| My name is Neil Rafferty, and I am running for the Alabama State House District 54. I'm a Marine veteran, a health program director, and a Birmingham native-born, raised, and educated right here. I live in Crestwood North, with my partner of over fourteen years. I entered this race to serve our communities, the people of Birmingham, and our state. My dedication to our veterans, devotion to community, and my work at Birmingham AIDS Outreach (BAO) have all been the backdrop for my life of public service. I was influenced by the Church at an early age and, as a consequence, enrolled as a student at John Carroll Catholic High School. After my service in the Marine Corps, I used my G.I. Bill benefits and earned a B.A. in Political Science/English from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Service has been at the core of my work. In addition to military service and as a good neighbor in my community, I have worked hard for many years advancing the interests of community and country as a public health worker, particularly at BAO. My career involves work as the Program Director of the Birmingham Comprehensive High Impact Prevention Project (B-CHIP). My B-CHIP team address gaps in the HIV care continuum through intensive collaboration with community members, partner nonprofits, state and county health departments, and clinics to implement community coordinated, public health strategies. |