Central Region
KEANDRE' ARNOLD
KEANDRE' ARNOLD
KEANDRE' ARNOLD
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
He/Him
KeAndre' is a committed patient advocate, public speaker, and community leader. KeAndre' is the director of EAC's statewide transportation assistance program and manages our outreach team and testing events. He has provided talks on topics including HIV
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
He/Him
KeAndre' is a committed patient advocate, public speaker, and community leader. KeAndre' is the director of EAC's statewide transportation assistance program and manages our outreach team and testing events. He has provided talks on topics including HIV in the Black Community and HIV Drug Assistance Options in Arkansas. Past professional experience includes roles with St. Louis Effort for AIDS, Special Health Resources for Texas (SHRT), SWA-NET HIV Coalition, Arkansas HIV Planning Group (HPG), and ARcare.
DRE BENNETT
KEANDRE' ARNOLD
KEANDRE' ARNOLD
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
He/Him
Dre is a community advocate that wants everyone to feel comfortable in knowing that it is okay to get tested. He wants to be a part of making the difference between the percentage of people that knows their status vs. doesn't and he wants others to know th
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
He/Him
Dre is a community advocate that wants everyone to feel comfortable in knowing that it is okay to get tested. He wants to be a part of making the difference between the percentage of people that knows their status vs. doesn't and he wants others to know that being in the KNOW is not a NO, but it's an absolute yes!
Dre has volunteered with several organizations in the past including ARCW (AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin) and the LGBTQ Community Center of Milwaukee. In his free time, Dre enjoys singing, writing music, traveling, shopping, fine dining, and enjoying the company of family and loved ones.
Dre says he is grateful to be in a position that can both save and uplift his community.
TAYLOR BURKS
KEANDRE' ARNOLD
VENESSA JUAREZ
COMMUNITY HEALTH SPECIALIST PROGRAM COORDINATOR
PRONOUNS
PHONE
SOCIAL
BIO
VENESSA JUAREZ
KEANDRE' ARNOLD
VENESSA JUAREZ
COMMUNITY HEALTH SPECIALIST CENTRAL ARKANSAS
PRONOUNS
PHONE
SOCIAL
BIO
ERIC (DANNY) HARRIS
ERIC (DANNY) HARRIS
ERIC (DANNY) HARRIS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
He/Him
Danny is a dedicated HIV advocate with over 12 years of experience in the HIV field, including outreach, prevention, linkage to care, and peer empowerment. He has been recognized for numerous roles, including POZ Magazine's "The POZ 100" list in 2016 and 2018
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
He/Him
Danny is a dedicated HIV advocate with over 12 years of experience in the HIV field, including outreach, prevention, linkage to care, and peer empowerment. He has been recognized for numerous roles, including POZ Magazine's "The POZ 100" list in 2016 and 2018 for peer HIV work in the South and by those over 50 years old. Harris is Co-Chair for the Arkansas HIV Planning Group (HPG), an Advisory Board member for Southern AIDS Coalition, and a member of the National HIV/AIDS and Aging Coalition.
ASH HUNTER
ERIC (DANNY) HARRIS
ERIC (DANNY) HARRIS
FIELD SERVICE SPECIALIST
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
They/Them
Ash is currently a driver with the Positive Miles program and joined EAC because they wanted to join "a group of folks who truly seemed to stand by the work they were doing and come together to find solutions in an equitable way." They have over a deca
FIELD SERVICE SPECIALIST
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
They/Them
Ash is currently a driver with the Positive Miles program and joined EAC because they wanted to join "a group of folks who truly seemed to stand by the work they were doing and come together to find solutions in an equitable way." They have over a decade of experience working in the non-profit sector, including with communities of unhoused individuals, organizing within LGBTQ+ communities, and organizing and rallying for reproductive justice. Ash is knowledgeable in trauma-informed care, Crisis Prevention Intervention, and CPR. They have a Bachelor of Arts degree from UA Little Rock with concentrations in Gender Studies, Criminal Justice, and Sociology and have been active in several community groups including Southerners on New Ground, Black Lives Matter Little Rock, Calm + Confidence, and Urban Patchwork.
. In their free time, Ash likes to travel, paint, and enjoys beekeeping.
KODEE JANE STEPHENS
ERIC (DANNY) HARRIS
KODEE JANE STEPHENS
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
They/Them
kodeejane@engagingarkansas.org
Kodee is a vibrant and visible advocate for intersectional collective liberation. Kodee is a Southern Queer Trans masculine Person living with HIV. They have been involved in community organizing in Arkansas since 2015. Kodee is a t
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
They/Them
kodeejane@engagingarkansas.org
Kodee is a vibrant and visible advocate for intersectional collective liberation. Kodee is a Southern Queer Trans masculine Person living with HIV. They have been involved in community organizing in Arkansas since 2015. Kodee is a transport driver for EAC's Positive Miles Program and presently attends graduate school, studying Public Administration. Kodee is currently a fellow for The SERO Project Justice Institute. They are part of the Pozitively Trans cohort housed under The Transgender Law Center. Kodee is a cat dad, avid reader, nature lover, artist, and possesses an adventurous, curious outlook about life, liberty, and health. Kodee has a strong desire to deconstruct stigmas related to sexual wellness that impact quality of life for everyone!
JUSTIN WASHINGTON
ERIC (DANNY) HARRIS
KODEE JANE STEPHENS
OUTREACH SPECIALIST
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
He/Him
Justin is the face behind our online At-Home HIV Testing program and Condom Club, as well as our statewide online HIV resource directory, the Arkansas Resource Hub. He is HIV positive and committed to ending stigma by starting conversatio
OUTREACH SPECIALIST
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
He/Him
Justin is the face behind our online At-Home HIV Testing program and Condom Club, as well as our statewide online HIV resource directory, the Arkansas Resource Hub. He is HIV positive and committed to ending stigma by starting conversations about HIV. Born in Hot Springs and having worked in various disciplines including management, education, and administration, he is an avid humanitarian who has a genuine passion for people. He is currently pursuing his BSN at UALR and in the future hopes to enroll in a Doctoral program.
Northwest & Northeast Regions
JENNY CONWAY
AMELIA (AMY) HERRERA
JENNY CONWAY
COMMUNITY HEALTH SPECIALIST
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
She/Her
Jenny genuinely believes the best way to end the stigma around HIV and other STIs is education. She comes to EAC with a wide variety of experiences in public health education, including 2 years of experience developing social medical health educ
COMMUNITY HEALTH SPECIALIST
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
She/Her
Jenny genuinely believes the best way to end the stigma around HIV and other STIs is education. She comes to EAC with a wide variety of experiences in public health education, including 2 years of experience developing social medical health education content for Tarleton State University's Public Health College and leading Community Health Conversations for Erath County, Texas.
Jenny holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Tarleton State University. Additionally, she is trained in phlebotomy in Texas as well as in mental health 101 from Texas A&M. Past service includes coordinator roles with student government at Tarleton State as well as Hope-2-Others, where she coordinated trips to Guatemala to provide water filters, prenatal vitamins, and baby clothes to remote villages.
In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering or swimming and fishing along with her very spoiled, water-loving, chocolate lab.
KYRA CROSS
AMELIA (AMY) HERRERA
JENNY CONWAY
COMMUNITY HEALTH SPECIALIST NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
PRONOUNS
PHONE
SOCIAL
BIO
JONATHAN HAWKINS
AMELIA (AMY) HERRERA
AMELIA (AMY) HERRERA
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
He/Him
Jonathan (Johnnie) is always in the community for work as well as fun. He joins EAC with a variety of experiences in HIV work, including nearly 3 years at AIDS Healthcare Foundation in Houston and
AIDS Outreach Center in Fort Worth, as the Minority AIDS Initiative
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
He/Him
Jonathan (Johnnie) is always in the community for work as well as fun. He joins EAC with a variety of experiences in HIV work, including nearly 3 years at AIDS Healthcare Foundation in Houston and
AIDS Outreach Center in Fort Worth, as the Minority AIDS Initiative Outreach Worker focusing on the HIV Care Continuum with the African American MSM and M-F Trans populations. Johnnie's goal is to continue setting a high bar in the community to destigmatize HIV.
AMELIA (AMY) HERRERA
AMELIA (AMY) HERRERA
AMELIA (AMY) HERRERA
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
She/They
Amelia (Amy) is a passion-driven individual serving Northwest Arkansas and who strives to offer empathetic support to those living with HIV. She is an advocate for more inclusive, trauma-informed, and medically accurate sex education,
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
She/They
Amelia (Amy) is a passion-driven individual serving Northwest Arkansas and who strives to offer empathetic support to those living with HIV. She is an advocate for more inclusive, trauma-informed, and medically accurate sex education, especially in the Southern United States. Amelia aspires to be a sex educator and therapist to end the stigma around sex education.
She is also a recent graduate from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Psychology, was an active member on campus, and hopes to add to the community-driven vision behind Engaging Arkansas Communities.
WHITLEY HOPKINS
WHITLEY HOPKINS
WHITLEY HOPKINS
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER PROGRAM COORDINATOR
She/Her
Whitley has worked in the mental health and substance abuse community for many years. Her biggest passion is ensuring people have their voice be heard and understood. To her, everything is about active service, meeting people where
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER PROGRAM COORDINATOR
She/Her
Whitley has worked in the mental health and substance abuse community for many years. Her biggest passion is ensuring people have their voice be heard and understood. To her, everything is about active service, meeting people where they are, being kind, and making connections with others to help them understand they are not alone. Whitley is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in psychology, hoping one day to obtain her PsyD.
KIMBERLY NAIL
WHITLEY HOPKINS
WHITLEY HOPKINS
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
She/Her
Kimberly is passionate about communicating the importance of HIV testing and representing the unique needs of women living with HIV in Arkansas. Her current HIV nonprofit service includes roles on the Arkansas HIV Planning Group (H
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
She/Her
Kimberly is passionate about communicating the importance of HIV testing and representing the unique needs of women living with HIV in Arkansas. Her current HIV nonprofit service includes roles on the Arkansas HIV Planning Group (HPG), Arkansas Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) Treat and Prevent Subcommittee and the ARcare Positive Connections Consumer Advisory Network.
Southwest Region
BILLY BROWN
DEAUNDRA (DEE) PIERCE
JACOYA ELLIS
COMMUNITY HEALTH SPECIALIST SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
PRONOUNS
PHONE
SOCIAL
BIO
JACOYA ELLIS
DEAUNDRA (DEE) PIERCE
JACOYA ELLIS
COMMUNITY HEALTH SPECIALIST
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
She/Her
With a passion for reproductive rights and justice, particularly in the black community, Jacoya serves her clients and their support tribe by providing educational, mental, physical and holistic support. She cares about creating a safe space for people of all
COMMUNITY HEALTH SPECIALIST
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
She/Her
With a passion for reproductive rights and justice, particularly in the black community, Jacoya serves her clients and their support tribe by providing educational, mental, physical and holistic support. She cares about creating a safe space for people of all colors, genders, backgrounds, and futures to be free and heal as they please. As a certified community health worker in the state of Texas, she actively shares the importance of holistic wellness in both Texas and Arkansas communities.
Jacoya has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Spelman College in Atlanta, GA and is currently in pursuit of her J.D. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, anything that allows her to be creative, and educating herself on anything to do with holistic health and wellness. She is a practitioner of yoga and various other forms of holistic wellness that allow her to heal her being and the world.
BOBBY PIERCE
DEAUNDRA (DEE) PIERCE
DEAUNDRA (DEE) PIERCE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR & HR MANAGER
He/Him
Bobby is dedicated to making comprehensive healthcare and supportive services accessible to everyone who needs it. He is excited about the opportunity to engage Arkansas communities in HIV/STI prevention and education. Bobby has a Ba
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR & HR MANAGER
He/Him
Bobby is dedicated to making comprehensive healthcare and supportive services accessible to everyone who needs it. He is excited about the opportunity to engage Arkansas communities in HIV/STI prevention and education. Bobby has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from California State University, Northridge and has worked in Human Resources for over 20 years. He is a member of numerous health coalitions and advocacy groups, including the National HIV & Aging Advocacy Network and currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for Special Health Resources.
DEAUNDRA (DEE) PIERCE
DEAUNDRA (DEE) PIERCE
DEAUNDRA (DEE) PIERCE
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
She/Her
DeAundra (Dee) is located in Texarkana and serves the southwest region as a Community Health Worker and driver to support the Positive Miles program.
Dee is an outspoken and self-driven advocate, bringing life and cheer to any space as an opportuni
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
She/Her
DeAundra (Dee) is located in Texarkana and serves the southwest region as a Community Health Worker and driver to support the Positive Miles program.
Dee is an outspoken and self-driven advocate, bringing life and cheer to any space as an opportunity to connect with the Southwest Arkansas community in a meaningful way.
Media & Communications
CASSANDRA FUNES
CASSANDRA FUNES
CASSANDRA FUNES
CONTRACT MEDIA SPECIALIST
LATINX PODCAST HOST
She/Her
Cassandra is a bilingual Outreach Specialist for ARcare Positive Connections serving the Latinx community in Arkansas with HIV education, testing, and Ryan White services. Engagement and outreach are her passion, and she is determined to provide a bridge between the g
CONTRACT MEDIA SPECIALIST
LATINX PODCAST HOST
She/Her
Cassandra is a bilingual Outreach Specialist for ARcare Positive Connections serving the Latinx community in Arkansas with HIV education, testing, and Ryan White services. Engagement and outreach are her passion, and she is determined to provide a bridge between the gaps of service in our communities such as health, wellness, education, and treatment. "These things are a human right not a privilege, and no one should be left behind. Access to basic needs and care should always be within reach."
AARON WALLIS
CASSANDRA FUNES
CASSANDRA FUNES
CONTRACT MEDIA SPECIALIST
SOCIAL MEDIA
He/Him
Aaron is a Digital Marketing Specialist in the Public Relations and Marketing Department at University of Arkansas-Pulaski Tech.
In addition to providing contracted social media content development and coordination for EAC, he also produces a variety of special video project
CONTRACT MEDIA SPECIALIST
SOCIAL MEDIA
He/Him
Aaron is a Digital Marketing Specialist in the Public Relations and Marketing Department at University of Arkansas-Pulaski Tech.
In addition to providing contracted social media content development and coordination for EAC, he also produces a variety of special video projects featuring peer voices for our EPIC+ Leadership Program.
JEFF WALKER
CASSANDRA FUNES
JEFF WALKER
GRANTS AND
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
He/Him
Jeff is a community advocate with a genuine passion to serve those living with HIV. Among the many hats worn by Jeff is a passion and love for grant-writing and website design. His past service and leadership roles include ARcare Positive Connections, Arkans
GRANTS AND
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
He/Him
Jeff is a community advocate with a genuine passion to serve those living with HIV. Among the many hats worn by Jeff is a passion and love for grant-writing and website design. His past service and leadership roles include ARcare Positive Connections, Arkansas HIV Planning Group (HPG), 7hills Homeless Center, Gay and Lesbian Community Center of the Ozarks (GLO), Center on the Square Community Theater, and arts-based nonprofit organizations in Arkansas and Missouri including the Springfield Regional Arts Council.
EDDIE WILEY
CASSANDRA FUNES
JEFF WALKER
CONTRACT MEDIA SPECIALIST
EAC PODCAST HOST
He/Her/Queen
Eddie has worked for over 15 years across the Southern United States to combat HIV stigma and health disparities, particularly within communities of color. His skills and training centers around social media, on-air talent, health literacy, stigma reduction, cultur
CONTRACT MEDIA SPECIALIST
EAC PODCAST HOST
He/Her/Queen
Eddie has worked for over 15 years across the Southern United States to combat HIV stigma and health disparities, particularly within communities of color. His skills and training centers around social media, on-air talent, health literacy, stigma reduction, cultural humility, and trauma-informed approaches. As a presenter at local and national conferences, Eddie has been able to speak of his experiences as a person living with HIV in addition to an HIV service provider. Eddie has served in various roles including the Shelby County HIV Care and Prevention Planning Group, Shelby County Ending HIV Epidemic Initiative for the TN Department of Health in Memphis, and as the Principal Consultant for Maverick Consulting where he developed training curriculum, managed the HIV.gov social media channels, and facilitated the HIV/AIDS Bureau’s Community of Practice. Eddie received his Master's of Public Health in Social and Behavioral Sciences from the University of Memphis and a B.A. in English and Communications from Philander Smith College.