That’s the question at the heart of the Six-Word Exercise we use to jumpstart our Living Proof Advocacy workshops. It’s also found in Living Proof: Telling Your Story to Make a Difference (p.26).

The exercise is deceptively simple, and we’re always inspired to hear where it leads advocates as they reflect on their motivations and search for the six words that capture their passion and drive—advocates such as Katie Willingham.

Katie, a blogger and HIV advocate who had just dived into Living Proof and the Six-Word Reason exercise, contacted us recently. She was excited to share her experience and wanted to encourage other advocates to give the exercise a try. We’re honored to share Katie’s reflections here.

A woman of trans experience living in rural northwest Alabama, Katie entered the advocacy arena just over a year ago, and she has done so at full steam. She’s a member of the Positive Women’s Network-USA, a national advocacy organization made up of HIV+ women who combat stigma and discrimination, applying a gender-justice and human-rights lens to the HIV epidemic. In 2017, Katie became one of the first 12 women named a PWN-USA Policy Fellow, and serves as co-chair of the Alabama chapter of PWN. Read Katie’s story (and her 6-Word Reasons!) here.