Drppodcast

Marvell L. Terry II (he, him, his) is a powerhouse educator, grassroots activist, and cultural organizer from Memphis, Tennessee. HIV advocacy and cultural organizing are personal for him; It was the moment he received a positive diagnosis of HIV that jump-started his more than decade-long career that has had a local, state, and national impact.Marvell was passionate about improving the health outcomes of Black gay and queer men in Memphis, that’s why he started his advocacy work by co-leading an HIV ministry at Christ Missionary Baptist Church, being an HIV tester and EIS at Christ Community Health Services, and volunteering on community task forces. Not long after, he answered a higher call to leadership by founding his own organization: The Red Door Foundation (2010). Marvell was recognized as the only Black gay man living with HIV to found and lead an organization for HIV awareness and engagement at the time in Shelby County. Doubling down on his commitment to community, he started the Saving Ourselves Sy