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The oldest of six children, Maria
always yearned for success. Growing up in the
South Bronx, Mott Haven Projects, the foundation
was laid to achieve her dreams. Maria Davis’
persistence, warmth, out-going and humorous personality
attracted the people who gave her a shot at her
dreams. She began her professional modeling career
at the uncommon age of twenty-one in the early
eighties--when black faces were rarely seen in
magazines. But it was Maria’s true love
of Black music that led her to her professional
calling. She abandoned her successful modeling
career to pursue a profession in the entertainment
industry. Maria knew talent when she saw it and
with the help of mentors became known as one of
New York’s premiere promoters. With support
from various record labels who provided her with
new artists and her background in cinematography,
she produced, directed and promoted her newly
created music showcases M.A.D. Wednesday’s.
The legendary M.A.D. Wednesday’s music showcases
provided venues for signed and unsigned R&B
and hip-hop artists and comedians who had no other
performance options. Maria created an outlet for
young people to express themselves artistically
when community programs were being cut and young
people had no where else to go to hone their skills.
In 1995 Maria’s life took a turn, she contracted
the HIV virus unknowingly from her soon-to-be-husband.
While in the hospital near death her spiritual
calling was revealed to her. Maria knew that she
had to devote her life to educating women, men
and children about AIDS. For the first time Maria
bore her soul about her personal crisis with AIDS
in the book Souls of My Sisters.
Maria does not consider herself a victim, but
an activist who speaks to thousands of people
every year about HIV/AIDS awareness. She puts
her convictions and her passion for life into
action. She has participated every year, for the
last seven years, in the rigorous 350 mile Boston
to New York AIDS bicycle ride raising tens of
thousands of dollars for AIDS research. Maria
also raises funds for AIDS research by participating
in the GMHC’s AIDS Walk New York. In addition
to raising money for several AIDS organizations,
Maria believes that volunteering her time in her
own community is vital to communicating the message
of AIDS awareness to people of color. Maria donates
her time at several Manhattan and especially Harlem
based organizations such as Terrance Cardinal
Cooke Nursing Home’s AIDS ward, North General
Hospital, Iris House, Project Return, the Minority
Task Force on AIDS, Boys Harbor and Rivington
House. Maria regularly speaks to educators, health
care providers, ministers and social workers regarding
HIV/AIDS awareness and sensitivity including being
the key note speaker for the National Black Leadership
Commission on AIDS. In addition she has spoken
to several groups including the New York City
Health Department, the College of New Rochelle
at the Theological Seminary, Essex County College
and New York University to name a few. Maria maintains
that being grateful and giving to others is the
only true way to fight HIV/AIDS and that is why
she is not afraid to be the media spokesperson
for several organizations such as Life Beat: The
Music Industry Fights AIDS, BET Rap it Up Community
Service outreach and a national spokesperson for
World AIDS Day. Maria has appeared on numerous
urban radio and television shows to get the message
out to young people such as MTV, New York’s
WBLS-FM, WKRS-FM, WLIB-FM, UPN 9 News, BET’s
Teen Summit, 106th and Park and a day in the life
of Maria Davis on BET’s “The Naked
Truth 2.”
Maria has also been honored with numerous awards
for her many contributions she has made to the
AIDS community such as the 2002 New York Urban
League Building Brick Award, the 2002 Women in
Hip-Hop Award and 2002 Life Beat/Urban AID II
Spirit Award, 2003 CBS Channel 2 Fulfilling the
Dream Award, 2004 National Black Commission on
AIDS Choose Life Award to name a few.
Maria has turned great personal adversity into
an opportunity to teach and to share an important
message with the world. She challenges everyone
she meets to do the same.
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