Thirty-three years ago, my life took a drastic turn when I was diagnosed with HIV while incarcerated. It was a challenging time filled with uncertainty, yet it also set me on a path towards personal growth and activism. I am now proud to be a community leader here in Auburn, Washington, dedicated to raising awareness and supporting others facing similar battles. It's amazing how life can evolve in unexpected ways, and my journey has led me to a place of hope and empowerment. Now, I'm thrilled to share that two of my abstracts have been accepted for presentation at the 2026 U.S. Conference on HIV & AIDS in Anaheim. This invitation is more than recognition; it’s a platform where I can contribute to a broader dialogue and influence change. However, I need a bit of help to make this opportunity a reality. The conference represents a pivotal moment in my advocacy work, and reaching my fundraising goal of $2,500 would ensure I can participate fully. Thank you for considering being a part of this chapter in my journey.
From Attica Prison To The U.S. Conference On HIV/AIDS
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Victor Velazquez
Fundraising forVictor Velazquez
Victor Velazquez
Auburn, Washington
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Fundraiser Updates (1)
July 31, 2026
Victor Velazquez
I Know This Gap Firsthand
Since sharing that both of my abstracts were accepted, a few people have asked me what they're actually about. I want to take a minute to explain, because this isn't just a personal milestone, it's the reason I believe this trip is worth funding.
The workshop is called "From the Prison Cell to the Boardroom: Elevating Peer Leadership," and here's the issue it takes on: people living with HIV who work in the peer support space, running support groups, doing outreach, sitting with someone through their worst week, are trusted with an enormous amount of responsibility. But when it comes time to sit at the tables where real decisions get made, the boards, the funding committees, the policy conversations, we're rarely in the room. We're consulted after the decisions are made, not before them.
I know that gap firsthand because I've lived on both sides of it. I've been the person systems decided things about. Now I do the work of making sure people like me get to decide things ourselves. That's not a metaphor for me, it's the literal distance between a cell and a boardroom, and I've walked it.
My second abstract, an iPoster on making aging services inclusive of long-term HIV survivors, comes from that same place, making sure the people living something get to help decide what happens to them, not just be talked about.
Here's the practical piece. I applied for a full conference scholarship to cover the trip, and it was denied due to funding cuts. My registration fee was waived, which I'm grateful for, but airfare, hotel, food, and getting to and from the conference are on me. I'm retired and living on a fixed income, and with inflation driving up travel and lodging costs everywhere, especially in California, this trip is out of reach without help.
If this matters to you the way it matters to me, I'd be grateful for a donation, and just as grateful if you shared this with someone who might care. Every bit gets me closer to that stage.
Thank you for reading this, and for whatever you're able to do.
— Victor
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Organizer
Victor Velazquez is the organizer of this fundraiser
Victor Velazquez
Auburn, Washington
Fundraising for
Victor Velazquez
Fundraising forVictor Velazquez
Donation protected
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Thirty-three years ago, my life took a drastic turn when I was diagnosed with HIV while incarcerated. It was a challenging time filled with uncertainty, yet it also set me on a path towards personal growth and activism. I am now proud to be a community leader here in Auburn, Washington, dedicated to raising awareness and supporting others facing similar battles. It's amazing how life can evolve in unexpected ways, and my journey has led me to a place of hope and empowerment. Now, I'm thrilled to share that two of my abstracts have been accepted for presentation at the 2026 U.S. Conference on HIV & AIDS in Anaheim. This invitation is more than recognition; it’s a platform where I can contribute to a broader dialogue and influence change. However, I need a bit of help to make this opportunity a reality. The conference represents a pivotal moment in my advocacy work, and reaching my fundraising goal of $2,500 would ensure I can participate fully. Thank you for considering being a part of this chapter in my journey.
Fundraiser Updates (1)
July 31, 2026
Victor Velazquez
I Know This Gap Firsthand
Since sharing that both of my abstracts were accepted, a few people have asked me what they're actually about. I want to take a minute to explain, because this isn't just a personal milestone, it's the reason I believe this trip is worth funding.
The workshop is called "From the Prison Cell to the Boardroom: Elevating Peer Leadership," and here's the issue it takes on: people living with HIV who work in the peer support space, running support groups, doing outreach, sitting with someone through their worst week, are trusted with an enormous amount of responsibility. But when it comes time to sit at the tables where real decisions get made, the boards, the funding committees, the policy conversations, we're rarely in the room. We're consulted after the decisions are made, not before them.
I know that gap firsthand because I've lived on both sides of it. I've been the person systems decided things about. Now I do the work of making sure people like me get to decide things ourselves. That's not a metaphor for me, it's the literal distance between a cell and a boardroom, and I've walked it.
My second abstract, an iPoster on making aging services inclusive of long-term HIV survivors, comes from that same place, making sure the people living something get to help decide what happens to them, not just be talked about.
Here's the practical piece. I applied for a full conference scholarship to cover the trip, and it was denied due to funding cuts. My registration fee was waived, which I'm grateful for, but airfare, hotel, food, and getting to and from the conference are on me. I'm retired and living on a fixed income, and with inflation driving up travel and lodging costs everywhere, especially in California, this trip is out of reach without help.
If this matters to you the way it matters to me, I'd be grateful for a donation, and just as grateful if you shared this with someone who might care. Every bit gets me closer to that stage.
Thank you for reading this, and for whatever you're able to do.
— Victor
Organizer
Victor Velazquez is the organizer of this fundraiser
