APLA Health Mourns the Loss and Celebrates the Life of Jewel Thais-Williams

In response to the passing of Jewel Thais-Williams, APLA Health CEO Craig E. Thompson issued the following statement:

"APLA Health joins the many voices across Los Angeles and the nation in mourning the passing of Jewel Thais-Williams, a pioneering activist, entrepreneur, and longtime champion for racial justice, LGBTQ+ health, and HIV/AIDS care.

Jewel’s life was a testament to fearless advocacy and community love. As the founder of the legendary Catch One nightclub, she created a sanctuary for Black LGBTQ+ individuals at a time when safe spaces were few and far between. She extended that commitment to health and healing as the founder of the Village Health Foundation and through decades of work on behalf of communities too often overlooked by traditional healthcare systems.

Jewel also co-founded the Minority AIDS Project, the Imani Unidos Food Pantry and served on the Board of Directors of AIDS Project Los Angeles from 1990-1995, where her leadership helped shape the organization’s early response to the epidemic in communities of color. Her trailblazing spirit helped shape the work we do today, and her unwavering belief in the dignity of all people continues to guide us.

Her legacy lives on in the generations of activists, healers, and changemakers she inspired along with the countless lives she touched through her vision, resilience, and compassion.

We extend our deepest condolences to her family and the many communities she helped build and uplift.”