Embedded Files
Shannon Moloney
In the spring of 2025, my mother was diagnosed with cancer, and it took a huge toll on our family.Watching my mom go through her treatment completely changed the way I view healthcare. After her diagnosis and surgery, the recovery and rehabilitation process was physically and emotionally exhausting for our family. Thankfully, because of strong insurance coverage, she was able to access treatments, rehabilitation services, and support that helped her tremendously throughout her recovery.
Seeing both her struggle and the support she received made me think about the families who are not as fortunate. There are so many people who have to watch a loved one suffer without access to the same level of care simply because they lack adequate insurance or cannot afford treatment. Realizing how much access to healthcare can affect someone’s quality of life motivated me to address this issue and work toward making healthcare resources more accessible and understandable for underserved communities.
Given the fortunate opportunity to participate in the changemaker project through our Global Scholars, program I knew healthcare inequity was a problem I wanted to address. Through both my personal experiences and my research, I realized that access to quality healthcare can completely change a person’s outcome, yet millions of people still face barriers because of cost, lack of insurance, language differences, or confusion about the healthcare system. Equal healthcare is important because every person deserves the opportunity to receive treatment, preventative care, and support regardless of their income or background. No one should have to suffer or delay care simply because they cannot afford help or do not know where to go, which is why I became passionate about creating solutions that make healthcare resources more accessible to everyone.
Noah Stopnik
As a junior at Byram Hills High School, I have always been passionate about using leadership and community engagement to create meaningful change. Through programs such as Global Scholars, Model United Nations, and civic involvement within my community, I have developed a strong interest in addressing issues that directly impact people’s everyday lives. One issue that has especially stood out to me is the lack of accessible and affordable healthcare resources for underserved communities in Westchester County.
I care deeply about this issue because healthcare is one of the most essential aspects of a person’s well-being, yet many individuals and families continue to face barriers that prevent them from receiving the care they need. Through research, empathy interviews, and conversations with community members and health professionals, I learned that challenges such as cost, transportation, language barriers, and limited awareness of available services often prevent people from accessing healthcare. I also came to understand how closely healthcare access is connected to other issues such as food insecurity, mental health, and health literacy.
These experiences inspired me to create 914 Health Nav, a website designed to help individuals and families more easily locate affordable healthcare clinics, mental health resources, and food pantries throughout Westchester County. My goal is to make healthcare resources more accessible, easier to navigate, and more widely known within the community. Beyond simply providing information, I hope this project can help reduce health disparities and encourage greater awareness about the importance of equitable healthcare access.
As I continue developing this project, I hope to combine technology, advocacy, and community outreach to create a resource that can make a lasting impact on the lives of others.
We are Noah and Shannon, students in the Global Scholars Program, a three-year initiative that empowers students to investigate complex global issues and develop meaningful, community-based solutions. Through this program, we have had the opportunity to participate in the Changemaker Project, which challenges students not only to raise awareness about important issues, but also to take direct action to create lasting impact within their communities. Our project focuses on one of the most urgent yet often overlooked challenges in Westchester County: unequal access to affordable healthcare. Through extensive research and conversations with organizations such as the United Hospital Fund, we learned that many individuals and families—particularly those in under-resourced communities—face significant barriers to receiving proper care. These barriers include high medical costs, lack of insurance coverage, language differences, limited transportation, and a lack of awareness about the healthcare resources already available to them. In response, we created this website as a simple, accessible, and centralized platform designed to help individuals quickly locate affordable healthcare providers, clinics, food assistance programs, and other essential support services within their communities. By making these resources easier to access and understand, we hope to improve health literacy and empower people to make informed decisions about their wellbeing. At the heart of our project is the belief that healthcare is a fundamental human right, not a privilege. Through this initiative, we hope to take a meaningful step toward reducing health disparities, increasing accessibility, and building a healthier and more equitable community for all residents of Westchester County.
Page updated
Report abuse