As of October of 2019, in Oakland, California the Board of the California Prostitutes Education Project (CAL-PEP) announced that Lisa Ryan has been appointed Executive Director of the agency.
Lisa Ryan was born and raised in Oakland California and is well known and respected among her constituents in the field of HIV and Substance Use. Ms. Ryan has served in many capacities at CAL-PEP for over 28 years and was serving as the Deputy Director before accepting the position as CAL-PEP’s Executive Director. Lisa is an inspiration and a fierce leader, bringing over 28 years of experience in HIV program management and community social services. Lisa has been instrumental in the development and training of many current and former community leaders throughout Alameda County. She is a highly respected leader in the field of HIV particularly on issues related to substance use and program development.
Professor Ben Bowser, Chair of CAL-PEP said, “We are grateful to have had Lisa Ryan on our team over all of these years. We look forward to her continued leadership”.
Lisa Ryan, Interim Director of CAL-PEP said, “I am overwhelmed with gratitude as I accept the position as Executive Director of CAL-PEP. The CAL-PEP team and I have been and will continue to be unwavering in our innovation and commitment to community. The overwhelming health disparities faced by communities of color will continue to drive us. Responding to the homeless crisis, sexual health, substance use and wellness will be our priority”.
Notes for Editors:
About CALPEP
Founded in 1984, The California Prostitutes Education Project was one of the first HIV education, prevention and street outreach organizations in the country. Its initial focus was prostitutes and their sexual partners including transgender individuals. Since 1990, it evolved with HIV science to a high impact approach, including:
- Street based/mobile and rapid HIV and other testing and specimen collection
- Evidence Based Approach through research, evaluation and quality assurance
- Focus on Getting HIV Positive Individuals into treatment and reduce transmission from HIV positive to HIV negative partners
- Shift to Prevention with HIV positive individuals through Linkage to Care and Drug Treatment
- Expand information and access to biomedical and behavioral prevention strategies, particularly Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
CAL-PEP’s philosophy is “Each one, teach one” – provide accessible health education to reduce sexual risk, prevent disease, link individuals to health care, treatment and support services. We respect both language and culture of those we serve.
About Lisa Ryan
Lisa is a member of the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals. Lisa received her training and certification in Substance Use and Community Social Services from Merritt College. Lisa is also a board member for Collective Organization Towards Teaching Our Nation (COTTON).
It is Lisa’s goal to be an unwavering leader in the battle to eradicate the spread of HIV in communities of color. She continues to lead with a plan to identify and address the primary needs of those faced with health disparities that plague communities of color. Addressing mental health, substance use, homelessness, and overall wellness is her priority. As she stated, “We will continue to meet our clients where they are and advocate on their behalf”.
About CAL-PEP’s Board and Executive Search Committee The Board of CAL-PEP is chaired by Professor Ben Bowser, Professor Emeritus, Cal State East Bay, Department of Sociology and Social Services. He led the Search Committee for the new Executive Director, with Dr. Barbara Green-Ajufo, (Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California San Francisco), and Ben Plumley (Founder, Hunuvat Global).
