Titusville, Florida
HIV Negative

My weekly radio show, Ms. Sonya Live! is on 94.7FM every Thursday at 6pm. It is filled with real talk from the heart and features audience interaction and interviews with experts in the HIV field.

The show’s goal is to raise HIV awareness in Florida and across the world while giving more attention, care and support to those living with the virus. I have been affected not infected with HIV and lost my good friend, Lynette Hart, to the disease 15 years ago. It was the loss of Lynette and how she was treated that prompted me to make a vow to God to make a difference until a cure is found. I am attempting to erase stigma one voice at a time by simply talking. I will talk all day every day to help change behavior that results in using protection and being tested.

On my show, I skillfully combine real talk, newsworthy events and interviews without missing a beat. I am on a mission as a HIV activist. I enjoy educating, testing and motivating people. My greatest fulfillment comes when my students, clients, mentees and audience members take action and make meaningful changes that transform their health, relationships, work and spiritual lives.

I am known for giving out free condoms throughout drug-infested neighborhoods, beauty stores, barbershops and night clubs to help decrease the risk of HIV. I recently launched a teen talk program with the Brevard County Parks & Recreation Department. Every Tuesday night, I work with Ms. Katrina Foster to help at-risk teenagers. We give them a place to talk and vent in a safe, stigma-free atmosphere while they learn about HIV/AIDS and other STIs. We also help build up their self-esteem. It’s important to understand that teens don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

One of the best things I ever did was to resign from my management position at GSI, and go on a mission to advocate, educate and test for HIV throughout Brevard County. I enjoy speaking at various high schools and colleges across the United States and at any forum where I can help spread awareness to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize those working to find a cure. I have also spoken at events for some of America’s largest churches, including True Vine in Jersey City.

I am a frequent media contributor and have done several interviews with media such as The Ebony News. I recently submitted a blog for The Well Project’s “A Girl Like Me: Voices from our Allies” section.

My signature trademark is “Their past will become your future! Get Tested! Stay Safe!

What three adjectives best describe you?
Encouraging, lively, determined

What is your greatest achievement?
Launching my HIV radio show Ms. Sonya Live! on 94.7FM. I’m now in the process of having it syndicated

What is your greatest regret?
Not being able to stop my friend from spreading HIV to others

What keeps you up at night?
Working on my book entitled Real Talk

What is the best advice you ever received?
Find your passion and you will never work a day in your life

What person in the HIV/AIDS community do you most admire?
Positive people who are doing positive things, such as Mary Keyes, Janet Kitchen, Milton Bennett, Star, Tee, Precious

What drives you to do what you do?
I lost good friends, loved ones and associates to HIV/AIDS. It is the elephant in the room that no one seems to care about or want to talk about. I will continue to speak for the voiceless and give hope.

What is your motto?
Their past will become your future. Get tested! Know your status! Real talk about a real issue giving you a dose of reality!

If you had to evacuate your house immediately, what is the one thing you would grab on the way out?
My dog Princess

If you could be any animal, what would you be? And why?
A butterfly. The transformation a butterfly goes through is like a human being



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