Farewell San Antonio
Apoorva Chalasani
1st Year MPH Epidemiology Student
There were many unexpected things that occurred on this trip. There were issues with
flight
tickets on our first day, along with changes in plans and situations in the days that
followed as
we learned to navigate community-based research in an unfamiliar place.
On our first day, we distributed surveys to community members in local community centers
and
got a bit lost on our way there. Throughout the rest of the trip, we successfully
navigated the
Texan roads and conducted a windshield tour to see the area with our own eyes. We
also had
the honor to hear the direct perspective of the community through focus groups.
One notable change that did occur was that my team, the Eastside team, was asked to
conduct
a second focus group, by our community partner. This initially felt daunting, as it
gave rise to
the prospect that we would not be able to give our best work with the limited time
available.
In a change of events, this second focus group became the most memorable part of this
experience. It served to me as a poignant reminder that communities often already
have their
own existing resources, and more so that the strongest resource that a community has
is the
community itself and its members.
Learning about community resources and assets in class provided me with a certain
level of
awareness of communities' resources and assets at large. However, it was hearing from
and
speaking with those who belonged to the Bexar County community on their own lived
experiences that truly shifted my perspective on what it means to support a community.
Community unity and community coalitions are not topics that we are taught much about
at
school, nor are they ones that we see as often discussed in the academic setting,
yet they may
be some of the most vital assets a community has.
The strength of the community of San Antonio was very evident from our project. This
community health needs assessment was a partnership with South Central Area Health
Education Center and Community Information NOW, who themselves are local community
organizations, and the many more community partners who supported our project.
In my short time working with the community of Bexar County, it is clear that there
is present a
community with deep roots and one that that holds strong advocates within. I hope
to continue
my pursuit of translational community-based work, with the aim of supporting communities
in
their advocacy for their health and wellbeing through the use of research.