About
Mission Statement
The Women’s Collective exists to ensure that women and girls living with, or at risk for HIV, have the education, services, resources, and emotional support they need to achieve improved health outcomes, regardless of their status. We embrace self-empowerment for women, girls, and their families with the information, skills enhancement, and resources needed to meet their self-defined needs and increase their access to, and retention in care.
Vision
For women and girls to have equitable access to the support and resources they need to live and be well.
Core Purpose
TWC promotes and advocates for improvements in the overall health and well-being of women and girls, especially those affected by HIV and health inequities. Services are community-driven, trauma-responsive, and informed by the women we serve
Current Staff
Valerie L Rochester
Executive Director
Carol Winston
Administration Coordinator
Amandeep Dhindsa
Finance Manager
Elaine Karbgo
Medical Case Manager
June Pollydore
Program & Admin Assistant
Rashida Muhammad, MHS, DrPH(c)
Director of Strategic Initiatives & Principal Investigator
Shaquita Miles
Program Manager
Millicent Everette
Early Intervention Specialist
Gwen Powell
Care Coordinator
Dwayne Brown
Community Outreach Worker
Edna Badu
Program Lead
Our Founder’s Story
Patricia (Pat) Nalls is the Founder and founding Executive Director of The Women’ s Collective (TWC). She started the organization in 1995 with a simple mission: to equip women, girls, and their families by providing them with the skills and linkages to meet their self-defined needs, increase their access to care and support, improve their quality of life, and protect their rights.
Pat has been a vocal community activist, locally, nationally, and globally for the rights of women, girls and their families living with and at risk for HIV/AIDS. She was diagnosed with AIDS in 1986, after the death of her husband and three-year-old daughter within six months of each other. After years of frustration of not finding appropriate support for women, girls and their families she started TWC with a simple and powerful mission: to equip women, girls, and their families by providing them with the skills and linkages to meet their self-defined needs, increase their access to care and support, and engage them so that they are best equipped to ‘own’ their health outcomes, improve their quality of life, and protect their rights.
Pat has been recognized for her heroism, strength, and determination Locally and Nationally in the media and with many prestigious awards, such as, 2010 Washingtonian of the Year, The NAACP Youth Council Award, The Gloria Steinem Award, Heroes in the Struggle 2005 Award, and the Caribbean People’s International Award, among other. Patricia was also featured in Essence Magazine, Peoples Magazine, Newsweek, The Washington Post, and on National and Local television, including an award from WJLA Channel 7 Tribute to Working Women. Under her leadership and guidance, TWC continues to work towards a future of no new transmissions and a cure for HIV/AIDS.
Pat Nalls is the proud mother of two children and has 2 grandchildren.
Board of Directors
Patricia Nalls
Founder and Former Executive Director
Jacquelyne Conley
Chair
Margaretia Jackson, MD
Secretary
Toni Miles Maloney
Treasurer
Sohail Rana, MD
Member
Rukia Malepule
Member