Local Monroe woman nominated for 2019 Barbara Vick Impact Award

Adriane Brown, of Monroe, has been nominated for an award at the 3rd annual Barbara Vick Impact Awards. The manager of the Monroe and Winder offices of Live Forward, Brown works with individuals and families infected or affected by HIV/Aids

According to her bio on the Live Forward website, Brown is the former Transitional Housing Coordinator for Peace Place Inc., a Domestic Violence Organization in Barrow County. In that position, she assisted Domestic Violence survivors on how to increase employment skills, stabilize their income, and obtain safe, permanent housing and progress toward violence-free self-sufficiency. Before joining Peace Place, she was a Mortgage Loan Officer for over 13 years where she assisted first time home buyers with budgeting and credit repair to achieve their dream of homeownership.

Brown said in her current position, housing is very important since a large number of those suffering from HIV/AIDS are homeless. In its mission, Live Forward includes this as an important part of its function, noting that “the housing or the lack thereof affects one’s ability to live a healthy life. Stably housed HIV positive individuals are more likely to access medical care, access supportive services, get on antiretroviral medication, take the medication as prescribed, remain engaged in healthcare. However, individuals with HIV who are homeless or unstably housed are more likely to delay HIV care, have poorer access to regular care, and are less likely to adhere to their HIV treatment.”

“Housing is very important for HIV and individuals there are more likely to access medical care……..etc,” Brown said. “They are able to reach an undetectable viral load. With an undetectable viral load, a person has less than a 3% chance of transmitting the virus to someone else.”

A domestic violence survivor herself, Brown also has her own non-profit organization, Diamond Ministries, that she founded in 2011. Its mission is addressing domestic violence, sex trafficking, and HIV/AIDS throughout Northeast Georgia. Diamond Ministries will be doing a five-city tour this summer to educate the community on Human Trafficking, Domestic Violence and HIV. For more information click or tap on www.diamondministriesinc.com and www.adrianembrown.com .

Brown also made an unsuccessful run for Monroe City Council in 2017.