Anti-Bullying Activist Paige Rawl to Visit the Westport Library

Paige Rawl was born HIV positive and, after sharing her secret with a teenage friend, was bullied severely in middle school. Her classmates called her cruel nicknames, such as PAIDS, and her soccer coach even joked that her HIV status could help the team since opposing teams would not want to get near her. When the bullying became unbearable, she left her middle school and decided to take a stand by speaking out and sharing her story. At age 14, Rawl became the youngest person ever to be certified through the American Red Cross as an HIV/AIDS Educator, and she lobbied Congress in her home state of Indiana to help pass the Anti-bullying Bill #1423, which took effect on July 1, 2013.

Meet Rawl when she discusses her activism and her memoir, Positive, on Monday, September 8, at 7:30 pm in the Westport Library's McManus Room. In the memoir, Rawl discusses the power of choosing action over complacency, compassion over cruelty and, above all, remaining positive. Books will be available for signing and purchase at the program, which is free and open to the public.

Rawl is an accomplished speaker and an inspirational figure for tens of thousands in audiences to whom she has spoken. Featured in multiple media outlets, including USA Today, People magazine, Seventeen magazine, Nick News with Linda Ellerbee, the Huffington Postand Poz magazine, she is a national youth advocate, anti-bullying crusader and powerful HIV/AIDS educator. Since she was eight years old, she has participated in pageants and was named Miss Indiana Teen Essence 2011 and Miss Indiana High School America 2012. She is currently a student at Ball State University, where she plans to study molecular biology.

"...Readers will come away feeling inspired by Rawl's work as an HIV/AIDS speaker and anti-bullying advocate,'' says Kirkus Reviews.

For further information, phone 203-291-4800, or check www.westportlibrary.org.