Pozitive2Positive
About
Founded in 2023, the Positive2Positive Initiative (P2P) is a grassroots non-profit organization dedicated to HIV prevention, education, linkage to care, and destigmatization. P2P approaches HIV work holistically by considering individuals’ and communities’ complex needs and health goals.
Quick Facts
In the New Orleans Metropolitan Area, 72.29% of HIV/AIDS cases are among men, and 63.87% are in the Black community.
New diagnoses are predominantly among Black and Latinx individuals: 57% affecting Black individuals and 23% Latinx. Of these, 48% are men who have sex with men (MSM) and 27% are high-risk heterosexuals (HRH).
Call to Action
As a result of these disparities, the P2P initiative has a particular focus on reaching young Black men who have sex with men and other Black and Brown communities vulnerable to HIV to educate on best sexual health practices, normalize HIV care, and improve access to care. Ultimately, HIV care and prevention demonstrate how distinct intersecting social identities influence risks and barriers.
Morris Singletary is the Founder and Executive Director of The Pozitive2Positive Initiative. Mr. Singletary is a community leader and organizer with extensive ties to individuals and communities working to prevent, treat, and destigmatize HIV in the South, with home bases in both New Orleans, LA, and Atlanta, GA. In addition to being Executive Director for Pozitive2Positive, Mr. Singletary is the current Vice-Chairman of the New Orleans Regional Area Planning Council (NORAPC). He was the former Chairman (2020-22) of the Metropolitan Atlanta HIV Health Services Planning Council, which serves the 20 counties surrounding Atlanta. In January of 2023, Morris moved to New Orleans to continue his work with marginalized communities in and around HIV treatment, care, and prevention. He established two successful grassroots interventions in New Orleans, Friends with Benefits and Conversations with Unc.
To connect directly with Morris, email morris.singletary@gmail.com.
Morris Singletary
Other Projects
Friends with Benefits
Friends with Benefits (FWB), created in 2023, are themed, peer-group-specific events that aim to engage Black, Brown, and Latinx communities in New Orleans on HIV education, testing, and care linkage. Within these three-hour-long events, individuals 18 years or older are educated on HIV prevention, treatment, and care, and the issue of HIV criminalization. Additionally, opportunities to be connected to care and tested on-site by a partnering community health provider are provided, frequently executed in collaboration with CrescentCare’s No Wrap No Tap Initiative.
Reached over 150 community members in 5 sessions, serving distinct peer groups
Goals of Conversations with Unc
1) Moving forward with an HIV diagnosis
2) Ensuring individuals have honest, healthy, and responsible sex while living with HIV
3) Identifying the resources available for people living with HIV
4) Living a full life with HIV
5) Reflecting on what the cohort learned and recognizing their knowledge and power.
Conversations with Unc
Since July 2023, Conversations with Unc (CWU) events have provided group support for individuals living with HIV, covering topics from managing diagnosis to living fully with HIV. During CWU events, Morris Singletary leads cohorts of 5-10 individuals to participate in a five-week or intensive weekend group session to comprehensively cover the following themes.
Two cohorts have participated in CWU, meeting once a week to complete the 5-week intervention.
Third Thursdays
In collaboration with the P2P Initiative, CrescentCare’s MOC (Men of Color), No Wrap No Tap, & The Movement, these events are held every third Thursday of the month at CrescentCare, fostering community connection and dialogue among Black men.