photo by steed media service

When Gloria Searson was diagnosed with HIV in the early ‘90s, she chose to remain optimistic in light of her diagnosis. Fast forward more than 15 years and the Brooklyn, N.Y., native is now doing her part to keep others just as positive as she is. As the advocacy relations manager for Abbott Laboratories, Searson is charged with helping increase HIV awareness in African American and Latino communities throughout the Manhattan area. Abbott, which manufactures the HIV-fighting drug Kaletra, has teamed up with the Magic Johnson Foundation to launch the “I Stand With Magic” campaign. “The goal is to try to get more people aware of how HIV is contracted and to put them in a place where they can get screened. This doesn’t have to be a death sentence, but on the flip side, HIV is also 100 percent preventable,” she explains. Season admits, however, that sometimes her efforts fall on deaf ears. “HIV is not necessarily something that’s anybody’s issue and even if they have it, they’re not trying to go somewhere and tell somebody that,” she says. “So what we’re trying to do is show people that it is personal because it’s impacting our community and preventing us from having a potential future.” Until then, the resilient advocate will continue to help spread the word. “What does matter is that I help my brothers and sisters [because] they deserve the chance to live a healthy life.” –ivory m. jones

Join Searson and Magic Johnson in Harlem on World AIDS Day on Dec. 1.

For more information, visit www.istandwithmagic.com.

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