⭐ FRIENDS-TOGETHER PAST PROJECTS ⭐: 

ADVOCACY & VICTIM'S RIGHTS

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Advocacy has always been at the heart of Friends-Together. Even before the organization officially began, Cathy Robinson Pickett, our founder, worked to change laws around victims’ rights in Florida, ensuring that survivors of assault were notified of their attackers’ HIV status. This commitment to justice and education became a foundation of the organization’s mission.

 

Over the years, Friends-Together trained hundreds of volunteers to advocate at local, state, and federal levels. Our volunteers learned how to communicate effectively, provide accurate statistics, and share personal and community stories—always with a focus on HIV education and community resources—to influence policy and support affected families.

 

We taught the TASK curriculum (Teaching AIDS Survival Kit), created by our friend and volunteer Joe Lennox-Smith. This curriculum provided comprehensive education on HIV, available medications, clinical trials, and access to social support programs, giving thousands across the southeastern United States the knowledge and tools to advocate for themselves, their families, and their communities.

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Today, Friends-Together’s advocacy continues—through letter-writing, voter engagement, and other initiatives. Our commitment to ensuring that families infected and affected by HIV are not forgotten and are supported remains central to our work.