Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dylan Brooks. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Dylan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you get your first job in the field that you practice in today?
I started my journey in the field of HIV Prevention when I was taking a Political Science course during undergrad at Gainesville State College in Athens, Georgia. As part of the course we had to volunteer a certain number of hours for a nonprofit in the area. At the time, I had just come out I was looking for ways to give back to the LGBTQ+ community. That was when I found an organization called AIDS Athens, now called Lived Forward. I started volunteering for their front desk. I was answering phones, getting clients connected with their case managers, community members connected with rapid HIV testing, and getting to interact with long term survivors of HIV. I say all that to reflect on my own coming out process. One of the first things I heard as a young gay man coming out in rural Northeast Georgia was that I was going to get AIDS and die and I was here to prove them all wrong!
It wasn’t long into my time with AIDS Athens that I also got involved with the BoyButante AIDS Foundation. This is a foundation that spreads awareness about HIV/AIDS and raises money for HIV/AIDS services organizations, like AIDS Athens, through the art of drag! Yet another concept I wasn’t too familiar with, but all too ready to dive head first into in order to shake things up back home and prove that the LGBTQ+ community is where I belong. My first BoyBall was so much fun and looking back I would like to thank the amazing Vickie Long, volunteer coordinator of AIDS Athens, for helping me out all those years ago.
I now work as the Director of HIV Prevention and Education for Compass LGBTQ+ Community Center in Lake Worth Beach, Florida, one of the largest LGBTQ+ community centers in the country. I wouldn’t have imaged myself being in this role, but a lot determination and a little glitter goes a long way.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Dylan Brooks and my pronouns are he/him/his. I grew up on a small farm in rural Northeast Georgia. It was there that I got involved in the service organization Georgia 4-H. We pride ourselves in the areas of giving back to the community and continuing education whenever possible.
I moved to Florida in 2014. Soon after that I started volunteering for Compass LGBTQ+ Community Center as an HV testing counselor. It was such a reward to be able to give back to a community that I was learning to call my own. I soon found out that Compass had a position available to run the young adult program and I jumped on that opportunity as quickly as I could! I ran the Entourage program for a number of years before moving up to Prevention Program Coordinator and the ultimately Director of HIV Prevention & Education. I’m proud to say this past July was my 8 year anniversary working for Compass LGBTQ+ Community Center and I have had such a blast on this journey!
In these roles it’s primarily working with clients to provide free, confidential HIV testing, access to safer sex materials such as condoms and lube, referral and linkage to PrEP, linkage to care if diagnosed with HIV, and everything in between when it comes to talking about sexual health. I love to say “come and talk to me about this things you can’t talk to anyone else about.” The HIV Prevention Team here at Compass LGBTQ+ Community Center is here to bring sexual health out of the shadows and into the light. We never want anyone to feel ashamed to talk about what’s really going on.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
Literally meeting people where they are at. In the field of social work, and most other fields, we often expect clients and community members to come to us, but in all reality that is not a feasible model for helping them get their needs met. By breaking out of the traditional four walls of an office building, hitting the road, and meeting people in their communities, we are breaking down barriers that would prevent clients from accessing the care that they need and deserve.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I wasn’t originally bound for the field of social work, instead nursing was all that I had my eyes on for the longest time. It’s still a fleeting thought, but I know my heart and body are where they need to be.
It all started when I got my Certified Nursing Assistance certificate while in high school and was working for a nursing home. I was very set on, “I’m going to be a nurse and nothing can stop me!” My academic career, until I came to Florida, reflected that too. It was when I didn’t quite get the score I needed on the entrance exam for nursing school down here that I decided to switch majors to Social Work. I figured, “it can’t be that hard, right?” It has to be one of the best decisions of my life!
Long story, short. I graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelors and Masters degree in Social Work and now working on becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker here in the State of Florida.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://compassglcc.com/
- Instagram: @gdylanbrooks
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gdylanbrooks/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gdylanbrooks/