About this Event
In recognition of World AIDS Day, the Umoja Health Access Point and the HOPE for HIV Cure Research Collaboratory Community Engagement Teams invite you to A Seat at the Red Table: Where Science Meets Lived Experience, an intimate evening of food, fellowship, shared learning, and meaningful conversation.
Over the past several decades, HIV research has transformed what it means to live with HIV, Yet, as scientists continue exploring pathways toward an HIV cure, important questions remain: How does scientific progress translate into people’s everyday lives? Whose voices help shape the research process? And how can we build stronger relationships between researchers and the communities their work seeks to serve?
The Red Table creates space for people living with HIV, researchers, community advocates, and service providers to come together as partners in conversation.
Through an accessible overview of the current HIV cure research landscape, guided dinner discussions, and a community-centered fireside chat, we’ll explore the intersections of science, lived experience, trust, equity, and accountability.
Why This Conversation Matters
Scientific progress is most meaningful when the people whose lives it seeks to improve have opportunities to understand, question, and influence the work.
Community engagement should extend beyond participation in clinical trials. It should include opportunities to help shape research priorities, inform study design, raise concerns, and understand how community feedback influences decisions.
Together, we’ll explore what it means to move beyond simply having a seat at the table toward having a meaningful voice in what’s being decided.
Agenda
Food, Fellowship & Connection
Info: Share a meal and build relationships in a welcoming, community-centered environment.
HIV Cure Research 101
Info: Hear an accessible overview of where HIV cure research stands today, what scientists are exploring, and what questions remain.
Conversations That Matter
Info: Engage in thoughtful conversation about trust and mistrust in research, the importance of lived experience, and the real-world implications of scientific progress.
Community Voices & Scientific Perspectives
Info: Hear from featured Circle Keepers representing research, advocacy, and lived experience.
Beyond the Table
Info: Explore opportunities for communities to influence HIV research and consider how researchers and institutions can strengthen transparency, accountability, and meaningful community engagement.
Event venue & nearby stays
San Francisco AIDS Foundation, 940 Howard Street, San Francisco, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.