Uncrowned Community Builders

Michelle A. (McKnight) Boyd was born September 12, 1942 in Buffalo, New York; twelve siblings (seven sisters and five bothers. She is married to Rev. Arthur H. Boyd, President/CEO of GROUP Ministries, Inc. and Pastor of Second Chance Ministries in Buffalo, NY. Together they share six daughters, fifteen grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Boyd attended grammar school in Buffalo Catholic and Public school. She is a graduate of Fosdick Masten High School and received a degree in Cosmetology. Michelle continued her education at Brandford Business School receiving a certificate in Business Management.

In 1989, Michelle and her husband started their clothing store business ââ?¬Å?The Price is Rightââ?¬ on the east side of Buffalo, NY. With her business certification Michelle was able to keep the company books, attend buying shows, and purchase merchandise for their store. While handling the business she was also able to instill a sense of pride to her children demonstrating the outcome of commitment and hard work.

In 1991 the store became what is now known as ââ?¬Å?GROUP Ministries, Inc.ââ?¬ (God Recognizes Our Ultimate Potential), where Michelle is a founding member and in 1992 GROUP received their first of many funding from the Department of Health AIDS Institute. The funding GROUP Ministries received was earmarked to target the HIV/AIDS community and Michelle would become one of three outreach educators. Her outreach was in areas that were primarily untapped by other agencies, especially in the penal system. In 1995, Michelle was the first to bring HIV/AIDS education inside the walls of the Alden Correctional Facility and the Erie County Holding Center. As the ministry grew so grew Michelleââ?¬â?¢s responsibilities. She trained some of those same ââ?¬Å?folksââ?¬ that she helped lead from untapped areas, drug houses, and trade workers strips, to become out reach educators. This turn of events enables her to target yet again another untapped area in the community, the Elected Officials, and communities of faith on the myths and truths of HIV/AIDS, thru forming ALC (AIDS Leadership Coalition).

Michelle has been honored with several awards over the years including the World AIDS Day Award in 1999 ââ?¬Å?Breaking the Silence of Anemia ââ?¬Å? ; and the AIDS Network of Western New York ââ?¬Å?Red Ribbon Community Day Awardââ?¬ in 2006 where she served as a member on Board of Directors. In 1995, Michelle again volunteered her expertise to help form ââ?¬Å?50 Women With A Visionââ?¬ where she currently serves as Vice President. She is instrumental in forming the Jefferson Avenue Renaissance Arts Festival, and states that she will remain diligent to the cause and mission of 50 Women.

For the past six years Michelle has held the position of Vice President of GROUP Ministries, Inc. and Director of HIV/AIDS Service. She has oversight of five contracts funded through the AIDS Institute and supervises a staff of fifteen men and women. Mrs. Boyd has stated that her proudest accomplishment is the way she has been able to facilitate the development of, and pave the way for, the delivery of prevention education and services to the faith community. Thru her leadership ââ?¬Å?Breakthrough Sundayââ?¬ ensures that Pastors, Imams, and Priests are conveyors and generators of HIV prevention messages and educations to their congregations about HIV/AIDS. Churches are now recognizing HIV/AIDS as a societal, rather than moral issue and realize we must teach harm reduction as well as abstinence.

Spirituality, faith and trusting the Word of God led Michelle and her husband to start a community church called ââ?¬Å?Second Chance Ministriesââ?¬ where she not only holds the title of First Lady, but she is the Director of the womenââ?¬â?¢s ministry. Michelle continues her community service in the church through their HIV/AIDS Community Health Ministry. She was instrumental in the churches participation in the Balm In Gileadââ?¬â?¢s ââ?¬Å?Black Church Week of Prayerââ?¬.

Michelle A. Boydââ?¬â?¢s continuous promulgation of prevention messages, distribution of information, providing access to treatment education and care and encouraging individuals to take the HIV test make her a perfect candidate as an ââ?¬Å?Uncrowned Queenââ?¬.