About the Author

Denise is currently serving as the United Nations Association HIV/AIDS Chairperson for Georgia & South Carolina. She is an author and motivational speaker who catapulted onto the national speaking circuit after delivering a stirring keynote address to a crowd of 20,000 at Dominique Wilkins' Slam Jamming Rap Spectacular in Atlanta. Firmly committed to her work with local grass roots organizations, Denise went on to become a powerful voice of her constituency in both the national then international fight. Denise Stokes served as an advisor to President Bill Clinton and as a member of President's HIV/AIDS Advisory Council, helped to officiate the Proclamation of World AIDS Day which is celebrated globally on December 1st. Denise has spoken at two Democratic National Conventions and was also in our nation's first HIV Public Service Announcement and is continues to inspire features in magazines like Glamour, Essence, and Heart & Soul. Denise is a spokesperson for BET's Rap-It-Up Campaign, was honored by the National Association of People with AIDS prestigious Life Award, and was named one of "25 Heroes in America's Fight against AIDS" by the Kaiser Foundation. With audiences that vary from the NFL and Prince's Paisley Park and from Boys and Girls Clubs and state and federal prisons Denise continues to inspire people. In 2012, Denise put the true gut-wrenching account of hurdles including rape, homelessness, and substance abuse into her long awaited autobiography, From the Crack House to the White House: Turning Obstacles into Opportunities. Now, with almost 30 year of respected service as an HIV/AIDS advocate, is not only one of the World's First Infected and Longest Living HIV/AIDS Survivors, but she continues to advocate courageously and is working on a movie version of her book. She also enjoys riding her motorcycle and continues to lend her particular brand of #BattleTested to the arena in the Global Fight against HIV/AIDS.