2019 Issue 5 Sep/Oct - Focus Mid-Tenn Magazine
spent her senior year at the United States International University in Kenya, where she held an internship at an HIV/AIDS orphanage. There she witnessed babies born HIV positive being “dropped off” by their parents. Here, the seeds of service were planted, which she would carry, as a recent college graduate and newlywed, to Flint, Michigan. Her tenure with Wellness AIDS Services, Inc. included positions in Case Management, HIV Prevention, Interim Executive Director, and Executive Director. Osman was tapped by the Board to serve as the Interim for 6 months to either “turn the organization around or transition its clients to another service provider.” She accepted the challenge and was able to orchestrate a successful turn-around of the organization, which still flourishes today. “Even though I was only 24 years old and had no prior executive leadership experience, I felt a deep obligation to the clients not to shut down,” Osman stated emphatically. Building on success As she experienced success in her professional life, success was mirrored in her personal life too. A wife and now mother of two young sons, Amna earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Michigan. With greater knowledge, new skillsets, and a growing support network, Amna served as the Director of the Division of Health, Wellness, and Disease Control for Michigan Department of Community Health, and was responsible for operational oversight of the division which consists of Health Disparities Reductions/Minority Health; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; and HIV/AIDS Prevention Education, Care and Treatment; AIDS Drug Assistance Program and the HIV/AIDS Oral Health Program. With success came accolades, appointments, and additional opportunities to make an impact on vulnerable communities. Osman credits her professional success with not only putting in the hard work but to “coaches and mentors that really “ “WE NEED VOICES HEARD AT ALL LEVELS AND NEED THE COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CARE TO THE LGBT+ COMMUNITY.” supported me.” In these days of growing awareness around privilege and workplace inequities, Osman shares an important personal insight, “I just want to acknowledge that as women we work extra hard to be in seats of leadership Page 18 / focusmidtenn.com / SEP+OCT 2019 / SUCCESS
ut it’s because of the support of so many people that believed in us that it really happens; as women and especially women of color, you’ve worked really hard and proved yourself to get to where you are at, more so than your counterpart colleagues to whom the system has really been supportive and beneficial.” Building on community Now that she’s relocated to Nashville and serves in the pinnacle position at Nashville CARES, I asked Osman what success would look like one year from now, her response and vision was clear. Osman would like to diversify the funding portfolio so that CARES can thrive in a way that is fiscally healthy as well as recruit and retain good talent. “I would also like to position CARES as a diverse, inclusive and equitable organization so it has the best talent to serve the most vulnerable and furthermore, engage the community in a bidirectional exchange where we hear and know the community stories and the community knows and hears ours.” Personally, Osman would like to complete the work in earning her Ph.D. in Leadership and Change and create a community of professional peers and friends to enrich her life. Osman feels as if she’s off to a good start in achieving these goals stating, “I’ve been really impressed with the Board of Nashville CARES. I’ve appreciated NASHVILLE CARES AIDS WALK Register for Nashville CARES AIDS walk on October 5. Visit nashvilleaidswalk.org the support they’ve given me and their desire to elevate the organization, thinking about the community as a whole and wanting to do the best for this community.” When asked how the LGBTQ community can be of support to her and Nashville CARES, she was again very clear: “I encourage you to continue to support CARES, not just financially, but with time, expertise, talent, and knowledge in a way that can support and advance the organization and even elevate it in the next year if we truly are going to eliminate HIV in Nashville.” She also encourages the community to provide ideas around ways to come together and tell our stories and reduce stigma as well as engage in advocacy. “We need voices heard at all levels and need the community to continue to provide feedback and recommendations for care to the LGBT+ community (both healthcare and mental health).” “I have felt so welcomed in the South, in Nashville, and at Nashville CARES,” said Osman. “Every stakeholder and ambassador that’s affiliated with this organization has been amazing and wonderful and dedicated to the mission and to the people we serve, and I just want to say thank you.” If you’d like to be a part of the “unbreakable bundle,” reach out today to Amna Osman by phone or email at 615-921-0215 or aosman@ nashvillecares.org. FREE BRAGGING RIGHTS Whoever said that you shouldn't brag about sex is lame. Get free condoms at one of our participating locations, then go out and #GetYaSumGood! Welcome Elizabeth Otter To Our Practice! 615-904-2010 aesthetics 537 stonecrest pkwy. ste 200 smyrna, tn 37167 1608 williams dr. ste 200 murfreesboro, tn 37129 stonesriverdermatology.com Elizabeth Otter, PA-C
- Page 1 and 2: FREE ® Serving the Middle Tennesse
- Page 3 and 4: theme ISSUE “Let your joy be in y
- Page 5 and 6: 16 SEP+OCT 2019 CONTENTS 3 THEME: S
- Page 7 and 8: What about corporate involvement? H
- Page 9 and 10: LGBT+ AND MINISTRY IN TENNESSEE By
- Page 11 and 12: A New York state of mind Paco also
- Page 13 and 14: He began studying the Bible even mo
- Page 15 and 16: PROOF WORKING FOR YOU THURSDAY SEPT
- Page 17: NASHVILLE CARES building a communit
- Page 21 and 22: are poisonous: northern copperhead,
- Page 23 and 24: lgbt seniors DOES OUR AGE IMPACT TH
- Page 25 and 26: Pioneering ‘out’ music Kreis’
- Page 27 and 28: considering coming out or those who
- Page 29 and 30: to have a place to go and be comfor
ut it’s because of the<br />
support of so many people<br />
that believed in us that it<br />
really happens; as women<br />
and especially women of<br />
color, you’ve worked really<br />
hard and proved yourself<br />
to get to where you are<br />
at, more so than your<br />
counterpart<br />
colleagues<br />
to whom the<br />
system has<br />
really been<br />
supportive and<br />
beneficial.”<br />
Building on<br />
community<br />
Now that she’s relocated<br />
to Nashville and serves in<br />
the pinnacle position at<br />
Nashville CARES, I asked<br />
Osman what success would<br />
look like one year from<br />
now, her response and<br />
vision was clear. Osman<br />
would like to diversify the<br />
funding portfolio so that<br />
CARES can thrive in a way<br />
that is fiscally healthy as<br />
well as recruit and retain<br />
good talent. “I would also<br />
like to position CARES as<br />
a diverse, inclusive and<br />
equitable organization so<br />
it has the best talent to<br />
serve the most vulnerable<br />
and furthermore, engage<br />
the community in a bidirectional<br />
exchange where<br />
we hear and know the<br />
community stories and<br />
the community knows and<br />
hears ours.”<br />
Personally, Osman would<br />
like to complete the work<br />
in earning her Ph.D. in<br />
Leadership and Change<br />
and create a community<br />
of professional peers and<br />
friends to enrich her life.<br />
Osman feels as if she’s off<br />
to a good start in achieving<br />
these goals stating, “I’ve<br />
been really impressed with<br />
the Board of Nashville<br />
CARES. I’ve appreciated<br />
NASHVILLE<br />
CARES<br />
AIDS WALK<br />
Register for Nashville<br />
CARES AIDS walk on<br />
<strong>Oct</strong>ober 5. Visit<br />
nashvilleaidswalk.org<br />
the support they’ve given<br />
me and their desire to<br />
elevate the organization,<br />
thinking about the<br />
community as a whole and<br />
wanting to do the best for<br />
this community.”<br />
When asked how the<br />
LGBTQ community can<br />
be of support<br />
to her and<br />
Nashville<br />
CARES, she<br />
was again<br />
very clear: “I<br />
encourage you<br />
to continue<br />
to support<br />
CARES, not<br />
just financially, but with<br />
time, expertise, talent, and<br />
knowledge in a way that<br />
can support and advance<br />
the organization and even<br />
elevate it in the next year<br />
if we truly are going to<br />
eliminate HIV in Nashville.”<br />
She also encourages the<br />
community to provide<br />
ideas around ways to come<br />
together and tell our stories<br />
and reduce stigma as well<br />
as engage in advocacy.<br />
“We need voices heard<br />
at all levels and need the<br />
community to continue<br />
to provide feedback and<br />
recommendations for care<br />
to the LGBT+ community<br />
(both healthcare and<br />
mental health).”<br />
“I have felt so welcomed<br />
in the South, in Nashville,<br />
and at Nashville CARES,”<br />
said Osman. “Every<br />
stakeholder and ambassador<br />
that’s affiliated with this<br />
organization has been<br />
amazing and wonderful and<br />
dedicated to the mission and<br />
to the people we serve, and I<br />
just want to say thank you.”<br />
If you’d like to be a part of<br />
the “unbreakable bundle,”<br />
reach out today to Amna<br />
Osman by phone or email at<br />
615-921-0215 or aosman@<br />
nashvillecares.org.<br />
FREE<br />
BRAGGING<br />
RIGHTS<br />
Whoever said that you shouldn't brag<br />
about sex is lame. Get free condoms<br />
at one of our participating locations,<br />
then go out and #GetYaSumGood!<br />
Welcome<br />
Elizabeth Otter<br />
To Our Practice!<br />
615-904-2010<br />
aesthetics<br />
537 stonecrest pkwy. ste 200<br />
smyrna, tn 37167<br />
1608 williams dr. ste 200<br />
murfreesboro, tn 37129<br />
stonesriverdermatology.com<br />
Elizabeth Otter, PA-C
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