Demi Jo Carr blends their sagacious personality and genuineness to help people and organizations navigate complex social issues by centering compassionate understandings of lived experiences.

From Milwaukee’s Lincoln Creek neighborhood to Beijing’s bustling streets, my journey has always been rooted in community, justice, and healing. As a Black transwoman and public health consultant, my work is deeply personal. I’ve walked through systems that weren’t built for people like me—navigating queerphobia, systemic oppression, violence, and the stigmas surrounding HIV. These experiences have shaped my mission: To dismantle barriers and uplift the voices of those too often silenced.

My academic groundings—from cultural anthropology to sustainable peacebuilding—taught me that real change begins with listening. Whether in Ferguson during the civil unrest or working with Wisconsin county health departments during the Covid-19 pandemic, I’ve learned that health equity is not just a goal, it’s a necessity. I’ve developed frameworks to address social determinants of health, led youth workshops, and served as reviewers for academic research studies and economic development grants. My passion includes collaborating with organizations to reduce reincarceration, policy, education, and most recently as a board member of a multi-state tobacco cessation project. I see my involvement in each initiative as a thread in a larger tapestry of justice and care.

As the co-chair-elect of the Statewide Action Planning Group (SAPG) on HIV Treatment and Prevention, I bring not only my expertise but my lived truth. I believe in the power of co-learning, in aligning our efforts around shared goals, and in creating spaces where every voice matters. My commitment is to foster honest dialogue, center community knowledge alongside science, and build bridges across our diverse experiences.

I do this work not for recognition, but because I believe in a future where health systems honor our humanity. Where Black, queer, and trans lives are not just seen—but celebrated. My goal is simple: To leave every space more inclusive, more compassionate, and more just than I found it.

Pride in Color 2025

The Community Builder: Micah Ogé leads the efforts to build sustainability and inclusion across industries and through charity work.

The Facilitator: Demi Jo Carr works to center health equity as a platform to spread justice, care, and compassion to those in need.

The Activist: SkyGia Garcia lives her advocacy and is helping address youth housing insecurity through the Everstrong Program.

The Educator: Dr. Mark Long transforms the lived experiences of his social work into uplifting and empowering lessons for his students and mentees.

The Strategist: Solana Patterson-Ramos gives voice to the voiceless and creates change through nonprofit, charity, education, and advocacy work.