Arkansas RAPPS

02/23/2026

Virtual Town Hall meeting to discuss progress, challenges, and priorities for HIV Awareness.

02/22/2026

INCYMI... here's the voting listings for this season. Early Voting is already underway and Arkansas RAPPS highly encourages everyone to vote for the candidate of your choice! By all means VOTE!!

02/17/2026

It’s Tuesday and food is available.

Free Food Tuesday offers groceries for anyone who needs support this week.

Location: 8619 Chicot Rd, LR
Time: Starting at 12, until supplies last

02/15/2026

Arkansas RAPPS believes that getting a job is essential to building your future. Another opportunity is available on February 17, 2026 from 10:00 am- 2:00 pm, at CALS Main Library, 100 Rock St., 5th Floor, Little Rock, AR 72201

Get the chance to start your career journey at our one-day job fair. Bring your updated resume, ballpen, and the best proper attire.
Mobile Workforce Center will be on-site. Free and open to the public.

Questions?? Contact Choca Flood at 501-907-7095 or choca.flood@arkansas.gov

02/14/2026

ICYMI (in case you missed it for the ‘what does that mean?’ crowd), our very own Cornelius Mabin was honored for Black History Month by Central Arkansas Pride 🥹. Reading this is very sentimental for our staff because we are so lucky to hear the wisdom and stories everyday in our office. It is very kind for Central Arkansas Pride to highlight Mr. Cornelius Mabin. The accolades are exhaustive, but he continues to do more everyday! Some things often go unnoticed, but he continues to serve the ones who need it most. Come by 8615 Chicot Rd and you'll hear some of the things other folk have either forgot or are too afraid to say! Congratulations to the Man, the Myth, the Legend, the Boss, the CEO, Mr. Always Facts and Never Foolishness, Mr. Cornelius Mabin Jr.!

Arkansas Black History Month Spotlight 🖤🏳️‍🌈

The Diamond Award 💎 honors long-term commitment to uplifting Arkansas’s LGBTQIA+ community, and Cornelius Mabin’s impact spans more than four decades.

In 1983, he made history as the first African American President of Arkansas Gay Rights, the state’s first LGBTQ advocacy organization, and received its Outstanding Performance Award for advancing human rights.

In 2013, he became the first openly gay man of color living with HIV to chair the Arkansas HIV Planning Group, serving nine consecutive years. His leadership helped shape Arkansas’s Integrated HIV Prevention and Care Plan, launch the state’s first PrEP awareness campaign (“PrEP 2 Live”), and strengthen public health strategy statewide. He was later named to Poz Magazine’s 100 and recognized as one of 2018’s Amazing Positive Persons committed to ending the HIV epidemic.

Through partnerships with Future Builders, Inc., Walgreens, and Greater Than AIDS, he expanded HIV and Hepatitis C services and produced Arkansas’s multi-site National HIV Testing Day event.

In 2019, he reimagined AR RAPPS (Reaching Affirming, Positive, Progressive Systems) and founded The Strilite Foundation, creating dual 501(c)(3) organizations that provide direct sexual health services — including PrEP navigation and linkage to care — through the Living Room Wellness Resource Center in Southwest Little Rock.

In 2022, he co-authored research published in The Journal of Rural Health, facilitated sessions at the NMAC Biomedical Summit, hosted the Cornelius OnPoint podcast, and appeared on local radio and television outlets.

In 2026, he led the development of House of Love, which began operations on January 1. The space provides life skills training designed to support residents in transitioning toward long-term stability and self-sufficiency.

His advocacy also includes national board service with Black and White Men Together, Inc., serving as a Gay Pride chairperson, lobbying on Capitol Hill for HIV/AIDS resources, serving on the Arkansas AIDS Foundation board, and becoming the first Black Miss DSRA through the Arkansas Diamond State Rodeo Association.
His leadership reflects resilience, vision, and unwavering dedication to Arkansas’s LGBTQIA+ community.

We’re proud to partner with Cornelius and AR RAPPS as we continue advancing equity across our state.

Learn more:
🌐 www.arrapp.org | 📧 info@arrapps.org

02/14/2026

The Philander Smith University Health Fair is always a fun and enjoyable outing for the AR RAPPS crew. The students are always so interested in the information we share, and always walk away learning something new. It's our job to normalize these tough conversations and to know that stigma should never get in the way of protecting ourselves! This was a success. Thank you Philander for always giving us a platform to connect with your college community!

02/13/2026

We’re hosting a virtual town hall to bring together local and state candidates to discuss public health, access to care, and community stability! Have the opportunity to hear their perspectives on pressing policy impacting our community and HIV prevention/care efforts. STAY READY by knowing your local politicians and VOTING! 🗳️

Please register with the link below:
https://forms.gle/x9vRWUJeBv8cYJDU8

(Please contact us if you have questions regarding registration or event)

02/03/2026

Come check out Arkansas RAPPS as we booth at the annual PSU Health & Wellness Fair! We will be there to help folks get access to PrEP as well as overall sexual health & wellness.

Find out more about our work to make PrEP more accessible, go to our website at https://www.stayreadyar.com/

02/03/2026

Free Food Tuesday reminder.

If SNAP benefits or income fall short, you are not expected to figure it out alone.

• Free groceries
• No sign-up
• No judgment

Location: 8619 Chicot Rd, Little Rock
Time: Starting at 12, while supplies last

02/02/2026

Wow!! Thank you so much to Arkansas Black Philanthropy Collaborative on highlighting our organization!!

Happy Black History Month!

This month, we're unveiling the WeGiveToo fund, the new name for our statewide fund, formerly Give Black Arkansas. This fund supports Black-led, Black-serving, and Black-focused (B3) organizations across Arkansas.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS

Each day, we’ll spotlight one organization doing impactful work in communities across Arkansas. You can choose how to give:

1) Give directly to the featured organization.
2) Give to the WeGiveToo fund, which we are building to support B3 organizations like those featured throughout the campaign.

Today’s featured B3 organization is Arkansas RAPPS. Learn more about Arkansas RAPPS and explore ways to give at theabpc.org/wegivetoo.