I am Rahem White, and I work at Arkansas RAPPS (Reach, Affirm, Positive, Progressive, Systems) where we provide sexual health information and services, such as HIV prevention, tests, and care.

With diverse outreach campaigns, we've become known simply as a place that helps people. I find myself coordinating with social workers and other organizations when people come in, hoping to get help with everything from food to housing. Many of our clients are unhoused, and people don't realize how difficult it is simply to get an ID card. After that, it can also be difficult to navigate the services available.

When I found out that we have a literacy crisis, I got an idea to start a book club. I wasn't sure if anyone would be interested, but the community spoke up and showed up. We are reading banned books that spark conversations about social situations where people might need help, including sexual health.

This new outreach campaign has brought in people who hadn't been here before, and we've been able to have the types of discussions where brilliant ideas are born.

As a Black, gay man living in Arkansas, I feel called to help the people who are overlooked or mistreated. I was working in a restaurant and lost my job during the pandemic. That was the perfect opportunity to find a career path that would fulfill my desire to help people. And here I am.