(Photo by Rashad Milligan for rolling out)
Dwain Bridges and Larry Walker have made it their mission to provide a safe space for those in need.
The two men are co-founders of Thrive SS, an organization based in East Point, a suburb of Atlanta, which provides HIV-positive Black men with support and assistance.
In October, rapper Lil Nas X visited Thrive SS while he was in his hometown of Atlanta. Rolling out talked to Bridges and Walker about the visit and their mission.
Lil Nas X stopped by your organization to spread awareness about HIV. How was that entire experience? What were some of the things he said?
Dwain Bridges: It was so transformational. Honestly, he was so authentic. I’ll say that. I felt like we were just hanging with a friend, honestly. He walked around our entire space and stated the energy in here was really positive. He wanted to come back. That was very motivational.
Larry Walker: It felt good to have somebody who’s representing our community to come into our community space, and hear our stories [and] really humanize us. He added us to his [HIV awareness fundraiser] earlier this month. To see that person who would do that thing and it to be in our space? It was really surreal.
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