Questions and allegations after the expulsion of the CEO of the Black AIDS Institute

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The national nonprofit Black AIDS Institute has been called in for the abrupt departure of its former CEO, Raniyah Copeland, after less than a year in the post.

The Los Angeles-based organization focuses on HIV education, prevention and treatment among African Americans, a group disproportionately affected by HIV.

In a letter to stakeholders and the Institute community on August 20, BAI Board Chairman Grazell Howard wrote that Raniyah Copeland is no longer our CEO. There appears to be no current or interim CEO of the organization.

HIV advocates, including several current and former members of BAI’s board of directors and former CEO Phill Wilson, responded by creating a petition on Change.org last week. They condemned Copeland’s dismissal and demanded the resignation of BAI’s current board of directors.

For 22 years, the Black AIDS Institute has remained committed to ending the HIV epidemic in black communities, along with black communities. Synchronized with remarkable scientific advancements, we have developed life-saving programs, trained leaders, mobilized and educated communities, and partnered with governments, the text from Change.org reads.

The petition implied that accusations of harassment, possibly by Copeland against a member of BAI’s board of directors, had led to his departure.

Today, the current board members are out of touch with the HIV community. The cumulative effect of their failing governance, the refusal to ensure that the composition of the board represents the community it serves, and the reluctance to support next generation leadership or address their harassment complaints which do not match the values ​​of the organization – all undermine the evolution of BAI, it continued.

In a separate letter online, HIV advocates expressed support for the ousted Copeland.

She has always, and rightly, demanded that the needs and leadership of black communities bearing the brunt of the HIV epidemic be focused on the national response, the letter says.

The story continues

The letter expressed concerns about the handling of his dismissal and questioned the underlying reasons.

Copeland was recently appointed to the Presidents’ Advisory Council on HIV / AIDS.

The August 20 letter from board chairman Howard gives no reason for the firing of Copelands, only stating that yesterday the board voted to move forward with a reorganization of the Black leadership. AIDS Institute which has been under consideration since January of this year. In doing so, we are announcing that Raniyah Copeland is no longer our CEO.

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