Things were different back then. When Heart to Hand was founded over 20 years ago, HIV was in a state of crisis here and around the globe. In the early 90’s, Dedra Spears Johnson and the late Sally Joseph were health professionals working in communities throughout Prince George’s County. As the HIV crisis worsened in the DC metropolitan area, they noticed how African Americans, especially women, were under served and neglected by standard efforts to combat HIV. Community after community, they saw the same thing and it troubled them.
Something was missing. Dedra and Sally saw the need for sexual health care infused with culture and love. They came up with a plan to address what they saw as a critical need in the care of people, primarily African Americans and women, facing and living with HIV. Together at their kitchen table in Capitol Heights, Dedra and Sally created Heart to Hand to combat the rapid rise of HIV among African-American women. It was founded as a grassroots, sexual health nonprofit to serve residents of Prince George’s County and later the DMV.