top of page

NJHPG's Award Recipients

NJHPG would like to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of the individuals below who are making a positive impact at NJHPG and throughout our communities in New Jersey. 

​

THANK YOU!

Saquan

Saquan Stevenson

2024 NJHPG Member of the Year

Born in Staten-Island, New York, Saquan Stevenson is a 34-year-old Nigerian African American male. At eight years old, Saquan moved to New Jersey with dreams of becoming a lawyer. From a young age, he was driven by a passion to fight against injustice, advocating for those who are underserved and marginalized. He attended Delaware State University in Dover, Delaware, where he majored in business management and minored in hospitality and tourism. After returning to New Jersey, Saquan began his career in the field of HIV/AIDS working for the Hyacinth AIDS Foundation. Saquan has served as the Co-Chair for Community Engagement for the New Jersey HIV Planning Group and was involved in the drafting of the Integrated HIV Prevention and Care Plan. In addition to his position as Director of Resident & Client Services at the Center in Asbury Park, Saquan is currently the Volunteer Chair & Interim Festival Producer for Newark Gay Pride.

Claudia Ortiz

2024 NJHPG Commitment to Advocacy 

During the early 1990s, I began my career in the field of HIV/AIDS through my work with the Northeast Hispanic AIDS Consortium (NeHAC) at PROCEED Inc. Since then, I have witnessed significant milestones in HIV care and support, including the establishment of the Ryan White Care Act in 1990, HOPWA in 1991, and the approval of protease inhibitors in 1995. Throughout these changes, I have remained committed to treating individuals with dignity and delivering dedicated service to the HIV community.

In 2021, I joined the NJ HIV Planning Group, where I actively participate as a member of the Priority Setting Committee. Additionally, I contribute as an active member of the Comprehensive Planning Committee of the Newark EMA Planning Council. I am a proud Salvadoran raised by extraordinary parents, with two wonderful siblings, I am married to a wonderful man and together we have one daughter, a son -in law and 4 grandchildren. 

claudia2.jpg
Jamir Tuten Headshot.jpg

Jamir Tuten

January 2025 Quarterly Spotlight Recipient

Jamir Tuten is the Program Manager of the CoOrdinated Outreach and Linkage Program at Rutgers, providing HIV testing throughout Newark NJ via the Rutgers IDP mobile unit. He also leads all Community Engagement activities across the department with the inclusion of Research with a Heart.

Jamir has been a valued member of the New Jersey HIV Planning Group since 2022 and has consistently gone above and beyond in his contributions to the Governance Committee. His remarkable skills in recruitment and his ability to create compelling marketing materials have significantly advanced our mission. Jamir's unwavering dedication has been instrumental to the progress of our work. 

bottom of page