The Virgin Islands Department of Health collaborated with the Florida/Caribbean AIDS Education and Training Center (F/C AETC) to host two interactive sessions on the islands of St. Thomas (September 14) and St. Croix (September 16).

The sessions addressed cultural competency while allowing participants to explore the attitudes, beliefs and stigma associated with with working with hard-to-reach populations, such as sex workers (individuals that exchange sex for money), MSM (men who have sex with men) and transgendered individuals. Participants had the opportunity to hear from of panel of individuals who represented these populations.

Moderators represented the two collaborating agencies - Jason Henry, Territorial HIV Prevention Coordinator (US Virgin Islands Department of Health) and Debbie Cestaro-Seifer, Assistant Professor of Nursing (F/C AETC).