Older adults living with HIV—especially Black gay men aged 50 and over—face compounding challenges including stigma, fragmented care, and under-resourced behavioral health services. This session highlights strategies from the Aging and HIV Institute (A&H), a California-based think tank dedicated to bridging HIV and aging service systems.

A featured initiative is Dundun—a narrative- and policy-focused project funded by the Joseph Beam Black Gay Men’s Wellness Grant. Rooted in the metaphor of the “talking drum,” Dundun centers the lived experiences of older Black gay men with HIV to influence California’s behavioral health priorities under Proposition 1 and the Master Plan for Aging. A&H will share strategies for using culturally grounded storytelling, coalition-building, and legislative outreach to advance mental health equity.

The session will also draw from successful local efforts, such as the LKAPS Roundtable peer support model and the Barbershop program developed with Brothers of the Desert. These initiatives show how community connection and culturally relevant programming can reduce stigma and promote well-being.

Participants will leave with tools for engaging marginalized populations in policy advocacy, integrating HIV and aging services, and building lasting equity-focused coalitions.