On Saturday, March 8, The Afiya Center honored several local advocates who use their platforms to speak out against socioeconomic disparities. Including those for the reproductive freedom of Black women. At the 2025 End With Red Gala, this year’s honorees were founder of House of Rebirth Robyn La’Faye “Pocha” Crowe, US Representative for the 30th Congressional District Jasmine Crockett, and Texas Tech Communication Professor and advocate Dr. Robyn Adams. Singer-songwriter and television personality Keke Wyatt also made an appearance and performed for a crowd of around 200 guests.

The event featured a welcome to guests who came for the gala from various cities across Texas in support of the Afiya Center and its mission. This was followed by a four-course dinner, complemented by entertainment from Ms. Wyatt.

The Keynote

Emmy-winning author Rae Lewis Thornton was the keynote speaker for the event. Thornton shared counsel about the power of her testimony when it came to overcoming her personal struggles with HIV and stigma. Thornton also had copies of her new memoir ‘Unprotected’ available for purchase. The memoir chronicles her struggles from an abusive childhood to drug-riddled teenage years, to utilizing her trauma to advocate and empower others living with HIV.

Following the keynote, the honorees were all lauded for their individual contributions to the Black community of cisgender and transgender women still fighting for reproductive autonomy and equality and HIV awareness.

Other End With Red Award Winners

Afiya Center Director of Policy, Jonetha Hunter, received the Organizational Achievement award. “As a board member and as a person who is committed to empowering Black people, I want to just give you all encouragement at this time,” Hunter said to the gala attendees.

“The movement is not just what you do right now. Stay encouraged, and make sure we keep each other uplifted.”

Other honorees included Pastor Gregory Willis for the Community of Faith Award, D’Metris Welters for the Community Servant Award, and Sheriff Marian Brown for the Community Leader award.

They haven’t made a beast I won’t fight!

marsha jones

The awards ceremony concluded with a tearful and emotional acceptance from Community Health Worker and HIV Intervention Specialist Yolanda Bell for the Linda Freeman Living Out Loud Award.

“Living with HIV is hard. Even those today who were recently diagnosed, you don’t know how good you have it.”

In closing her message for those who may be seeking help from resources like the Afiya center, Bell encouraged those in the audience with multiple partners to look into PrEP, the “birth control pill for HIV” as she called it.

A Fight for Black Women

The End With Red gala closed with a silent auction that featured a host of items including two tickets to the opening show of “The Wiz” in Fair Park this fall.

The Afiya Center’s passion for “reproductive justice, birth justice, HIV education, and the decriminalization of Black bodies” was certainly reflected in its gala attendees, as all the honorees reinforced their appreciation for the continued support of the many volunteers and donors in attendance.

The Afiya Center’s message is perhaps best echoed by the words of its Executive Director Marsha Jones:

“I will lay down my whole life for Black women, I will fight a lion for Black women. And for Black women living with HIV, they haven’t made a beast I won’t fight!”