Arkansas RAPPS Featured in National Storytelling Project “Be The People”

Earlier this year, Arkansas RAPPS had the opportunity to be featured on Be The People, a national storytelling platform that highlights everyday people creating change across their communities. The feature shared the story of how Arkansas RAPPS continues to build community-centered outreach outreach in Arkansas through connection and honest conversation.

The story, titled "Outreach Through Literature," focused on the work I have been involved in through Arkansas RAPPS and the ways our organization has expanded beyond traditional public health outreach.

At Arkansas RAPPS, we often say that people come to us for one thing, but many times they are carrying so much more. Someone may walk through our doors looking for an HIV screening, but also need help finding housing, replacing and ID, accessing food, or simply finding someone who will listen without judgement. That reality has shaped the way we approach our work. We believe public health starts with meeting people where they are.

Signage of the Living Room Wellness Resource Center, supported by the STRILITE Foundation and Arkansas RAPPS, serving the community in southwest Little Rock, AR.

One part of the feature highlighted our community book club initiative. The idea was spurred by the recognition of how deeply literacy and access to information affect health outcomes and opportunities. The book club created space for people to gather and discuss topics related to identity, stigma, sexuality, inequality, and survival. What started as a small idea quickly became another doorway into community engagement.

The feature also spoke to the importance of representation. As a Black, Queer person working in public health in Arkansas, I shared how personal experiences shaped my commitment to helping people who are often ignored or underserved. The work Arkansas RAPPS does is rooted in lived experience, and that perspective continues to guide how we serve our communities.

National recognition matters because stories from Arkansas are often overlooked. Too often, narratives about the South focus only on barriers and challenges. While those challenges exist, there are also people here building solutions every day. There are organizers, peer workers, advocates, educators, and community members creating spaces of care and support across this state. And I am honored to stand among them.

We are grateful to Be The People for highlighting this work and for creating a platform centered on community action and storytelling. Much thanks to Jennifer Gibson for filming this feature. We also want to thank every person who has supported Arkansas RAPPS, attended an event, participated in a program, volunteered, donated, or trusted us with their story.

You can read the full feature here:

Outreach Through Literature - Rahem White for Be The People