Kendel Smith
Artistic director, activist, and long-term HIV survivor Kendel Smith carries the memories of a generation devastated by the AIDS epidemic. After moving to New York City, he met Stephen Ray Sansom in 1986, beginning a deeply devoted partnership during the height of the crisis. As Stephen became ill, Kendel cared for him and later contracted HIV through an accidental needle injury while administering his partner’s medication. Stephen died in Kendel’s arms in 1992, one of hundreds of friends and community members he remembers losing during those years. Having survived when so many did not, Kendel has made remembrance an important part of his life, honoring those who came before while encouraging younger generations to understand the courage, sacrifice, and history they inherited.