July 25, 2024 – Treatment Action Group (TAG) elected three new members to its Board of Directors in May 2024. Board President Ivy Kwan Arce said, “TAG is reinvigorating its Board in alignment with our vision, mission, and values. We’re thrilled that three amazing advocates and professionals have so eagerly joined our Board to strengthen TAG’s work to end the pandemics of HIV, tuberculosis, and hepatitis C virus (HCV).”
Julian Chung (she/her) is a longtime TAG supporter based in New York City through her friendship with TAG board president, Ivy Kwan Arce, and is currently general counsel at a global nonprofit working to lift coffee farmers around the world out of poverty by 2030. When asked why she joined the TAG board, Ms. Chung said, “TAG’s science-based advocacy was critical to the government’s investment and review of AIDS research. Moreover, TAG’s work is deeply personal to me because of the impact AIDS, HIV and tuberculosis (TB) has had on my family and friends. I am humbled by the opportunity to lend my professional background in law and finance to help TAG plan and strategize for growth.”
Karl Schmid (he/his), our second new board member, really got to know TAG in 2022 when he received the organization’s special “Courage in Action Award” at an event hosted by TAG board member Kevin Goetz in Palm Springs, California. TAG honored Schmid’s work fighting to eliminate stigma against people living with HIV. In 2019 he launched +Life online. “I’m happy to become a board member of an organization that I truly believe in,” Schmid said. “TAG has been doing important work for over 30 years, and I feel lucky to be involved with this organization.”
New TAG board member, activist Tanya Walker (she/her, they/them), became interested in TAG after speaking to board president Ivy Kwan Arce and attending a few events. Former U.S. Army Combat Engineers veteran and two-time cancer survivor, Walker co-founded the New York Transgender Advocacy Group (NYTAG) and is a former co-chair of Equality New York. “I agree with TAG’s mission and vision regarding racial, gender, and LGBTQ+ equity; social justice; and liberation fighting to end HIV, TB, and hepatitis C (HCV),” Walker said. “As a person living with AIDS and HIV for 27 years, I believe the in decriminalization of people living with AIDS and HIV, along with searching for cures and providing safe treatment for all.”
The new board members attended their first meeting on June 20, 2024.
Mark Harrington, TAG’s executive director summed up the board expansion by saying, “TAG is extremely honored to have three such accomplished and committed new members join our Board of Directors — they’ve all hit the ground running. I couldn’t be happier. They’re already fully engaged and bringing new insight and energy to TAG’s Board.”
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