SIGNIFICANCE OF A "BLACK PEARL"

  Alice has over 20 years of experience in Customer Relations building trust between clients and agencies.  In 1992 she became a Nationally Certified Medical Assistant which is where she grew a better understanding of the medical field.  In 2009, she initiated and assisted in putting on the first of three citywide conferences about HIV.  

She started a non-profit business organization “Sankofa Rose Inc”.  The organization formed a support group called THE ROSE (Talking, Helping & Educating while Raising Oneness with Sisters Everywhere) a Peer Education Group for women affected by HIV/AIDS. This led to a male support group of affected men called THE THORNS. This was a successful group of men and women that gave back to the Jacksonville community in various ways.

She helped clients that were living on the streets locate housing and employment.  The group members did not have a support system or anyone to talk to about their health condition, but with the support they made permanent friendships with other members in the group and even a few marriages have developed. 

The Sankofa representatives have taken the group out of town for various conference events. Some group members have even gone on a cruise, out of the country for the first time. This group of affected members helped each other with medication adherence, staying off drugs, and employment.  Members helping members to stay on their medications thus becoming undetectable and unable to transmit the virus to others. 

Alice along with other Sankofa representatives and staff committee members executed three successful Citywide Health HIV Conferences for the City of Jacksonville, Florida.  Alice continues to work towards a world where people, especially women are presented with the tools to prevent the spread of HIV, live healthy and fulfilling lives.