Melissa Davis is Director of Communications and Marketing with the British Columbia Persons with AIDS (BCPWA) Society.  With 20 years non-profit and corporate experience—chiefly in the areas of marketing, communications, and resource development—she has demonstrated great success in fostering profitable partnerships between the two sectors. Prior to joining BCPWA in her current position, Melissa worked as an independent communications/marketing consultant. Previously, she was Director of Development with the BCPWA Society and Account Manager with Go Direct Marketing. Over the past several years, Melissa has developed and implemented signature fundraising special events as well as high-profile awareness campaigns using print, broadcast, online, and outdoor advertising. With a deep commitment to community engagement and social justice movements, Melissa develops compelling communications and marketing strategies through innovative social marketing methods, including ethical advertising, cross-marketing, and other progressive approaches. During off hours, Melissa can usually be found pushing her limits at the gym or behind her computer screen, Googling and emailing long-lost childhood acquaintances.

www.bcpwa.org
 
Strategic Challenge:

Amid commonly held misconceptions that AIDS has become a chronic, treatable medical condition, HIV has slowly disappeared from the public’s consciousness, the government’s list of priorities, and the media’s most pressing social issues. The fact remains that most of the 40 million people living with HIV globally, including almost 12,000 British Columbians, are multiply disadvantaged due to gender inequality, racism, poverty, heterosexism, and other social factors. In this context, how do we most effectively address AIDS-specific and related stigma, discrimination, and prejudice?