A 45-Year Legacy of Courage
The launch carries profound historical weight. June 5, 2026, marks exactly 45 years since the CDC reported the first cases of what would become known as HIV/AIDS. Across more than four decades of grief, activism, and medical advancement, many of the women who literally carried communities through the darkest days of the epidemic have remained largely absent from the mainstream historical record.
The Women Who Stayed is a weekly, multi-episode podcast dedicated to changing that narrative. Through deeply personal, in-depth interviews, the project preserves the untold stories of the caregivers, activists, nurses, partners, and friends whose relentless compassion and advocacy shaped countless lives when the world turned away.
Roots of Activism and Care
Hosting this launch at the Boston Living Center—a program of Victory Programs—was a beautiful reflection of our agency’s deep, generational roots in HIV/AIDS care. For decades, Victory Programs and the BLC have been at the front lines, providing dignified, welcoming spaces, essential resources, and community for individuals living with HIV.
The launch event served as a poignant reminder that the radical hospitality we practice today was built on the shoulders of the exact women featured in this podcast.
Listen and Subscribe Today
The podcast is officially streaming, with new episodes releasing regularly. In the premiere episode, Sally Deane, the first Director of Fenway Community Health Center, reflects beautifully on the early, terrifying years of the epidemic, the immense hurdles facing healthcare providers, and the extraordinary women who stepped forward to lead during a time of global crisis.
We invite our entire Victory Programs family to listen, reflect, and help us preserve these essential pieces of Boston history.
The Women Who Stayed is available now on Spotify or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.