Why a Dallas grandmother is leading AIDS activists across the country

Jonesing to Stand Against AIDS

This article is one of a series of Update profiles of men and women who will be leading activist caravans as part of the Stand Against AIDS, a multi-arm, multi-week advocacy roadtrip aimed at getting presidential hopefuls Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain to commit to taking meaningful steps toward the creation of a National AIDS Plan within 100 days of taking office. The caravans kick off in mid-September and converge in Oxford, Mississippi on September 23 for four days of action. The first debate between Obama and McCain takes place in Oxford on September 26.

When Marsha Jones' eldest daughter was diagnosed with HIV 11 years ago, Jones didn't know where to turn for support. "We were trying to access services for teenage girls but none were available. We didn't have any resources we could put our hands on," Jones said. They didn't find any services until Jones' daughter landed in the hospital with cytomegalovirus (CMV) and PCP. The hospital helped them find the AIDS services they needed; since then Jones has guided her daughter's care. "Everything she learned she learned from me, and everything I learned I taught myself," said Jones, who has one other daughter, one son, and three grandchildren.

Unfortunately, because of the CMV, Jones' daughter is blind but otherwise her health is excellent: She has had an undetectable viral load for the past five years. And although Southwest caravan leader Jones, 47, has always been the chief advocate in the family while her daughter has kept a low profile about her status, that's about to change. Jones' daughter will be joining Jones in the caravan from Dallas to Oxford. "Our family has been her only support system. But when she learned about the Stand, she was so motivated. She was like, 'Mom, I've got to get involved.'"

Jones' daughter is not the only one. The Southwest caravan is bustling. More than 50 people will participate in the caravan, which begins in San Diego, then heads through Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Louisiana on its way to Oxford (some activists from Hawaii will fly in to Dallas and be "adopted" there and ride along with Jones, her daughter and 30 other Dallas-area residents). The Dallas contingent has already started mobilizing. On Saturday, August 23 historical black college Paul Quinn College hosted "Raise the Praise," which piqued interest among students in the Stand Against AIDS.

Asking more questions, seeking more answers

Jones left her job as an accounting clerk in 2001 to be a full-time HIV advocate and educator. She has made HIV education such a part of her life that when her then-8-year-old granddaughter saw AIDS ribbons on television, she said, "You're going to be rich! Because they're using your stuff!" Jones' youngest daughter is now in college, and also assists with outreach, bringing home classmates who she thinks need some extracurricular sex education and empowerment to talk to her mother. "When women understand reproductive justice, they can better protect themselves against HIV," Jones said.

Despite Jones' commitment to education and outreach, she said it wasn't until joining the Campaign to End AIDS last year that she became well-versed in the nitty-gritty of federal policies such as the Early Treatment for HIV Act and ADAP as TrOOP.

Jones said, "I thought 'Why am I on the Ryan White Council but I'd never heard these things before?' It made me ask more questions and seek more answers. I'd seen people say they were grassroots organizers, but C2EA was the first time I saw it in application."

Jones believes the Stand will help ignite the sense of urgency around AIDS there was in the '80s and '90s. "I support people being advocates for themselves and demanding what they want. For years we've been asking but the Stand is a demand."

For more information on the Stand, go to c2ea.org or call 877-ENDAIDS (363-2437) or contact Valencia Robinson at (601) 944-1403.