Delay sexual debut. Prevent unplanned pregnancy. Reduce STIs. Stop dating abuse. Break the cycle of poverty. Overwhelmingly, sexual health interventions target teenagers as a burden to society. It’s time to flip that script and build up what is positive to unleash what is possible. For some thoughts on how we can do that, check out my blog.
Read MoreWhat does it mean to tell a story responsibly in the age of social media, self-publishing and live video? Find out from our Communications Consultant, Chenier Taylor, in her blog here!
Read MoreFor many years, I imagined that passion would lead me to the medical field, but instead I was guided toward a career in public health, where my interest was piqued in the areas of Maternal and Child Health and Community Health. My search for practical grounding in community-based public health soon led me to IWES, where I began my career over 14 years ago as an enthusiastic graduate intern with an altruistic heart to serve the people of New Orleans. To learn more about my journey and what it’s like to be a Chief Programs Officer at a non-profit, check out my blog!
Read MoreAs I’ve gained more and more experience in the HIV prevention field, I’ve realized how much prevention work revolves around conversation. We often think that prevention work is straightforward: educate people about their options to protect themselves and others through different methods and expect them to access those services or resources. But it’s not straight-forward; there are a lot of other elements involved in the work. Find out more about those factors in my blog here.
Read MoreIn the world of public health, research is often thought of as a distant and impersonal part of the work: community outreach workers, health educators, and social workers are out building relationships in the community, and researchers are at their desks crunching numbers. Truth be told, I spend my share of time writing and analyzing data. However, in my experience, research is a deeply personal part of the work we do in public health. Find out what I mean by that and some of the results of a recent research project we conducted in my blog here.
Read MoreWhen I went to film school I never imagined I’d end up working at a public health non-profit for nearly 10 years. Find out the lessons I learned from being on set that apply to working at a desk (and vice versa) in my blog here.
Read MoreCan we agree that context is everything? What does it mean to position a social issue or even the actions of an individual within context? To better understand the relevance of this topic or possibly to deliberately confuse you, read my blog!
Read MoreAll too often, I am amazed by the brilliance and ingenuity of population-based public health research initiatives, yet I am let down when I realize the ways in which many of them lack consideration of the cultural influences among the people they intend to impact. Check out my full blog to see how to I engage with, learn about, and represent people of cultures similar or vastly different from my own.
Read MoreAs the leader of the Institute of Women & Ethnic Studies (IWES), ultimately I am responsible for its wins and its losses, and there are two important qualities that I think are necessary for me to succeed. Find them out in my blog here.
Read MoreAs a native New Orleanian and sexual health educator at IWES, I look forward to the unique organic connections that form with the youth I work with because of having a shared identity, despite having various and different lived experiences. Celebrate the culture of New Orleans and the youth we work with in my piece about the uniqueness of our youth.
Read MoreWanna know one of the hardest things for a teacher? Coming to terms with not always having the answer. Check out my blog to find out how I’ve dealt with it and what I do when a young person asks a question I may not have an answer to.
Read MoreOver the years, there has been progress towards reducing some health inequalities; however, disparities in health outcomes continue to exist in many critical areas such as preterm births and infant mortality, chronic health conditions, HIV infection and homicides. To understand more about health inequity and the role I believe we as public health practitioners and researchers should play, check out the rest of my blog here.
Read MoreWhen teaching a sexual health curriculum it is important to know yourself and the personal boundaries that accompany this body of work. Check out Caitlin’s blog to help you think through how to discover your boundaries and still provide the information your students need.
Read MoreI began my career working as a career counselor at several of the local colleges and universities. I found myself yearning to make an impact in the city that I affectionately called home. As a result, I found myself seeking employment in what was at the time one of the most controversial epidemics in the world - HIV/AIDS. Find out what I’ve witnessed over the past twenty years doing this work and what’s on the horizon for treatment and care.
Read MoreMy interest in film and photography started when I took a film class in high school, and since then I’ve been on an upward path learning, creating and gaining more experience in my field. Find out how this journey from high school has gotten me into a great internship and on set by checking out my blog.
Read MoreWalking into a classroom, you never really know what you’re going to get. Will the students engage? Are they listening? Will they care? Will the things we talk about really change their behavior? All of these thoughts and so many more cross my mind before I walk into a classroom and I wonder, “what kind of impact will I have today?” Check out the rest of Jessica’s piece to find out how she sees her impact in special moments - “Aha moments!”
Read MoreI am always excited to walk into a new classroom with a new set of faces that I will be teaching a comprehensive sexual health curriculum to. I always take a quick scan to see if they are nervous, jittery, excited, or nonchalant about the thought of sex-ed. For tips on how to make the process most beneficial to students, administrators and parents, check out my blog recounting my experience as a health educator.
Read MoreEvolution comes in many forms, such as spiritual and intellectual, but my personal favorite is the transformation of self. One of the little things I appreciate most in life is the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly as metaphorically it is very parallel to my past, present and future. To learn more about my transformation into a butterfly, follow the link below.
Read MoreGreat leaders don’t become great overnight. They get that way by making progress day by day, year by year, over the course of their careers. For tips on how to be a great leader and supervisor, check out blog.
Read MoreA professional internship can create a lot of bright opportunities for your future. But successfully adapting to the structure and needs of an organization can be extremely tough, regardless of whether or not you knew about the organization before or if it’s your first time being there. Check out the rest of my spotlight to learn my thoughts on the key to an interns’ success.
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