In the 1980’s, few resources existed for people living with HIV/AIDS—and even fewer for people of color.
In this climate of devastation and scarcity, People of Color Against AIDS Network (POCAAN) was created in 1987. Just two years after their founding, they received a Pride Foundation grant and became one of our earliest grantees. Since then, Pride Foundation has continued to support their work as they have expanded beyond HIV/AIDS direct services to tackle the root causes of the health disparities faced by people of color in King County.
Through the leadership of Executive Director, Steven Sawyer (a Pride Foundation Scholar Alum!), they find innovative ways to create critical spaces for information exchange, emotional support, material aid, and social connection. This year, we awarded POCAAN a Crisis Community Care Fund grant to support them to pivot their programs and operations in response to COVID-19.
For more than 30 years, POCAAN has been a revolutionary force for change in the Northwest—and they will continue to set a standard for intersectional, innovative care for those in our communities who face the most barriers to access.
Originally printed in Pride Foundation’s 2019-2020 Gratitude Report