ambassador and peer-led models

  • Non-traditional outreach and testing strategies

  • Case studies from grassroots organizations

   9.Mental Health, Trauma, and Internalized Stigma

  • The psychological impact of stigma

  • Healing-centered and trauma-informed approaches

  • Intersections of identity and mental health

    3.Faith, Culture, and Stigma

  • The role of faith institutions in shaping narratives

  • Navigating spirituality, sexuality, and HIV

  • Community-led approaches to shifting cultural stigmaV

    6.Aging with HIV: Representation & Reality

  • Long-term survivors and quality of life

  • Mental health, isolation, and resilience

  • Gaps in representation and services

   10.Policy, Advocacy, and Systems Change

  • HIV criminalization and legal reform

  • Advocacy strategies and coalition building

  • Community-led policy change efforts

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Session Formats

We encourage dynamic and engaging
formats, including:

  • Panels (45–60 minutes)

  • Interactive Workshops

  • Storytelling & Performances

  • Film Screenings with Talkbacks

  • Lightning Talks (10–15 minutes)

What We’re Looking For

We prioritize submissions that:

  • Center lived experience, particularly from Black and marginalized communities

  • Offer interactive and engaging session formats

  • Provide actionable insights, tools, or strategies

  • Challenge traditional narratives and push conversations forward

  • Reflect creativity, authenticity, and cultural relevance

Who Should Apply

We strongly encourage submissions from:

  • People living with HIV

  • Community advocates and grassroots organizers

  • Healthcare providers and public health professionals

  • Creatives, storytellers, and digital influencers

  • Researchers and policy advocates

Who Should Apply

We strongly encourage submissions from:

  • People living with HIV

  • Community advocates and grassroots organizers

  • Healthcare providers and public health professionals

  • Creatives, storytellers, and digital influencers

  • Researchers and policy advocates

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Submission Guidelines

  • Abstracts should clearly outline the session topic, format, and intended audience

  • Include 2–3 learning objectives or key takeaways

  • Identify all proposed speakers and their roles

  • Highlight how the session aligns with the summit theme

Join Us in Shaping the Conversation

This summit is more than a conference—it is a space for truth, connection, and transformation. If your work challenges stigma, amplifies voices, and moves us toward freedom, we want to hear from you.

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​Submit your abstract and be part of the movement to ensure every voice is seen, heard, and free.

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