Dr. Ron Simmons is one of four honorees who will be recognized at the DC Center Fall Reception, taking place Friday October 12th at 7:00 PM at the Sofitel Hotel.

Ron Simmons, Ph.D., has served as the Executive Director or President/CEO for 18 years. Under Dr. Simmons leadership, what began as a self-help group for HIV-infected Black gay men is today one of the largest Black AIDS organizations in the nation serving men, women, transgender persons, and youth. Since 1992, he has raised over $22 million to fund the programs and services of Us Helping Us. He is a member of the District of Columbia Board of Medicine, and served for six years on the Health Department's HIV Prevention Community Planning Group. He was a founding member and former treasurer of the National Black Gay Men's Advocacy Coalition.

Dr. Simmons has a B.A. in Afro-American Studies, a M.A. in African History, and a M.S. in Educational Communications from the State University of New York at Albany. He received his Ph.D. in Mass Communications from Howard University and served on the faculty of the Howard University School of Communications for 12 years. The program aims to build local leadership, network development and coalitions, enhance knowledge and cultural competency, and spur actions to address the needs of the emerging Latino/Hispanic populations in the 7 U.S. southern states. These states are: Alabama; Georgia; Louisiana; Mississippi; North Carolina; South Carolina; and Tennessee. He received a master's degree in geography from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a bachelor's degree in geography from the University of California, Los Angeles.

The DC Center is proud to honor Michele Zavos. Please join us at the Sofitel Hotel Friday October 12th: click here for more information.