Community Team
Brian Ragas is an accomplished administrator with over 10 years of experience in civil society organizations. He has a strong management background and a record of improving organizational efficiency through strategic communication. Brian excels at building relationships with major donors, funders, clients, and other stakeholders. His educational background includes studies at San Francisco State University, Stellenbosch University, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He is responsible for developing and implementing programming, staffing, training, protocols, and marketing materials. He also manages relationships with subcontracting agencies, oversees data reporting systems, and addresses emerging programmatic issues. In a previous role, he created a media campaign in the Philippines and coordinated an international network of organizations to support policy reform.
Ebony Gordon is the program coordinator of SFAF aging services and a new member of the San Francisco Bay Area community. She has over seven years of experience in the HIV field in the South, working in a variety of roles, including prevention, education, case management, direct support services, and volunteer positions. Ebony wants to become a licensed counselor in the future. In her free time, she enjoys listening to true crime podcasts, doing her makeup, and drinking extra sweet vanilla lattes in small cafes.
Richard Strange grew up in London and graduated from King's College, Cambridge, in 1963 with a degree in Physiology and Chemistry. He spent five years in Ghana as a schoolteacher with Voluntary Service Overseas before returning to London for a decade of professional work. In 1978, he moved to the United States to work in IT for the US Environmental Protection Agency and later joined the World Bank’s IT staff in Washington, DC, where he worked until 2012. Since the mid-1990s, Richard has participated in numerous NIH studies, including multiple phase-1 drug and vaccine trials, as well as serving as a tissue donor. He has also been a member of community advisory boards for several NIH-funded studies since 2010, including the DC Cohort, the BELIEVE study, and REACH.
Thomas J. Villa is an accomplished leader and business executive with thirty years of experience building and leading teams and businesses, primarily in healthcare services. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in International Relations from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, with graduate studies in Health Systems Management (University of Baltimore) and Leadership (Walden University). A decorated veteran of the U.S. Army, Tom has also contributed his expertise through service on advisory boards for clinical research programs and through participation in multiple clinical trials. He is an avid reader, a practicing writer, and a longtime resident of the Washington metropolitan area, where he enjoys its cultural offerings and spending time with friends and family, including his four grown children.
Francisco Felix has a background in social services and extensive experience in HIV and STI prevention and treatment. He is skilled in both traditional and innovative approaches and is dedicated to fostering dialogue and collaboration among peers.
Carlota was born in Caxambu, Minas Gerais, Brazil. They are a sociologist and serve as an educator in the Community Education Program at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of São Paulo.
Rhavi Ravenna was born in Tocantins, Northern Brazil. He holds a degree in Engineering from PUC-SP and serves as the Coordinator of the Community Education Program at the Clinical Research Center of the Faculty of Medicine at USP. He also acts as an Advisor to the Municipal Secretariat for Social Assistance and Development in São Paulo.
On his 27th birthday, Raif Derazzi (he/him)’s greatest fear came to life when he was diagnosed with AIDS. He was determined to change and regain control of his life. Seven years later, Raif is now a pro natural competitive physique bodybuilder. In response to the scarcity of ‘positive’ role models in the HIV community, he now talks about living with HIV on social media in hopes of providing guidance and inspiration to others. As the host of a fitness segment on cable TV show ’Plus Life’ a growing YouTube subscribership and following on Instagram, X & Facebook, he shares his life and his journey living with HIV, embracing a fitness lifestyle, personal-growth and inspiration!
