Meeting of the
CONSUMERS COMMITTEE
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
2:00 pm – 4:10 pm
MINUTES
Committee Members Present: Marcelo Maia Soares (Co-chair), John Schoepp (Co-chair), Charmaine Graham (Consumer-at-Large), David Klotz (Governmental Co-chair), Raffi Babakhanian, Gus Angelopoulos, Randall Bruce, Paul Carr, Billy Fields, Lawrence Francis, Newton Francis, Yves Gebhardt, John Goldenbridge, Ralph Henderson, Charmaine Graham, Adanna Joels, Natasha Martin, Rob Walker
Staff Present: Doienne Saab, Abraham Omeyoma, Laura Moya Adames
Guests Present: Jesse Thomas (RDE Systems), Jordan Taylor (RDE Systems)
Agenda Item 1: Welcome/ Moment of Silence/Minutes
Marcelo M. and John S. opened the meeting and welcomed attendees.
Billy F. led a moment of silence, reflecting on the challenges faced by the community and the resilience required to overcome them.
The minutes of November 18, 2025 were approved with no changes.
Agenda Item 2: Presentation: Love and Empowerment
Jesse Thomas, Chief Vision Officer at RDE Systems, presented the “Love and Empowerment” initiative, which focuses on reducing stigma and fostering empowerment and resilience for individuals living with HIV. Jesse introduced “Lady Dee”, a superhero character designed to dismantle HIV stigma and inspire action. The presentation covered the creation process for the character which included tools and community engagement activities such as webinars, visual storytelling.
Attendees praised the initiative’s creativity and impact, noting its potential to inspire both individuals and communities.
Agenda Item 3: Discussion: Access to Services for Immigrants with HIV
The committee reviewed drafts to three key documents intended to address barriers
faced by immigrants living with HIV and provided feedback to improve them before distribution:
Letter to Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani – Members suggested the letter includes the PC’s priority issues (the need for expanded housing and supportive services, addressing funding cuts to HIV services, etc.), and point out the success of the PC’s community-based planning model, as well as proposing its adoption across other city programs.
Survey for Immigrant Clients – Members requested the use of simple, clear language, and a Spanish version of the document to increase its accessibility. Members also suggested to emphasize that the survey is anonymous and no personal data will be collected.
Survey for HIV Service Providers – Members suggested asking providers to share their observations on whether or not they have protocols for handling ICE visits at their sites.
The committee agreed that these materials, once finalized, will provide valuable insights into the challenges faced by immigrant clients and the agencies that serve them, while also informing advocacy efforts and program planning.
Billy F. emphasized the importance of respecting the rules of engagement during discussions.
Abraham O. shared information about an upcoming LGBTQIA+ Paint & Sip event on December 19, 2025, as an opportunity to unwind and connect.
Raffi B. raised concerns about ensuring that all valuable information from the chat is captured and shared after the meetings.
The next meeting of the Consumers Committee will be virtual, on January 20th, 2026, 2-4pm via Zoom.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
