Loud & Clear Advocate Highlight: Alicia Diggs

As part of our Loud & Clear event, we interviewed the speakers and facilitators of these critical advocacy events leading up to HIV Speaks 2026. This interview is with advocate-author of Standing On My Healing: From Tainted To Chosen, Alicia Diggs, who will be speaking about thriving as a person living with HIV as well as her journey to becoming an advocate, activist, and leader.

What first drew you into health justice advocacy and how has your understanding of this work evolved over time?

I was drawn into health justice advocacy through my own life. Living and thriving with HIV for 25 years showed me firsthand how systems can overlook people like me, especially Black women, until a diagnosis forces visibility. Over time, I’ve come to understand that this work isn’t just about health; it’s about dignity, voice, and making sure the people most impacted are leading the solutions.

Was there a moment in your life or work when you realized access to healthcare is fundamentally about power? What happened?

There have been many moments, but one that stays with me is when I advanced in my work career and went from very little health insurance to having more advanced health insurance. I noticed more attention to my care and better access. When you see communities lacking access to testing, transportation, culturally responsive care, or even respectful treatment, you understand that access is about power, who gets to be seen, heard, and prioritized. That realization pushed me even more to advocate not just for services, but for equity and meaningful involvement in decision-making.

In your view, what are the biggest barriers to healthcare access for marginalized communities in North Carolina and the broader South right now?

What I have learned after living in the South for over 25 years, is that the barriers are layered such as poverty, transportation challenges, rural healthcare shortages, stigma, and systemic racism which all intersect. Many communities are navigating limited healthcare infrastructure while also facing policies and narratives that make people feel judged or unwelcome when seeking care. Until we address those structural barriers along with the medical ones, access will remain unequal.

When we say “Voicing Our Right to Care,” what does that mean to you in this political moment?

To me, “Voicing Our Right to Care” means refusing to be silent about our humanity and our right to live healthy, full lives. In this political moment, it means speaking truth about inequities while insisting that healthcare is not a privilege but it is a fundamental human right. It is also about our collective voices: communities standing together to demand systems that equally care for all of us.

What does sustainable advocacy look like in 2026? How do we build power without burning out?

Sustainable advocacy in 2026 means recognizing that the work is a marathon and a journey, not a sprint. We build power by sharing leadership, investing in community care, and creating spaces where advocates can rest, heal, and be supported. When our movements prioritize people’s well-being alongside progress, we create advocacy that can last for generations.

What keeps you committed to this work, even when progress feels slow?

What keeps me committed is remembering the people who are still waiting to be seen, heard, and cared for. As a Black woman thriving with HIV for over 25 years, I know firsthand how powerful it is when someone refuses to give up on you or the community you belong to. Even when progress feels slow, every conversation, policy shift, and moment of truth-telling moves us closer to justice. What also keeps me committed is the work is the powerful activism and advocacy that was done by the ones whose shoulders I stand on, the ones who passed away prematurely as a result of being ignored, and my grandchildren who I hope will have better care and access as a result of the work we are all currently doing.

What would it take for the next generation of HIV advocates to feel fully supported and unstoppable?

The next generation needs more than encouragement; they need real investment, mentorship, and opportunities to lead now, not someday. When we create pathways for young leaders to be resourced, trusted, and included in decision-making, their brilliance can truly shine. Our role is to open doors, pass the baton, and remind them that their voices are powerful and necessary.

Alicia Diggs is one of four brilliant facilitators and speakers bringing Loud & Clear to life! It’s time for us all to unite and activate in one movement for healthcare justice!

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