Deirdre Johnson, 34, said that when she was diagnosed with HIV in 2000 she could only sum up her reaction in one word, shock.
Johnson now works to raise HIV and AIDS awareness among students and communities across the state. She has worked with Richmond City Hall, Virginia Union University, Virginia State University, University of Richmond and VCU, sharing her story as a person living with HIV.
“It didn’t really sink in until years later that I was HIV positive,” Johnson said.