Stories in Every Stitch: The Legacy of Local HIV Advocacy and the AIDS Quilt
SPEAKER: Dharmakrishna Mirza
Stories in Every Stitch: The Legacy of Local HIV Advocacy and the AIDS Quilt
SPEAKER: Dharmakrishna Mirza
In Stories in Every Stitch…
…local artist, activist, and cultural health scholar Dharmakrishna Mirza will explore the history of HIV resistance and advocacy in the Willamette Valley, centering on the work of Valley Aids Information Network, Inc.
Through stories, Dharma honors the powerful symbolism of the AIDS Quilt and highlights how individual stories and community action have woven together to create a lasting legacy of hope, resilience, and activism.
View the AIDS Memorial quilt panel on display during the Corvallis Arts Walk November 21st!
Dharmakrishna Mirza
Dharmakrishna/Dharma Mirza is an activist, artist, and interdisciplinary scholar based on Ampinefu Kalapuyan land here in Corvallis. Dharma is currently pursuing her PhD in Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies and Public Health at Oregon State. Her work explores local queer art history, liberatory harm reduction, drug policy, and sexual behavioral health equity. Dharma has been doing HIV outreach work for over a decade in the Linn-Benton region. She previously served as a Marketing Manager, LGBTQ+ Service Liaison, and Board Member for Valley AIDS Information Network, Inc. (VAIN) a local HIV/AIDS Prevention Nonprofit. In 2019, She was named by POZ Magazine as one the top 100 Transgender HIV Advocates.
