Staff
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Cyndee Clay, Executive DirectorEmail: cyndee (at) hips.org
Pronouns: she/her/hers Clay is an internationally recognized expert with over 20 years experience in program development, nonprofit management and evaluation for improving the health and safety of injection and non-injection drug users, sex workers, and transgender individuals. She is a graduate of the UCLA/Johnson & Johnson Health Care Executive Program at UCLA Business School, convened DC’s first working group on drug user health, and serves as the DC Prevention Planning Group’s community co-chair elect, DC community representative for the Urban Coalition of HIV/AIDS Prevention Services UCHAPS, and the DC Recovery Advisory Council.
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Elizabeth MacIntosh, Director of ProgramsEmail: elizabeth (at) hips.org
Pronouns: she/her/hers Elizabeth MacIntosh has been with HIPS since Valentine’s Day 2003. Elizabeth works closely with the Executive Director in all aspects of program development and organizational goals. She is responsible for HIPS program supervision, evaluation and administration as well as acting as a liaison to foundation and public funders. Elizabeth has developed and implemented numerous interventions including, “Choices” for NJ DOH and “Charm School” for HIPS which provides peer support, health education, goal setting and advocacy geared towards women who use drugs. She has also worked as a consultant for NECAPT (Northeast Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies-) and has presented various workshops on peer based strategies regarding public health and issues around the sex work community at national and international conferences. Elizabeth possesses an AA in Liberal Studies from Harcum College, BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a MS in Clinical Psychology from California Coast University. While not doing HIPS stuff, she likes collecting 80’s punk and metal records, watching Celtic F.C. matches, and experimenting with street and mail art.
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Sara Knotts, Director of Finance and OperationsEmail: sara (at) hips.org
Pronouns: she/her/hers or they/them/theirs As Director of Finance Operations, Sara is responsible for all grants management, human resource management, IT infrastructure, and organizational and fiscal compliance. Sara grew up in Greenville, North Carolina where she attended East Carolina University and obtained a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Operations Management in 2004. Sara is a member of the American Society for Quality and the National Association for Professional Women since 2003. Sara joined HIPS in 2013 as the Operations Manager and became Director of Finance & Operations in 2016 . When Sara's not at HIPS, she's spending time with her family, planning off road adventures, and brainstorming nonprofit hacks.
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Shakita Chapman, Drop-in Center ManagerEmail: shakita (at) hips.org
Pronouns: she/her/hers Shakita joined HIPS in 2013 as a Community Health Worker. She is a certified Treatment Adherence Specialist, HIV and HCV tester and brings 6 years of experience in the HIV care and prevention field. Shakita spends her days helping our clients navigate the healthcare system with the overall goal being to decrease barriers in accessing medical care and support our clients in leading healthy lives. In her current role as the Drop-in Center Manager, she supervises peer educators, oversees support groups, and manages meal and shower services. Shakita is well known for her passion for helping others and is a self-proclaimed “Person for the People” because of her love for giving back to the community. Shakita has a strong interest in addiction and recovery is currently taking steps toward becoming an Addiction Counselor. When Shakita is off the clock, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and enjoying life to the fullest!
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Sasanka Jinadasa, Community Engagement and Technical Assistance ManagerEmail: sasanka (at) hips.org
Pronouns: she/her/hers or they/them/theirs As the Capacity Building and Community Resource Manager at HIPS, Sasanka manages volunteer coordination, staff development, and coalition building at HIPS and in the DC community. A recent graduate of Harvard University with a BA in Studies of Women, Gender and Sexuality (with a focus in African American studies), she has been a justice advocate for those whose identities exist at the margins and intersections of race, gender, and sexuality. Sasanka identifies as a queer Lankan hard femme and has spearheaded projects on sex education, LGBTQ allyship, and diversity and inclusion within activist spaces. When she’s not working, she is probably baking, writing/reading short stories and poetry, or dancing and collaborating with HIPS volunteers to conduct research on the impacts of gentrification on street-based sex work in the District.
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David Sternberg, Clinical Services ManagerEmail: dsternberg (at) hips.org
Pronouns: he/him/his As Clinical Services Manager, David oversees the day to day operations of the GRAVITY Project, an onsite Heptatitis C clinic representing a partnership between HIPS, the NIH, the University of Maryland Institute of Human Virology, and the DC Partnership for HIV/AIDS Programs. David comes to HIPS having spent the last ten years in direct service as a Medical Assistant and Phlebotomist in Radiation Onocology, Family Planning, Sexual Health, and both Surgical and Medical Abortion services. During a five year tenure at Planned Parenthood Northern California, he contributed to the launch of Trans Health Services and low-barrier hormone therapy as well as trans-friendly patient care training. As a member of research teams at Florida Atlantic University, Northwestern Universitry, Georgetown University, and UC San Francisco, David continues to focus on health disparities experienced by immigrant latina women, stress of immigration, HIV risk among female commerical sex workers, and community-based mental health interventions. He graduated with a BA in Sociology from California State University East Bay with a concentration in Neo-Imperialism. David and his husband dream of buying DC General from the city and turning it into a full service free hospital and shelter specializing in enhanced quality of life.
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Ramina Davidson, Case Management and Housing CoordinatorEmail: ramina (at) hips.org
Pronouns: she/her/hers Ramina joined the HIPS staff in the summer of 2016 as the point person for all issues related to housing navigation. She holds a juris doctor from Georgetown and a bachelor's degree in mathematics from UCLA. Her skills involve systems integration and strategic planning, and she is a dedicated advocate for people experiencing homelessness. In her spare time, you can find her writing a sonnet for any occasion or immersed in a project that merges the arts and sciences.
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Ms. Kenney Mayo, Drop-in Services CoordinatorEmail: kenney (at) hips.org
Pronouns: any pronouns Ms. Kenny has worked at HIPS for five years and has been dedicated to maintaining a positive and safe environment in the Drop In Center. Ms. Kenny conducts HIV tests, manages the showers, community lunches, clothing closet, and receptionist area. When Ms. Kenny isn't at HIPS, she likes to watch old black and white movies, shop, and travel.
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Earline Budd, Treatment Adherence SpecialistEmail: earline (at) hips.org
Pronouns: she/her/hers Earline Budd is a long time DC resident and transgender woman who has worked tirelessly over the last 20 years to advocate for the rights and inclusion of transgender people and other members of the lesbian, gay and bisexual (LBGTQ) community. She is one of the founding members and former Executive Director of Transgender Health Empowerment, Inc. (T.H.E.) and was the District of Columbia’s first transgender women appointed to the Office of Human Rights. Earline currently works as a Treatment Adherence Specialist at HIPS and represents HIPS and the trans community on the Mayor’s Commission on HIV/AIDS and on the DC Ryan White Planning Council. Earline has two years of college in Business Administration and attended the Brookwein Business Institute of Washington, D.C. Earline comes to HIPS everyday with a grocery bag of home cooked snacks and goodies and keeps everyone who walks through our doors well fed regardless if they are on her caseload. She describes her everyday hobby as just wanting to just “to help her community, even if it’s just by getting them something to eat just for today, and being there to work on the next step tomorrow.”
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Randy Kier, Community Health WorkerEmail: randy (at) hips.org
Pronouns: he/him/his Randy is a Community Health Worker with HIPS and has been with the organization since 2014. Randy’s work involves assisting clients with linkage to medical care, performing HIV and HCV testing, facilitating treatment adherence, participating in mentorship opportunities, and providing counseling sessions. He is currently studying Social Work with a concentration in public health at the University of District Columbia. In addition to his studies, Randy serves as the Vice President for the Student Government Association at UDC. Randy is a member of the LGBT community and has always possessed a passion to combat HIV/AIDS and to educate his community with intent to change it for the better. Randy strongly believes that working together we can bring an end to HIV/AIDS.
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Angel Brown, PrEP SpecialistEmail: angel (at) hips.org
Pronouns: she/her/hers Angel began her journey with HIPS in 2007, from client to peer educator- turned staff, she has grew in her harm reductionist role to the community. She has facilitated and co facilitated groups and programs such as Beauty School, Stages of Change, and Diversion. Angel is also known for her role in developing and running the SNS and PrEP programs at HIPS- dedicating her effort in prevention of the continuous spread of HIV in our communities.
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Maurice Abbey-Bey, Syringe Exchange SpecialistEmail: maurice (at) hips.org
Pronouns: he/him/his Maurice is a Washington DC native who came to HIPS in 2013 as Secondary Exchanger who provided syringe access and support to his community. Maurice has watched HIPS grow in the community and has seen his own role grow within it as well. In and out of prison, jail, chaotic drug use and substance abuse treatment since the age of 13, Maurice says that those years were when he realized he has to “reach the lowest depths before reaching the highest heights”. Today Maurice serves as HIPS’ full time Syringe Exchange Specialist, supervising HIPS mobile syringe exchange program, the linchpin of HIPS street based services. He greatly enjoys working hands and using his easy and welcoming manner and drawing on his deep network of relationships to make Washington, DC a healthier and safer place to live. While not at HIPS, you can find Maurice at the dog park with his two Maltese puppies, Lily and Bear!
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Betsy Sciavolino, Systems Coordinator, Global Health Corps FellowEmail: betsy (at) hips.org
Pronouns: she/her/hers As the Systems Coordinator at HIPS, Betsy leads monitoring and evaluation efforts and develops tools to streamline its service delivery. She also serves as a case manager. Betsy graduated from the University of Rochester with honors and earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and interdepartmental studies. She completed her master's degree in critical methodologies from King's College London. Prior to joining HIPS, Betsy worked for the Office of Mental Health in Rochester, providing services to families and youth with behavioral health needs. She conducted research on pay equity, childhood poverty, and women's rights in partnership with the University of Rochester. Elizabeth's work focuses on improving health and prosperity for those with mental health needs, substance use disorder, and the LGBTQ population through community-based services.
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Emmanuel Mulwafu, Case Management Specialist, Global Health Corps FellowEmail: emmanuel (at) hips.org
Pronouns: he/him/his Emmanuel Mulwafu is from Zomba, Malawi. He received his Bachelor of Social Science in psychology from Chancellor College, University of Malawi. There, he worked with the Jesuit Refugee Service which provides psycho-social support and educational services to refugees and asylum seekers around the world. Emmanuel provided psycho-social counseling to students in order to strengthen their capacity to overcome emotional and social challenges that could hinder academic success and productivity in Dzaleka refugee camp in Dowa. Prior to joining GHC, he worked as a psycho-social support coordinator where he was responsible for the implementation and supervision of psycho-social support activities in Luwani refugee camp in Neno.
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Corey Walsh, Mobile Services Program Associate,
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Zoe Grimaldi, Outreach and Case Management Associate,
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Hailey Flynn, Legal FellowEmail: hailey (at) hips.org
Pronouns: she/her/hers Hailey Flynn is the Legal and Advocacy Fellow at HIPS (funded by the Ford Foundation) through the Women's Law and Public Policy Fellowship Program at Georgetown Law. Hailey received her Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law in 2016, where she was a Crowley Scholar for International Law & Justice and a Stein Scholar for Public Interest. During law school, Hailey participated in human rights documentation trips in Haiti, Thailand, and Myanmar; developed and delivered training on human rights violations against sex workers in Uganda and Mauritius; and was President of Fordham’s chapter of Law Students for Reproductive Justice chapter and a Notes & Articles Editor for the Fordham International Law Journal where she published her Note, A Postal Code Lottery: Unequal Access to Abortion Services in the United States and Northern Ireland. She also interned at the Open Society Foundations, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and the Global Justice Center. Prior to law school, Hailey was a 2012-2013 Princeton in Asia Fellow with AIP Foundation and was a Program Assistant in the Public Health Program at the Open Society Foundations from 2008-2012. Hailey received her B.S. in Foreign Service at Georgetown University in 2008.
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Shareese Mone, Peer Advocacy FellowEmail: shareese (at) hips.org
Pronouns: she/her/hers Shareese is proud to focus her efforts on providing opportunities to the LGBTQ community and specifically transgender women in Washington, D.C. She loves sharing her passion and working to cultivate understanding within the D.C. community. She works as the peer advocacy fellow, mobilizing her community into taking action toward the decriminalization of sex work. She is also a peer educator who enjoys empowering her community with information about housing, employment, HIV/AIDS care, hormone therapy, and transitions. Shareese is excited to help HIPS clients on their journeys to where they need and want to be
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Takea Mosely, SNS SpecialistEmail: takea (at) hips.org
Pronouns: she/her/hers Takea is the Social Networking Strategy (SNS) Specialist and has been with the organization since 2014 as a peer educator. Takea’s work involves using a social network based recruitment strategy for rapid HIV testing. She identifies, trains, and coaches recruiters, in addition to recording data and meeting program goals. Takea has a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Communications with a minor in Speech from Jackson State University. As a born and raised Washingtonian, Takea has deep ties to the community and an empathetic, professional and culturally competent way of interacting with clients.
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