We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Davina Conner a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Davina, appreciate you joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

I was raised in a loving caring home, with lots of hugs and kisses but it was also a very strict household where my three sisters and I had a set of chores we had to do daily, but on the weekends we had to general clean as my father would call it. Like washing the baseboards around the house, wiping walls, and making sure we dusted every part of the house and vacuumed. I was raised that working hard was very important and that no one is going to give you anything in this world. My father always said to work harder than anybody no matter what type of job you have when you grow older. I was taught how to change a car tire and how to do an oil change. I was taught to be responsible and very independent as a young girl
We never missed church because he wanted to make sure we believed in something more and that was believing in what we can not see which is the creator. My father used to say that one day he may not be here and he needed to be sure that my sisters and I would be able to take care of ourselves so we could be independent. What was instilled in me has made me the woman I am today.

Self-discipline, respect, hardworking, trustworthiness, and to always be honest. I love hard and care for all human beings no matter who they are or how they choose to live their lives. Without my parent’s love and showing me what it means to be strong I know I would not have made it through all the issues life has thrown at me through the years.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I started out as a podcast host to reach a community of people that was hard to reach. I have a degree in public health and work in the HIV community as a health educator. I also run a non-profit organization called Poz Haven Foundation Inc. which works hard to support those who are affected and living with HIV. We also have a condom distribution program that distributes condoms on call to sex workers.

I mentor other women across the globe on how to be their best selves whether that be over the phone, via Zoom, or in person. I give presentations and or workshops on stigma and U=U which means undetectable equals untransmittable. That means that a person who is living with HIV can no longer transmit HIV to their partner as long as they stay in treatment, and on their medication, they can soon enough become virally suppressed (undetectable).

I have been to many states nationally, but I am most proud of being able to share my expertise in Sweden and speak to the community there about HIV. In St. Marteen, me, and another HIV educator were able to speak to 200 college students to help change their perspective about HIV, but we also did presentations on HIV, stigma, and U=U.
Working to change the narrative when it comes to HIV by helping others see that it is no longer a death sentence.

I am proud of who I have become over these past eight years, and how I have persevered through it all and continue to walk tall. I want others to know that I am easygoing and very approachable. What sets me apart from others is my creativity and
being able to produce outcomes from programs or projects I have put forth. Everything that comes from me comes from the creator, this is why these things flourish. I sit still until he tells me to move it’s that simple.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

The journey that I went through was a very tough road for me because I have lived with HIV for 26 years and for 18 years I was depressed. I allowed my diagnosis to take over my life in a way that kept me from moving forward in life. I accepted relationships that were not healthy for me because I thought that if a man was willing to accept my diagnosis, then I didn’t have to be alone.

Today it has been eight years since I decided to share my diagnosis with the world, and I have learned that where I am at today in life is where I am supposed to be. I am the happiest I have ever been, but that is because I love who I am in my own skin regardless of what anyone else thinks of me. I travel the country speaking and helping others who have had a hard time dealing with HIV. Especially for all those Black women out there who don’t know where to turn to.

Although some may feel that living with HIV is terrible, I have taken what I thought was a negative and turned it into a positive. I am now in a place in my life where I know that the work, I am doing is supposed to be part of my journey and when I realized that I was holding myself back I took off like a rocket so that I could be there for others.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

What helped me build my reputation in this field is having a heart for other human beings, showing them that you do care and want to be there for them no matter what, and not making things about me. The HIV field is not an easy field to work in, but it is my life to make sure I continue the work I do until I cannot do it any longer.

I and a group of other Black women are here to motivate others so reach out to me if you are in need of having amazing Black women who can and will inspire your group.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pozhaven.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pozitivelydee/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavinaConnerpozitivelydee
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavinaConner
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PozitivelyDee
• Other: Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pozitivelydee