Spotlight

#Black
#Student
#HealthAccess
#Advocate

Why is access to health and increasing a belonging environment important to you?
Awareness of a wide range of community needs is important to me because it increases the impact of the work done in achieving positive health outcomes for all. Having multiple perspectives and ideas, especially ones different than your own allows for personal growth and introspection. Diverse perspectives also facilitate innovation since the best ideas have the chance to amalgamate to form something great. I am fortunate enough to be enrolled in the DrPH program in Community and Behavioral Health on the Anschutz campus and have been taught the importance of the inclusion of multiple voices when developing programs and interventions for the community. This inclusion allows for community-based interventions to be enduring since the grassroots support provided by the community is directly tied to the success of a program. I see this principle applied directly in the Black Barbershop and Salon Health Outreach Program(BBSHOP) I volunteer with. This program is hosted by the Colorado Black Health Collaborative and allows for health education around hypertension management to be delivered in a barbershop-based setting. This style of intervention is directly dependent on grassroots support by the shop operators and creates a safe space to be able to discuss health concerns in a low-stakes setting. Shop patrons have the chance to have their blood pressure measured and are given education on how to reduce their risk of developing hypertension. Volunteering in BBSHOP allows me to address the concerns of patrons who have shared their earned mistrust of the medical system and provide information on where to access trusted community providers. 

What is an informative, quirky, or fun fact about yourself?
I played trombone in the Oklahoma State University Marching Band and had the chance to march in the Superdome and Cowboys Stadium.

If people have questions or would like to collaborate with you, how would you like for them to contact you to learn more about your work?
Feel free to email me, [email protected], or check out the CBHC's website at https://coloradoblackhealth.org/