LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS healthcare and housing advocate Arick Buckles died Sept. 9 due to complications from lung cancer. He was 52.
Buckles was born Dec. 12, 1971, in Chicago and graduated from now defunct Near North Career Metropolitan High School. He worked for a number of years in the Northwestern University cafeteria.
In 2007, Buckles started his career at Chicago House, where he served as a medication adherence specialist to ensure that people who live with HIV/AIDS maintained their HIV medication schedules. He stayed in that role for about three years.
Buckles spent the next two years (2010-2012) as a community outreach worker at the Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center, where he reconnected individuals who were lost to care with their medical providers.
He returned to Chicago House in early 2012 to take on the housing and outreach specialist role focused on housing and prevention services for unhoused people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. A year later, Buckles moved onto a housing advocate role to ensure that participants were active with rental assistance payments so they remain housed. He worked closely with both participants and landlords to ensure current and valid written lease agreements were on file and in compliance with AIDS Foundations of Chicago’s policies and procedures. Buckles did this work until early August of 2024.
Buckles met his future husband, current Chicago House Residential Program Manager Jeffery Pulliam, in 2007 while doing work with Chicago House’s Positive Adherence and Supportive Housing Now (PASHN) Team. Their love grew over the years as they worked together to serve the community. They got married on Dec. 11, 2021, with many friends, family and every fellow Chicago House co-worker in attendance. Former Chicago House CEO Stan Sloan served as the officiant.
Outside of his work endeavors, Buckles was also an Illinois Alliance for Sound AIDS Policy co-chair from 2009-2013, participated in the HIV Anti Stigma T- Shirt Campaign for a number of years and did advocacy work on behalf of Chicago’s trans community. He had been sober since the time he worked for Northwestern.
Buckles is survived by Pulliam, nieces Mimi, Aaron and Carmella, nephews Maurice and Albert and countless chosen family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Marie Buckles, and his six older siblings—Carmella, Vanessa, Albert Jr., Beverly, Drusilla and Aaron.
In a message to the Chicago House team, CEO Michael Herman said, “I first met Arick in 2007, when he was hired to be an intern with the PASHN Team. This program engaged peers to work with individuals living with HIV to adhere to medications, achieve viral suppression and to be stably housed. The other two members of that team were Evany Turk, our director of residential housing and Jeffery Pulliam, residential housing manager. This was a powerhouse team in so many ways. Arick and Jeffery built a lasting relationship and have been together for many years. I had the privilege to attend their wedding a couple of years ago. These family roots are deep.
“Arick, was a fighter and a champion. He was a strong advocate for the people he served and for his community especially those impacted by poverty, HIV and homelessness. When he wasn’t advocating for his clients, he was involved in local and national efforts to combat the injustices in our society. Those who know Arick know that he could be stubborn but always with a desire to get the best for those in need. Here at Chicago House, he was a strong leader for the AIDS Run and Walk regularly leading our team to victory as the overall team fundraiser. He himself was usually one of the top fundraiser as well. One of my special memories is doing the AIDS Walk during the COVID pandemic in Washington Park. There was no big event, but I was able to walk with Arick Buckles and Brant Hewelt. Both champions for Chicago House. It was quiet as we walked through the park but it allowed us to be together for such an important cause and share our passion for this incredible organization.
“He served as a co-chair for our new Racial Equity Committee and worked unceasingly to move us toward a more equitable organization. His drive and compassion were a fabulous combination even though at times it frustrated even Arick. He was one to make things happen and bring unbonded enthusiasm to all he did. And all this as a quiet giant.
“Going back to that first program Arick worked for PASHN. It is a word that best describes him for me. His passion was incomparable. He will be missed dearly here at Chicago House, but I will continue to be inspired by his passion and his spirit will live on in my work for those suffering the impacts of poverty, homelessness and HIV. I ask you to please keep his husband, Jeffery in your thoughts and prayers and his dear friend, Evany. Chicago House has lost a true champion. Rest in power, my brother. Holding you all in my heart this day.”
Longtime friend and co-worker Turk said, “Arick was a friend I could always count on for honesty and perspective. He cared deeply about people and was dedicated to helping those in need. His opinions were strong, and more often than not, he was right. We grew up together in advocacy, fighting side by side for causes we believed in, always working to lift others into leadership. His heart was pure, his personality full of joy and his friendship, truly priceless.”
AIDS Foundation Chicago President and CEO John Peller said, “All of us at AFC are deeply saddened by the news of Arick’s passing. Through our partnership with Chicago House, Arick worked closely with many AFC staff on housing programs for people living with HIV. Arick brought compassion and hope to his work every day because he had walked in the shoes of our participants and knew their struggles personally. Arick was an advocate at heart and was a natural at speaking truth to people with power to advocate for policies and resources to support people living with and vulnerable to HIV. My heart goes out to Jeff, their family and the Chicago House team.”
Lighthouse Foundation of Chicagoland Founder and Executive Director and Lighthouse Church of Chicago UCC Founder and Executive Paster Jamie Frazier said, “Arick Buckles was a remarkable conversation partner during the launch of the Black Queer Equity Index 3.5 years ago. His straightforward approach made his counsel truly valuable. His passing represents a significant loss for Chicago’s Black LGBTQ+ community. I am deeply saddened by this news. My thoughts are with his husband and the Chicago House and Social Service Agency, where he served with outstanding dedication.”
A memorial service is set to take place sometime in October. Details will be announced on Chicago House’s website.