Connections to the Generous City of San Antonio
Gabrielle Leiker
Public Health Undergraduate Senior
During my experience in San Antonio, Texas, I formed lasting connections with the city and its community. As noted by focus group participants, San Antonio is truly one of the most generous cities I have ever visited. One of the first things I noticed upon arriving was the friendliness of its residents and their willingness to engage in meaningful, welcoming conversations. Through my fieldwork experience, I witnessed firsthand how deeply community members care for and support one another. This experience strengthened my desire to engage in public health work in meaningful ways by building lasting relationships and fostering strong community connections.
Prior to this experience, I had some background in survey distribution but no experience facilitating focus groups. Our team was assigned to San Antonio’s East Side, where we conducted surveys, facilitated focus groups, and engaged in conversations with community members. I greatly valued these interactions, as they allowed me to better understand residents’ perspectives and lived experiences. Through this process, I developed skills in engaging with community members thoughtfully—particularly through active listening and responsive dialogue.
One of my biggest challenges was asserting myself during focus group facilitation. I often struggled with determining when to guide the conversation or shift topics, as I did not want to interrupt participants. Over time, however, I learned how to ask probing questions more naturally and facilitate discussion more confidently. I also appreciated the opportunity to learn from graduate students and observe their facilitation styles, which provided valuable examples of effective engagement.
I am deeply grateful for this experience and all that it taught me. I gained a stronger understanding of community perspectives on aging and the importance of infrastructure that supports aging in place. This experience has sparked a deeper interest in working with aging populations and engaging in community-based public health efforts. I look forward to continuing to build my skills and learning from community members in future work.
