The leading women society

Honoring the resilience, achievements, and commitment of women living fiercely with HIV.

Learn MoreDonate Now
Woman wearing purple dress while holding an award in hands

Leading with Lived Experience

The Leading Women’s Society (LWS) is a movement of over 300 fearless women and female-identifying champions, united by their lived experiences with HIV.

Their stories pave the way for advocacy, education, and the dismantling of stigma—transforming challenges into channels of empowerment.

The Leading Women's Society | Leading Women's Society HIV Atlanta SisterLove
Living Positive

20/20
Leading Women's Society Awards Gala

Every year, the 20/20 Leading Women’s Society Awards Gala shines a spotlight on 20 extraordinary individuals who have made substantial impact in their community through public health education, entrepreneurship, faith-based outreach, healthcare, legal advocacy, and more.

This diverse sisterhood comes from varied backgrounds and age groups, but all share a common goal - to put an end to impacts of HIV.

A group of women standing next to each other | Leading Women's Society HIV Atlanta SisterLove
leading the Fight

Meet our 2025 honorees

Learn more about our HIV Sheroes

Bee (Brandi) Velasquez
Judith Shaw
Chatrivia U. Nugin
Dr. Rosie L. Hayes
Lucille Grant
Michelle Yvette Goodman
Bertha Dave
Veronica Brisco
Yolanda Bell
Pastor Mia Allison
leading the Fight

Meet our 2024 Inductees

Learn more about our HIV Sheroes

No items found.

The Pandora Singleton Ally award

Deborah Wafer currently works at Gilead Science Inc. in Public Affairs as an Executive Director in US Virology.

In this role she leads the Public Affairs Community Engagement and Advocacy team that focuses on HIV Treatment/Prevention. She has also worked on the Gilead HIV prevention team as a Medical Liaison, Hep C, and HIV Community Marketing Teams.
‍
She is an accomplished marketing professional with demonstrated experience in developing innovative programming and tools designed to engage healthcare providers, staff, and communities.

Deborah Wafer

Gilead Science discovered, developed, and delivered innovative medicines in areas of great unmet medical need. Gilead focuses on HIV, Liver Disease, Virology and Oncology.

Before she went to Gilead, Deborah worked at Pfizer in NYC in HIV Marketing and as a Community Liaison.

While at Pfizer she was a Pfizer Fellow and worked in Uganda for 4 months with HIV Community Health workers and nurses

Prior to working in pharma, Deborah was a clinician at UCLA Medical Center in the Clinical AIDS Education and Research Center (CARE Center) where she provided primary care and coordinated clinical trials for people living with HIV.
While at UCLA she was instrumental in translating clinical research to the community and patients. One of her career highlights was being a part of the research protocols that decrease HIV transmission from mother to infants.

This research implemented HIV screening for all pregnant women and resulted in decrease to almost zero newborns born HIV positive.She implemented a California State funded mobile community cervical cancer screening and breast screening for women in southcentral Los Angeles with several prominent churches.Deborah also worked at the King/Drew Medical Center in the Department of Family Medicine, Community Medicine, and Ob/GYN. She is passionate about women’s health and has worked as a lay midwife and home births.

Deborah has 3 adult children, she lives in Oakland where she enjoys cycling, cooking, and traveling to explore different cultures.

Absolute Love Community Award

SisterLove has sustained her commitment to the mission of achieving full sexual and reproductive justice as a means to end HIV in our communities.

We could not have done this for more than 30 years without the strength and support of dozens of partners, collaborators, and sponsors.

This special acknowledgment is our love note to a community partner who has shown and shared dedicated support for Women Living with HIV in our programs, as well as the 20/20 LWS, for at least 20 years.

‍

2025's awardee is the WRFG Radio Atlanta

‍

a man and woman standing together

For more than 52 years, WRFG 89.3 FM has stood as Atlanta’s independent, listener-sponsored community radio station dedicated to amplifying progressive information and hand-picked quality music.

Rooted in the mission to “provide a voice for those who have been traditionally denied access to the broadcast media,” WRFG has consistently championed cultural expression, social justice, and grassroots empowerment.

In partnership with SisterLove for over two decades, WRFG has used its airwaves to uplift conversations around sexual and social justice, particularly issues affecting women living with HIV.

Through news, public affairs, and community programming, the station has created space for education, advocacy, and healing – strengthening the collective struggle for dignity, equity, and liberation.

As we continue to navigate changing times, WRFG remains steadfast in its role as a trusted platform, ensuring that community voices are heard, valued, and celebrated.

Our Most Recent Gala

Relive the memories from the latest awards gala

LWS Over the Years

View photos from past events

search icon