Over the past semester, I have been working on a few different projects with Dr. Motley. Firstly, I have been helping run Health Educated’s blood pressure programs where we educate Chester residents about the importance of getting daily exercise, caution against the dangers of hypertension, and distribute blood pressure monitors and fresh produce to attendees. This has been a very positive experience for me because over the course of a few months, I have observed how the attendees are implementing concrete changes into their daily lives. For instance, at the most recent session, one of the participants shared that she was now more mindful about substituting high salt foods with low salt alternatives in her meals. Another participant who just completed the blood pressure program told me and the other Health Educated staff that she was very appreciative of the work that we were doing because without the blood pressure program, she would not have been aware of the health consequences that can result from living a sedentary lifestyle. Interactions like these show me that these programs are having a real impact on the Chester community.
A second project that I have been working on is helping spread awareness about the dangers of lead poisoning. I frequently attend community events in Chester where I discuss with Chester residents the dangers associated with lead poisoning. Oftentimes, residents are not aware of the causes of lead poisoning or the detrimental effects that lead poisoning can have on the human body. This has also been an impactful experience because it has shown me the importance of education when it comes to public health crises. If a person is simply not aware of a serious health crisis such as lead poisoning, then it can wreak havoc on the person’s health and, more broadly, the community at large. These experiences have shown me that education is the first step to bring about real change when it comes to public health issues.
Collectively, these experiences have reminded me of our class discussion and class readings on environmental racism. In the reading, “The Political Economy of Environmental Racism,” the authors write that environmental racism is “emblematic of the social, political, and economic forces that shape the disproportionate distribution of environmental hazards in poor communities of color” (Cole et al.). Reading this made me think of the fact that many houses in Chester were built before 1978, the year that lead paint was banned by the Federal government. Most people in Chester cannot afford to hire a professional to remove the lead paint in their homes, which helps to explain why lead poisoning is such a pressing issue in Chester. Furthermore, Cole et al. also write that “Living in Chester today can best be described as an assault on the senses—a toxic assault. During the summer, the stench and the noise force residents to retreat into their houses” (Cole et. al). In Chester, there are people who are living the experiences described in the text. Speaking with the participants at the blood pressure program, I came to see firsthand why it was challenging for the attendees to spend time outdoors. In spite of these environmental challenges, I am glad that Health Educated continues to stress the importance of daily exercise and spending time outdoors.
If I were to meet with Stephan Roots, I would urge him to promote education about public health issues such as chronic conditions (hypertension and obesity) and lead poisoning. Although tackling an issue like public health is a daunting task that is large in scope, my experience as a Chester Semester fellow has taught me that the first step in resolving these issues is educating residents about these topics. By holding monthly community meetings or information sessions on these public health issues, these issues will be on the forefront of residents’ minds. Ultimately, Chester residents will become more knowledgeable about these issues and they can begin to identify small, yet meaningful, ways to implement change into their daily lives.