Aisha Diori (born 8 September in

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

, West Africa) is an Events Director, Community Mobiliser,

HIV/AIDS Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual ...

Preventionist, educator, Talk Show Host, Event MC, Pan-Africanist, and has been named "Iconic Mother" in

Ball culture The Ballroom Scene (also known as the Ballroom community, Ballroom culture, or just Ballroom) is an African-American and Latino underground LGBTQ+ subculture that originated in New York City. Beginning in the late 20th century, Black and Latin ...

.Ryan Joseph Photography
House and Ballroom Culture Photography.
/ref>Marlon Bailey, ''Constructing home and family: How the Ballroom community supports African American GLBTQ youth in the face of HIV/AIDS.'' Special Issue on LGBTQ people of color. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services, 21, 171–188. Her father is Abdoulaye Hamani Diori, a Nigerien political leader and business person, and her mother is Betty Graves, the first Ghanaian / Nigerian woman to own a travel agency in Nigeria. Diori holds a Bachelor of Arts in advertising and marketing communications from

Fashion Institute of Technology The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) is a public college in New York City. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) and focuses on art, business, design, mass communication, and technology connected to the fashion industry. ...

where she graduated

magna cum laude Latin honors are a system of Latin phrases used in some colleges and universities to indicate the level of distinction with which an academic degree has been earned. The system is primarily used in the United States. It is also used in some Sou ...

. Diori's HIV prevention work with

LGBTQ ' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity. The LGBT term is ...

youth in

, an LGBT subculture, has been influential in the field of public health.The Institute For Gay Men's Health, AIDS Project of Los Angeles (APLA) and Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC)
"What's Safe to you?" Safer Sex can mean different things to people.
She is the founder of the KiKi Ballroom scene See NYC's Ballroom Culture's History. and is considered an expert in engaging this historically difficult-to-reach population.Suze Myers
"Let's Have a Kiki: Drag Balls Still Thrive in Manhattan."
, ''the eye: the magazine of the columbia daily spectator,'' 2012.Marcus Brock of

GLAAD GLAAD (), an acronym of Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, is an American non-governmental media monitoring organization originally founded as a protest against defamatory coverage of gay and lesbian demographics and their portrayal ...

'' 'House-Mothers': Motherhood Redefined for LGBT Youth.''
Ebony.com, 11 May 2012.Ana Oliveira
GMHC 2004 Annual Report
Edgar Rivera Colón
''Getting life in two worlds: power and prevention in the New York City House Ball community.''

Rutgers University Rutgers University (; RU), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a public land-grant research university consisting of four campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's College, and was ...

, Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2009. Her expertise is requested for grants and program development,

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the national public health agency of the United States. It is a United States federal agency, under the Department of Health and Human Services, and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georg ...

'
Popular Opinion Leader (POL) A Community AIDS/HIV Risk Reduction Program for Gay Men
mPowerment Project
HIV prevention program that is designed to address the needs of young gay and bisexual men. and research and curriculum development. Diori worked at the

Hetrick-Martin Institute The Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI) is a New York City-based non-profit organization devoted to serving the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ) youth between the ages of 13 and 24, and their families. It was founde ...

as a Director of Health and Wellness,Hetrick-Martin Institute Staff, Aisha Diori.
and is the Mother of the House of Iman, a WBT (women, butch and

transgender A transgender (often abbreviated as trans) person is someone whose gender identity or gender expression does not correspond with their sex assigned at birth. Many transgender people experience dysphoria, which they seek to alleviate through ...

) people house in New York City.House of Iman past events.
/ref> In February 2014, Diori joined the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in

Harlem Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is bounded roughly by the Hudson River on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street on the north; Fifth Avenue on the east; and Central Park North on the south. The greater Ha ...

as Special Events Manager, and continues her involvement with LGBTQ people in the House ball community. In Aug 2018, Diori joined the MINA TV AFRICA in

NYC New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

as a host for their Award Winning ABS Show covering trending news in Africa and the World.

Early life

Aisha Dori was born in Nigeria to her father and Betty Graves whilst her father was in exile.Chronology for Tuareg in Niger.
Minorities at Risk Project, UNHCR Refworld, 2004. She has a brother named Chris, who was also born in Nigeria. Diori was an

AmeriCorps VISTA AmeriCorps VISTA is a national service program designed to alleviate poverty. President John F. Kennedy originated the idea for VISTA, which was founded as Volunteers in Service to America in 1965, and incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of ...

volunteer through the

Council of Churches of the City of New York The Council of Churches of the City of New York (CCCNY) was established in 1815 as the Brooklyn Church and Mission Society. It is the oldest ecumenical council of churches in the United States.gender nonconformity Gender variance or gender nonconformity is behavior or gender expression by an individual that does not match masculine or feminine gender norms. A gender-nonconforming person may be variant in their gender identity, being transgender or non-bina ...

and queer pageantry. The Ball was not simply a gay dance party; according to her blogAisha Diori, Blogspot.
/ref> "It was full of

safer sex In cryptography, SAFER (Secure And Fast Encryption Routine) is the name of a family of block ciphers designed primarily by James Massey (one of the designers of IDEA) on behalf of Cylink Corporation. The early SAFER K and SAFER SK designs share t ...

messaging, freedom, pageantry sexiness, beautiful feminine women, strong handsome butch women…"Aisha Diori, on

Biography.
April 2012. Diori approached Arbert Santana,HIV/AIDS Activist Arbert Santana Dies
/ref>The Commission's and the community's tireless LGBT advocate Arbert Santana dies
/ref> who was then the MotherPodhurst, L.; Credle J. (2007-06-10, page 13; Intl. Conference on AIDS. 1998; 12: 913 (abstract no. 43338). NJAETC at UMDNJ, Newark 07107-3000, USA.)

U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 20 October 2007. of the House of Latex and an

LGBT ' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity. The LGBT term ...

and HIV awareness activist. Diori connected with fellow

classmate Ricky Revlon.Monica Roberts
''NY Ballroom Hall Of Fame Awards.''
TransGriot, Feb. 2012. Revlon, who later became Diori's "gay father", See Ball Culture's ''Houses'' section for more info on "gay fathers" and "gay mothers." along with Santana who later became Diori's "gay mother", helped her into the House of Latex,See History of Ball Culture NYC for more info on House of Latex.Eileen McDermott
''Thousands Flock to House of Latex: GMHC’s outreach to gay youth of color hosts its annual spectacular.
4–10 December 2003. changing her commitment to the LGBTQ community. Diori began working as an outreach worker at the

Gay Men's Health Crisis The GMHC (formerly Gay Men's Health Crisis) is a New York City–based non-profit, volunteer-supported and community-based AIDS service organization whose mission statement is to "end the AIDS epidemic and uplift the lives of all affected." His ...

(GMHC), hosting HIV prevention balls to curtail the number of newly HIV infected youth. Diori began participating in "walking" balls. Under the guidance of her gay parents, Diori was advised to walk in the ''Women's Face'' and ''Big Girls Runway'' categories See ''Some Categories and their descriptions'' for more info on Ball Categories. for her first ball, The Black Pride Ball.NYC Black Pride
Diori won the top prize in both categories. Her interests in the ballroom culture shifted from being a participant to being a community organiser and intervention specialist. Diori received the title of "house-mother" from The House of Latex, due to her commitment to ballroom culture, a title she held for nearly five years. In late 2007, Diori opened the House of Iman, pairing

and prevention messages that specifically targeted the Women, Butch and Transgender (WBT)See WBT Ballroom Coalition
Roxi

GettingYourLife.Blogspot.com – a blog educating, uplifting and empowering the Women, Butch and Transmen Ballroom scene. ballroom scene. Aisha infused progressive safer sex and educational messaging with pageantry. The House of Iman, a name that pays homage to Diori's

Nigerian Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jour ...

heritage, continues to be a source of leadership in the WBT community. Acknowledging that youth were not best served in the mainstream ballroom scene, Diori and Santana created the ''KiKiscene

a ballroom-infused HIV prevention intervention and movement focusing on LGBTQ youth ages 12 to 24, where the young people Vogue (dance), vogue, hang out with friends and get connected to HIV testing, counseling and healthcare services.Aisha on Kiki Lounge & Kiki scene.
/ref> In February 2014, Diori began working for the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in

as Special Events Manager. Diori has secured successful rentals, created robust public programs, created grassroot fundraising and events for the Schomburg. She curates and manages the Schomburg First Fridays event series. Aisha also has an entertainment spin to her existing experience in events. She is a comedian and event MC for many events within the Black Diaspora such as (Miss Nigeria USA pageant, Nigeria Ent Awards, African Diaspora Awards, Afropolitan NYC, Africa Restaurant Week, Schomburg Center Comic Book Festival Cosplay, BAM Black Comix Festival, MASCARA Trans Day Of Remembrance Conference, First Fridays at the Schomburg, One Africa Music Week NYC, Afro beats To The World at PlayStation Theater 2019, NYC Black Pride NYC to name a few). She has also created a fun comedic character named “Ms. Ayodele”, who is a no holds barred sassy Nigerian Mother/Aunty who gives unsolicited advice on YouTube. You can also catch her on The Abs Show on Mina TV Africa where she and her co-hosts bring you up to speed on popular culture topics in Africa. Aisha also has an entertainment spin to her existing experience in events. She is a comedian and event MC for many events within the Black Diaspora such as (Miss Nigeria USA pageant, Nigeria Ent Awards, African Diaspora Awards, Afropolitan NYC, Africa Restaurant Week, Schomburg Center Comic Book Festival Cosplay, BAM Black Comix Festival, MASCARA Trans Day Of Remembrance Conference, First Fridays at the Schomburg, One Africa Music Week NYC, Afro beats To The World at PlayStation Theater 2019, NYC Black Pride NYC to name a few). She has also created a fun comedic character named “Ms. Ayodele”, who is a no holds barred sassy Nigerian Mother/Aunty who gives unsolicited advice on YouTube. You can also catch heron The Abs Show on Mina TV Africa where she and her co-hosts bring you up to speed on popular culture topics in Africa. Diori fostered the creation of a social conscious collective of creatives to create a Charity called Africa Everythin

It promotes an Annual Afro beats Diaspora event fundraiser, a collective formed to promote and empower the Black African Diaspora with music, culture, and unique event experiences. Funds raised are invested in helping foster educational programs and initiatives all over West Africa.

Professional memberships

*C2P: Connect to Protect, NYCConnect to Protect (C2P
/ref> Year-Current. *Research Committee for Edgar Rivera Colon's dissertation, ''Getting life in two worlds: power and prevention in the New York City House Ball community,'' 2009. *Marlon Bailey'sMarlon Bailey
/ref> interviews for his book, ''Butch/Queens Up in Pumps: Gender, Performance, and Ballroom Culture in Detroit,''Bailey, M. M. ''Butch/Queens Up in Pumps: Gender, Performance, and Ballroom Culture in Detroit.'' The University of Michigan Press. Manuscript in progress. 2012. *HIV Vaccine Trial Network, Community ConveningHIV Vaccine Trial Network
/ref> *National House & Ball Leadership Convening,REACH LA – First ever National House & Ball Leadership Convening 2011
/ref> a project of REACH L.A.Reach L.A.
/ref> 2011–Current. *(TEACH) 2003–2004.
an initiative of American Public Health Association. A partnership between a large and established community-based organization, and investigators from a school of public health resulted in the implementation of the TEACH Initiative which provided competency-based training to 31 interns from community-based organizations serving MSM of color. The program focused on equipping interns with the tools needed to translate their knowledge of their communities into innovative, evaluation-ready, behavioral science-based HIV prevention interventions. Those who successfully completed all six tracks of study were certified as Community Health Specialist (CHS). *Diori developed a governing body, made up of community organisations, parents, leaders and stakeholders in the KiKi ballroom scene, called ''The KiKi Coalition.'' It continues to meet monthly in NYC to discuss and tackle trending topics, strategies and updates on best practices for HIV/STI prevention and treatment in the KiKi community. Year-Current. *New York City and New Jersey Council of Houses board member. *Advisor for "Newark is Burning"

New Jersey Performing Arts Center The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), in downtown Newark, New Jersey, United States, is one of the largest performing arts centers in the United States. Home to the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO), more than nine million visitors ( ...

, theatrical performance about

.''Newark is Burning.''
2011. *Evaluation development of House of Latex Ball and House of Latex Project Surveys.House of Latex Survey Results
/ref> Created the framework for evaluating interventions. * National Minority AIDS Council's United States Conference on AIDS, New Orleans, LA. "Effective Youth and Young Adult Prevention Leadership Programming in the Kiki House Ball Scene," 2013.Diori, Aisha and Cardwell, Erica. "Effective Youth and Young Adult Prevention Leadership Programming in the Kiki House Ball Scene.
US Conference on AIDS 2013.

Honors and awards

*AAOGC Marsha P. Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award For Community Leadership 2018 *House of Latex Ball's Ross Infinite Creativity Award, 2013.The 2013 Latex Bal

. *The NY State Department of Health's AIDS Institute's ''World AIDS Day 2012 Commissioner's Award'' for her HIV prevention intervention Stars of CHANGE for Kiki Ballroom House scene youth through

. *NYC

Heritage of Pride Heritage of Pride (HOP), doing business as NYC Pride, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that plans and produces the official New York City LGBTQIA+ Pride Week events each June. HOP began working on the events in 1984, taking on the work previ ...

for Most Outstanding Message and Contingent, Hetrick-Martin Institute, 2012. *NYC

for Best Political Message, Hetrick-Martin Institute, 2011. *NYC Black Pride Heritage Award for Community Leadership, 2011. *Project HEAT Kiki Ballroom Scene Community Mobilization Award, 2011. *Hetrick-Martin Institute's Damien Staff Award, 2009. *NYC Latex Ball's Legendary Women's Face, 2008 ( Ballroom culture, honour, designation). *Philadelphia Dorian Corey's Women's Face of the Year, 2007 ( Ballroom culture honour). *NYC Awards Ball's Women's Face of the Year, Mother of the Year, and Woman of the Year, 2005, 2006, 2007 ( Ballroom culture honours). *Pride in the city's Community Mobilization Award, 2005.NYC Black Prid

*Women Face of the Year, Woman of the Year, 2004 ( Ballroom culture honour). *House of Blahnik's Humanitarian of the Year Award, 2004.House of Blahni

*New York City Department of Health TEACH Award for Highest Honors in the HIV/AIDS Social Marketing Track, 2003. * GMHC Soul Food Program Award for Effective Intervention for MSM of Color, 2000. *The

Izod The Izod Corporation (officially stylized as IZOD) is an American midrange clothing company that produces dressy-casual clothing, sportswear for men, and footwear and accessories. It is a division of Authentic Brands Group, and is currently m ...

Company Award for Outstanding Event Planning Concept, competition through

, 1999. *Advertising Women of New YorkAdvertising Women of New York
/ref> Award for Outstanding Scholastic Work in Advertising, 1998 and 1999.

Promotions, communications and event planning

DioriHeritage of Pride Award, "Best Political Statement," NYC Pride 2011. has run social awareness campaigns at

and GMHC including the ''You Are Loved'' campaignYou Are Loved: Pride 2011
/ref>
, as seen in

Erasure Erasure () is an English synth-pop duo formed in London in 1985, consisting of lead vocalist and songwriter Andy Bell with songwriter, producer and keyboardist Vince Clarke, previously known as co-founder of the band Depeche Mode and a membe ...

's video "Give a Little Respect (HMI Redux)" and the ''No Shade'' campaign, highlighting the importance of self-love and self-efficacy among LGBTQ youth. She also created

Crystal Meth Methamphetamine (contracted from ) is a potent central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is mainly used as a recreational drug and less commonly as a second-line treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obesity. Methamphe ...

Campaigns,Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC)'
''How Obvious'' Crystal Meth Campaign.
Soul Food Programs campaign,Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC)'
Nutrition Programming
Transgender Health and Condom Kit campaigns targeted at LGBTQ communities, and promotional materials for outreach and program advertising through GMHC. Diori created advertising materials and event planning for Department of Health, Public Health Solutions.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Diori, Aisha HIV/AIDS in Nigeria Nigerian women activists Living people Nigerian people of Nigerien descent Nigerian expatriates in the United States Fashion Institute of Technology alumni Year of birth missing (living people)