Janice Littlejohn, ROAR founder & APLA Health Board Secretary

Janice Littlejohn has been involved with AIDS Walk Los Angeles as Walker for five years now and walks because of her close friends who contracted the virus through a blood transfusion. “As a Black-heterosexual women, I wanted to spread the message that this wasn’t some kind of disease that was a punishment or a curse or that it wasn’t exclusively to the LGBTQ community. But, it’s something we all need to be concerned about and have compassion around individuals living with HIV.” With her goal to help end the stigma, she has learned over the years an understanding of HIV and the imperative effects it has on our communities through education and life experiences, one being AIDS Walk LA. “As I have been more involved in AIDS Walk LA, it’s heartening to hear people’s stories. I hope AIDS Walk can continue to protect and prevent vulnerable communities.”