Get to Know the Speakers and Performers at The Free ViiV HIV Town Hall

1. Dallas Southern Pride COO Aboundy Prosperity PR Ahmad Goree

Ahmad begun his public service as an intern at HUD monitoring organizations that received grant funds from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) programs. In 2007, State Senator Royce West recruited Ahmad to be his legislative aide for business, commerce, and housing policy.

Ahmad later joined the federal government where he has helped generate over $6.7 billion to small businesses and creating over 50,000 jobs in DFW and helping oversee a $16.2 billion grant program to provide financial assistance to live entertainment small businesses and non-profit.

Recently, Ahmad played a pivotal role in bringing attention to the brutal attack and later murder of Muhlaysia Booker, a transgender woman in Dallas. Ahmad arranged interviews with CNN, MTV, Washington Post, and Gayle King Show.

Ahmad worked with Stephanie Houston, mother of Muhlaysia to start the Muhlaysia Booker Foundation, where he currently serves as the president. The foundation teamed up with Dallas Mavericks player Reggie Bullock to bring awareness to the murders of transgender women of color. As a result of this partnership, Bullock was awarded the NBA’s 2022 Social Justice award.

Ahmad is currently a member of the Texas Southern University Jesse H. Jones School of Business Advisory Council, member of the board of directors for Texas Pride Impact Funds, member of the VisitDallas 2026 FIFA World Cup Bid Committee and member of the City of Dallas Business Diversity Taskforce. He also helps Abounding Prosperity, Inc with public affairs and serves as COO of Dallas Southern Pride.

Ahmad is a 2022 Dallas Business Journal 40 under 40 honoree, 2021 Dallas Black Chamber Emerging Leader, LGBT Chamber Community Excellence Awardee and Dallas Mayor’s LGBTQ Taskforce Leader of the Year.

Ahmad was born and raised in Dallas where he attended H. Grady Spruce High School. He graduated from Jarvis Christian College with a degree in History and where became a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated. He earned his Masters in Political Science from Dallas Baptist University and currently is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Texas At Arlington.

2. HIV Adocate Jessica Glaspie

My name is Jessica Glaspie and I am from Zion, IL. My pronouns are she/her/hers. I am the author of “Life, Love, and HIV: A Memoir” which speaks to me contracting HIV in 2009. I am a mother of 3 beautiful children. I love to travel and I love writing. I take great pride in my advocacy work and I am extremely grateful to have an impact on so many lives by simply telling my story. I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Southern IL University Edwardsville. I currently work in Supply Chain for a Healthcare system here in Texas. I started advocating after about 6 years of living with HIV. My reason? I want to be the change I want to see. I want to educate and uplift. My ultimate goal is to erase the shame and stigma associated with HIV/AIDS and continue to share how I thrive in today’s society with HIV.

3. Guest Performance-Jayson Lyric

Born in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas, Texas, Jayson Lyric is a seasoned rapper, producer, songwriter and entrepreneur. A vessel of profound lyrical content, Jayson is one of top Hip-Hop & RNB artists in North Texas working to rebuild the city of Dallas, which is not typically synonymous with the rap genre. Jayson has perfected his unique style of artistry where the songwriting, vocals and instrumentals all work in unison.

4. Guest Performance-Moni

Aisha Monique Smiley aka Moni, is a singer-songwriter and artist from Tampa, Florida, who relocated to Dallas in 2018. Born on June 25th, 1999, music has been a passion of hers since a young age. Her musical journey started in church choir as a child and quickly flourished throughout her school years – performing the national anthem during her graduation ceremony in 2017. After graduating high school, Moni started writing her own music in 2017 but didn’t begin recording until 2019. After moving to Dallas, the new environment, opportunity and mindset  gave her the confidence to pursue her dreams of being an artist with the hopes of starting something great. Through hard work and dedication, Moni was able to create an impressive team of professionals who are now working together with her to create beautiful music that reaches out into the world. Music is deeply embedded into Moni’s soul and with every new breath she takes it is evident that she is meant to be here creating meaningful art for all those around her.

5. TX State Rep Venton Jones

Representative Venton C. Jones Jr. is serving his first term in the Texas House of Representatives for Texas House District 100 in Dallas, Texas. Since the beginning of his career, Venton has been a tireless advocate working to improve healthcare access, fighting for marginalized communities and middle-class families, and protecting voting rights.

Professionally, Representative Jones is the Founder and CEO of the Southern Black Policy and Advocacy Network (SBPAN), whose mission is to improve health, social, and economic conditions impacting Black communities in the U.S. South.

Representative Jones holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health from Texas A&M University, a Master of Science degree in Health Care Administration from The University of Texas at Arlington, and a global certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP).

Representative Jones is a Spring 2004 initiate of the Pi Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated and is currently a member of the Alpha Sigma Lambda Chapter here in Dallas. He is also a proud lifetime member of the NAACP.

6. Writer And HIV Advocate Nathaniel Holley

Nathaniel Holley is a writer, philosopher, student of life, and advocate for those living with HIV. He decided to champion the cause and live transparently with HIV to provide visibility following his own diagnosis in 2012. He has earned his B.A. in Political Science at Morehouse College and Masters in Legal Studies from American University. Throughout his career, Nathaniel has traveled his talents from teaching English in South Korea to working for some of the biggest consulting and law firms in the country. While living in Washington, D.C., he served on the Executive Committee for the Washington, DC Commission for Health and HIV which exists under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program to provide a comprehensive system of HIV care to low-income people living with HIV. 

In October 2020, he launched The Freelux Project, a non profit focused on decreasing stigma related to HIV and increasing access to healthcare for people of Color across the country. Phase 1 initiatives involve providing education, outreach and HIV self-test kits. He seeks to create a world where stigma doesn’t interfere with self care. You can find him on Instagram at @nathanielholleyofficial.