CHLP’s Radical Roots Project Brings HIV Justice Education to HBCUs
New student outreach initiative kicked off at Jackson State University
CHLP recently organized a new student outreach initiative – Radical Roots: HBCUs for Justice – that builds knowledge, reduces stigma, and sparks action around HIV criminalization by partnering with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the South. The project kicked off in November at Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi, where nearly 50 students and community members gathered at the JSU Student Center Theater.
The event featured CHLP Senior PJP Attorney Jada Hicks and Dr. Mauda Monger of The SHE Project, who led a dynamic, interactive conversation on HIV and STI transmission and prevention, and students’ legal rights when health status is criminalized. Participants received practical, judgment-free information on HIV transmission, harm reduction, prevention, and the real-world impacts of criminalization.
Most attendees were unfamiliar with HIV criminalization, but by the end of the event, many participants reported a stronger understanding of both HIV risks and the laws that continue to fuel stigma and punishment.
Students engaged in open, honest dialogue about navigating difficult conversations with sexual partners, supported by scenario-based role plays designed to build confidence, communication skills, and agency. Attendees also connected with testing resources and safer-sex tools, reinforcing a message of care, autonomy, and shared responsibility.
The event included a game night experience courtesy of Brandon Harrison with Continue Your Resilience that provided a fun and creative way for students to interact while fostering community building and peer relationships. The event was presented in collaboration with the Jackson (MS) Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the Mississippi Center for Justice, and AIDS United’s Melated Movement.
The Radical Roots project is designed to equip HBCU students with accessible, accurate information about HIV, STIs, and health-status criminalization while creating supportive spaces that promote prevention, testing, and open conversation. By pairing legal education with harm reduction resources and community connection, the project offers a culturally grounded, holistic approach rooted in collective empowerment.
Persistent HIV-related stigma, outdated criminal laws, and limited access to free, nonjudgmental prevention resources remain major barriers to ending the HIV epidemic—particularly for Black students in the South. Radical Roots meets this moment by centering students’ lived realities and leadership.
Through the project, CHLP provides practical tools alongside advocacy training, including free at-home HIV and syphilis testing kits, harm reduction supplies like fentanyl test strips, and digital resources that connect students to information, support, and opportunities for action.
