Brenda Wright, Senior Vice President at Wells Fargo, Joins NMAC Board

Extensive Private-Sector Experience and History of Community Service to Inform Organization’s Critical Work Combating HIV

Washington, DC – The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) is proud to announce the appointment of Brenda Wright, Senior Vice President and Community Relations Manager for the Western Region at Wells Fargo to its Board of Directors.  Ms. Wright joins a distinguished group of dedicated public health and business professionals, community activists and people living with HIV already serving to provide valuable direction and oversight to the organization’s programs and work.

“We are thrilled to have Ms. Wright join our board,” said NMAC Executive Director Paul Kawata.  “Her experience in the private sector, as well as her dedication to community service and social justice will prove an incredible asset to our organization as we work to bring an end to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in America.  As the nation’s health care delivery system continues to be transformed, it is essential that we expand our private sector partnerships to address the needs of those living with and vulnerable to this disease and ensure that everyone benefits.  As people of color, it is particularly important that we ensure a robust response from all sectors of our society to address the multitude of factors – from employment and housing to health care and educational access – that perpetuate the epidemic’s disproportionate toll on our communities.”

Wright is an active leader and founding member of many community-based organizations and committees throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a Mayoral appointee to the Asian Art Commission, serves on the Board of the Women’s Foundation of California, and is an Emeritus Board Member and Advisor for the Museum of the African Diaspora, and Governor Appointed member of the California for the Humanities Council. She has received frequent recognition for her service and was recognized on October 23, 2013 with the United States Certificate of Commendation by Senator Diane Feinstein in honor and recognition of her dedication to the Principles of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, with her work for economic empowerment, excellent leadership and commitment to positively impact the community.

“I am incredibly honored that NMAC and its board extended this invitation and am delighted to accept the position,” said Ms. Wright.  “As an African American woman living in San Francisco in the 80’s, I am all too aware of the devastating toll that HIV has taken on my community in general and women in particular.  As science and policy provide us powerful new tools to fight this disease, we must work to re-engage the public in our efforts to ensure that those tools reach and benefit those communities that have been most severely impacted.  I look forward to working closely with the organization’s exceptional staff and dedicated board in advancing its mission of developing leadership in communities of color to end this epidemic, and ensuring that the next generation is indeed an AIDS-free generation.”

“With implementation of the Affordable Care Act in full swing and an ever-expanding list of scientific breakthroughs providing new weapons in the battle against HIV, NMAC continues to evolve its programs to ensure responsiveness to the needs of the community,” added NMAC Board Chair John Hill.  “Ms. Wright’s appointment reflects this evolution as well as the organization’s continued commitment to fostering public-private partnerships in the struggle to end this epidemic.  Her business acumen coupled with her efforts to combat gender and racial discrimination will serve the board well and provide valuable insight as NMAC works to build on its decades of work in communities of color.  On behalf of the entire board, I welcome Ms. Wright and look forward to working with her to further NMAC’s critical mission.”

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Kyle Murphy, (202) 803-8027 or kmurphy@nmac.org