Meet the Mobilizers

AHFter Hours Podcast

Meet the Mobilizers

Turning big plans into real action

GUEST BIO:

Jeremy Myers is a Baltimore-raised mobilizer who has been with AHF since 2021.

Taylor Watson is a mobilizer who has been with AHF for three and a half years.

Raymond Thomas is the AHF mobilizer for Washington D.C. He’s been with AHF for approximately eight years.

CORE TOPICS + DETAILS:

[2:43] - “The Five Senses of AHF”

What it means to be a mobilizer

Raymond Thomas eloquently explains the role of mobilizers as the “five senses of AHF.” In local communities, they’re on the ground taking a pulse of what’s going on — touching people, recruiting advocates, and keeping people engaged, interested, and aware of what AHF is fighting for every day.

Meanwhile, Taylor says mobilizers are like the bus — they bring the fuel, the people, and the direction to drive change. Finally, Jeremy describes mobilizers as the people who “fill in the blanks” between plans in meeting rooms and action in the pharmacies, events, and streets.

[5:03] - Two Communities, One Message

The dual audiences of AHF mobilizers

AHF mobilizers speak from two platforms, and toward two audiences — those within the community of people directly affected by AHF, and then those in the wider community to raise awareness. It’s about letting people affected know that AHF is fighting for them and giving them the resources they need, while also informing the larger general public about how they can get involved – and why they should.

[7:30] - Other Names for Mobilizers

If you want to understand mobilizers, hear what they call themselves

“Rally girls.”

“Community organizers.”

“Community disruptors.”

“Community liaisons.”

“Activists.”

“We’re not classy. Our job is to disrupt the order.”

These quotes from this week’s guests show how being a mobilizer can mean many things, and encompass many things. But it all adds up to a nontraditional role that’s not meant to be stuffy, quiet, or “classy.” It’s about being loud and being a voice for the communities AHF is trying to serve.

[10:04] - Uncomfortable But Never In Danger

Keeping mobilizers safe in difficult situations

Considering they’re on the front lines of AHF’s movement, mobilizers are often put into situations they describe as “high-risk” or “uncomfortable,” though none of our guests say they’ve ever felt as though their lives were in danger. They feel it’s their job to go places where others aren’t comfortable going, while also ensuring they and everyone they’re involved with are always safe and secure.

[13:33] - What’s Next

The future goals of AHF mobilizers

In speaking to all three of our guest mobilizers this week about their future goals, one unifying message became clear — the goals are constantly changing with each event, mission, and even from day to day. When asked, “What are your goals?” the response is always: “What event are we working on?” That constantly evolving role can be challenging, of course, but it’s also exciting and invigorating for our mobilizer teams.

“It really isn’t about the numbers sometimes,” Taylor shares.

RESOURCES:

[0:00] AHF Careers

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ABOUT AFTER HOURS:

AIDS Healthcare Foundation is the world’s largest HIV/AIDS service organization, operating in 45 countries globally. The mission? Providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy for everyone, regardless of ability to pay.

The After Hours podcast is an official podcast of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, in which host Lauren Hogan is joined by experts in a range of fields to educate, inform, and inspire listeners on topics that go far beyond medical information to cover leadership, creativity, and success.

Learn more at: https://www.aidshealth.org

ABOUT THE HOST:

Lauren Hogan is the Associate Director of Communications for AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and has been working in a series of roles with the Foundation since 2016. She’s passionate about increasing the public visibility of AIDS, the Foundation's critical work, and how everyday people can help join the fight to make cutting-edge medicine, treatment, and support available for anyone who needs it.

• Learn more about Lauren at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenhogan3
• Learn more about AIDS Healthcare Foundation at: https://www.aidshealth.org

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