FLORIDA AIDS WALK 2026
The McKenzie Project, Inc. is a Black trans-led nonprofit founded in February 2020 in South Florida to address the urgent needs of Black transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming (TGNCNB+) individuals. From its inception, the organization recognized that HIV/AIDS disproportionately impacts these communities and made combating the epidemic a central pillar of its mission. The organization approaches HIV advocacy through a combination of creative arts, entrepreneurship, and community-rooted programming, ensuring that people living with HIV are not only supported medically but also socially and economically.
Since its founding, The McKenzie Project has steadily expanded its HIV-related services to offer a comprehensive and affirming model of care. Today, the organization provides free, confidential linkage to HIV treatment and PrEP, and case management to help clients navigate health insurance and medical systems. Recognizing the emotional toll that stigma, discrimination, and isolation have on those living with HIV, The McKenzie Project also integrates mental health therapy into its programs, offering support for trauma recovery, depression, and self-acceptance. Additionally, the organization is committed to harm reduction practices, distributing Narcan, fentanyl test strips, and facilitating syringe exchanges to protect community health and save lives.
A significant milestone in the organization’s HIV work came in 2022, when it partnered with TransSocial, another South Florida-based trans-led nonprofit. This collaboration expanded services to include entrepreneurship classes, peer-led support groups for people living with HIV, and expanded outreach efforts to ensure that those most vulnerable could access affirming, trauma-informed care. These partnerships demonstrate The McKenzie Project’s commitment to building strong networks that can collectively meet the needs of TGNCNB+ people affected by HIV.
In just a few years, The McKenzie Project has positioned itself as a vital resource in South Florida, not only by addressing immediate health concerns but also by tackling the root causes of HIV vulnerability, such as homelessness, survival sex work, and systemic exclusion. Through direct services, community partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to Black trans leadership, the organization continues to create spaces of healing, empowerment, and liberation for people living with HIV/AIDS across Florida.