As a neuroscience major and a studio art minor, how do you find the time for such intensive extra-curricular involvement?
This is a question I ask myself all of the time. The real answer is, it’s very hard to do so and it’s a real balancing act. Although it’s not easy, I make sure to make time for all of my extra-curriculars because they allow me another outlet- another way of learning, outside of the academic context. One of the reasons I wanted to transfer to Tulane was its dedication to New Orleans and public service. I constantly strive to fully embrace this mission especially after working as a Public Service Fellow. During my time as a fellow, in Professor Huck’s platform course I began to understand the drawbacks and obstacles that are inherent to service – and ways to remedy them. My desires to apply this knowledge while continuing my other interest are what drive me to find the time.
As the Vice President of CHAT, what goals do you hope to accomplish?
As a transfer student, from the northeast without a car, I struggled to fully invest in service opportunities because I was limited by transportation. I thought it was such a pity that there may be students like me who were discouraged from engaging because they wouldn’t be able to commit 100% without transportation. Beyond this obstacle, I also began learning about opportunities from friends but wanted a way to help other students to hear about these opportunities not merely in passing, but truly learning about the root issue and impactful ways to be involved. Therefore, The Community Health Advocates of Tulane, or CHAT, is a student organization aimed to educate students about health issues and social determinants of health with a focus on the greater New Orleans area. We aim to breakdown the “Tulane Bubble” that plagues the student population, as each meeting will feature a local activist and a coordinated service project to expose students to the issues that exist and opportunities to begin to engage and remedy them.
You not only have influence locally, but you have traveled as far as India to serve. What did this experience teach you?
The Compassion in Action program created by the Center for Public Service is an experience that I can’t recommend highly enough to students looking to complete 2nd tier service and spend time abroad. This experience is difficult to put into words, though if I had to pin point one thing, I guess it would be that sometimes being submerged into a culture so vastly different from your own is a wonderful way to gain perspective and learn not only more about others, but more about yourself.
You have enabled the partnership between CHAT and the Miracle League of New Orleans , what is the overall impact?
Yes! Each month CHAT features a local activist and a coordinated service project to expose students to the issues that exist in the New Orleans community and opportunities to begin to engage and remedy them. This month our focus is on hunger as a social determinant of health. Instead of one speaker we will be hosting a panel of speakers on November 21st at 7:30pm in the Qatar Ballroom who will address the hunger issue in New Orleans in honor of Hunger and Homelessness week. So far the panel includes representatives from the New Orleans Food and Farm network, Second Harvest Food Bank, and Bread for the World New Orleans. We encourage attendees to bring a can of food for admittance that will go to the Second Harvest Food Bank can drive! Also, please visit our facebook page for updates and new ways to get involved!
If any students would like to see this work in progress, what can they do? Do you have any upcoming events?
Yes! Each month CHAT features a local activist and a coordinated service project to expose students to the issues that exist in the New Orleans community and opportunities to begin to engage and remedy them. This month our focus is on hunger as a social determinant of health. Instead of one speaker we will be hosting a panel of speakers on November 21st at 7:30pm in the Qatar Ballroom who will address the hunger issue in New Orleans in honor of Hunger and Homelessness week. So far the panel includes representatives from the New Orleans Food and Farm network, Second Harvest Food Bank, and Bread for the World New Orleans. We encourage attendees to bring a can of food for admittance that will go to the Second Harvest Food Bank can drive! Also, please visit our facebook page for updates and new ways to get involved!