The Women Who Stayed

As the AIDS epidemic unfolded, the AIDS Action Committee grew from a small grassroots organization into one of the nation's leading AIDS service organizations. While Larry Kessler became the public face and visionary of the organization, Cheryl Schaffer was building it from the inside—creating the infrastructure, supporting its staff, and leading with compassion and unwavering commitment.

A friend's AIDS diagnosis changed the course of Melba Martinez's life. In this episode, she shares how that personal experience inspired education, service and advocacy for Boston's Latino community during the AIDS epidemic.

Today we are talking to Linette Liebling. Linette was born in Brooklyn, New York and has always had a deep passion for social justice and a commitment to work for a better world. Linette began working in Public Health in the early days of the AIDS crisis starting in 1984 when she first joined the AIDS Action Committee - one of the organization's first four employees. She then served as the AIDS Coordinator for the City of Boston under Mayor Ray Flynn.Here’s Linette’s story.

In the early 80’s, the City of Boston had one of the first - if not the first - AIDS Coordinators in the country. And that is only one of the roles Annie Silvia held. This is her story.

Today, on the 45th anniversary of the first reported AIDS cases, we launch The Women Who Stayed featuring Sally Deane, the first Director of Fenway Community Health Center.In this opening conversation, Sally reflects on the early years of the AIDS epidemic in Boston, the challenges facing healthcare providers and patients, and the extraordinary women who stepped forward as caregivers, advocates, and community leaders during a time of crisis.

The Women Who Stayed is a multi-episode podcast focused on documenting the untold stories of women in Boston during the AIDS epidemic—caregivers, activists, nurses, partners, and friends whose contributions were essential, yet are often missing from the historical narrative. Through in-depth interviews, the podcast preserves these voices and offers a more complete understanding of that moment in history and its lasting impact.