Since Willie McGoogin was diagnosed with HIV in 1990, he’s been through a lot of ups and downs. Connecting with the ACE program at LSS (Advocacy, Care & Education) was a turning point for Willie. He calls LSS “a place of refuge.” On a recent Tuesday afternoon, Willie stood in the office of ACE Medical Case Management Supervisor Amy Thompson, his first case manager at LSS. They’ve been reminiscing. (L-R) Chris Schaefer, Amy Thompson, and Willie McGoogin “Amy was a champion for

Reggie Taylor Meet Reggie Taylor, our mental health therapist in the ACE program at Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida (LSS). He provides counseling to ACE program clients living with HIV. With a background in banking and mortgages, Reggie pursued a master’s degree during the pandemic to fulfill his goal of becoming a therapist. Today, he continues supporting clients at LSS through compassionate mental health counseling and care. Through the ACE program at LSS, Reg

Determined to create a better future, Ashanti’s first step was searching for healthcare training and job opportunities in her area. This broad search led her to Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida’s Financial Opportunity Center® (FOC) – Steps 2 Success Program. Steps 2 Success gave her access to the critical guidance and resources she needed to pursue her dreams. She enrolled in August 2024, focused on taking control of her life. With support from her Workforce Deve