“I am a Southern boy turned man with a heart for The South that has kept me here my entire life. I draw strength from the depth of our culture rooted in my responsibility to my ancestors.”
—P.J. Moton-Poole, LMSW, Southern AIDS Coalition Board Member
Q1: Introduce yourself, where do you come from and why do you want to take this important step in pursuing the end of the HIV epidemic in the South?
“I am P.J. Moton-Poole, LMSW, originally from Birmingham, AL but currently residing in Dallas, TX. I am a 2011 graduate of Fisk Univesity and a 2013 graduate of the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. I’ve worked in the field of HIV prevention, care, treatment, and programming for 14 years as of this year. I am a Southern boy turned man with a heart for The South that has kept me here my entire life. I draw strength from the depth of our culture rooted in my responsibility to my ancestors. This step is important to me because throughout my career I’ve established meaningful connections that I feel could add value to the work and sustainability of efforts centered in the US South. It’s always my desire to be a “Luminous Connector”; using everything I have learned up to this point to continue to light a path forward and build a better road for those who come behind me.”
Q2: What excites you about joining the Board of Directors of Southern AIDS Coalition?
“I’ve had the pleasure of being connected to SAC at various meaningful intentional moments throughout the past few years and the universe keeps bringing me back. I don’t believe in coincidences, only divine synergies. So here I am offering myself to the great body of work that is SAC.”
Q3: Share a moment—a policy, movement, or experience that has shaped you and deepened your commitment to work with organizations like the Southern AIDS Coalition in this fight.
“The inaugural Southern HIV/AIDS Awareness Day event was brilliantly constructed. It’s the most recent standout moment for me. So many brilliant Black and Brown minds in the heart of one of history’s most instrumental civil rights cities. The feeling that I got sharing space with those folks reignited my sense of belonging and purpose in this work.”
Q4: What do you hope to accomplish as a new Board Member for the Southern AIDS Coalition?
“As a new board member I hope to help position the organization for long-term financial sustainability. I hope to bring to light the organization’s ability to optimize current internal capacities to create revenue-generating products and services, as well as, engage private donorship as we work to expand the idea of Black philanthropy beyond the church.”
Q5: Are there any other thoughts you’d like to share about the start of your journey with the Southern AIDS Coalition family?
“I know there is a lot of work to be done and I pledge to use all of my knowledge and resources, discovered and yet to be discovered, to execute the mission and vision of the organization for as long as I am allowed to be a part.”
