Individual | Inducted 2025 | Posthumous Induction
Arick Buckles devoted his life to advancing the health, housing, and dignity of LGBTQ+ people in Chicago, especially those living with HIV and AIDS. His work spanned decades and touched thousands of lives, often through quiet but consistent acts of service and encouragement that left a lasting mark on the city’s South Side. Buckles began his work in the field in 2007 at Chicago House, where he served as a medication adherence specialist. In this role, he worked closely with clients living with HIV and AIDS to help them manage complex treatment plans. His guidance supported consistent medication use, improved health outcomes, and strengthened connections between patients and their care teams. In 2010, he joined the Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center as a community outreach worker. His primary focus was re-engaging individuals who had fallen out of care. He helped clients return to treatment, navigate the healthcare system, and access the services they needed to manage their health and well-being.
For more than ten years, Buckles served as an outreach coordinator in the Scattered Site Housing Department at Chicago House and Social Services. His ability to meet people where they were, both physically and emotionally, helped clients stabilize their housing, maintain their health, and rebuild their lives.
Beyond his direct service roles, Arick was active in shaping broader policy and community responses to HIV and housing needs. He served as a member of the HIV Housing Task Force of Chicago and contributed to the Illinois Alliance for Sound AIDS Policy. In these roles, he advocated for systemic changes to increase access to safe housing, reduce stigma, and ensure that people living with HIV had the resources to live healthy and fulfilling lives.
Arick Buckles passed away in 2024, leaving a legacy of service, compassion, and empowerment. His contributions to health care, housing, and leadership development have had a lasting impact on Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community, and his memory continues to inspire those working for equity and justice today.