Artifacts

"Larona" is a story of one of my experiences in Peace Corps, as it bridged the gap between my own personal preferences with the people and culture of Botswana. I enjoyed being able to look at photos from my time in Sehithwa, the village where I resided, and reflect on the people that impacted my experience. It was important for me to share my story of how my time there was imperfectly perfect. Not everything fell into place all the time, but I had community that supported me, and this Digital Story expresses that.

This policy brief examines the shortcomings of the U.S. healthcare system in addressing the opioid crisis, specifically focusing on the lack of funding and targeted interventions for people who inject drugs (PWID), with an emphasis on low-income Black/African American communities in Baltimore, Maryland. It highlights how the U.S., unlike other developed nations, uses a fragmented healthcare model that leaves many vulnerable populations underinsured or uninsured. In this paper, I discussed the severe health and economic consequences of non-fatal and fatal overdoses, the rising trends in opioid use and hospitalizations, and argues for a shift in resources toward prevention strategies that could save lives, reduce healthcare costs, and improve outcomes for marginalized communities. 

Hunger Free Campus Grant is the first and only state-funded grant that Retriever Essentials has applied to, which was approved at the amount of $22,950, and is going towards student stipends. This grant was a pivotal part of my experience with Retriever Essentials because prior to my Peaceworker Fellowship, the program had not applied to grants. I applied to several different grants over my two years with Retriever Essentials, which expanded our ability and capacity as a donations-based program to acquire funds from different sources. With the Hunger Free Campus Grant, we were able to cover student stipends for some of our most notable Retriever Essentials projects, which include the Student Leadership Board, True Grits Meal Recovery, and the Data Team.

This project focuses on developing the ARTEMIS Patient Advisory Committee (PAC) to engage rural Marylanders with lived experience of polysubstance use, aiming to identify key trends, barriers, and risk factors in these communities. By enhancing recruitment and communication strategies, the initiative seeked to inform future efforts to address the social determinants of health and improve access to substance use recovery resources in rural areas. This was my final capstone project poster, that I presented at a University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Poster Session. Through this poster, I was able to visually map out the work that I had done in the beginning stages of creating a Patient Advisory Committee.

"Industrial Meets Fresh" captures the unique contrast of Baltimore, where the blend of gritty, industrial streets and vibrant, fresh spaces like the Farmers Market creates a surprising charm. From quiet walks through neighborhoods to the bustling, diverse energy of local markets, this reflection highlights the city's character, warmth, and undeniable spirit. I enjoyed writing this piece because it reflects my experience in the neighborhood I chose to live in (Pigtown) in Baltimore City, as well as my walk to UMB campus, and my experience going to the Baltimore Farmers Market, a favorite activity of mine during my time here.

Retriever Essentials Resource Needs presentation was presented to UMBC Student Affairs and was advocating for the addition of two full-time staff positions, a graduate assistant, and funding for office renovations, food storage, and a vehicle to better serve students in need. This was a particularly powerful presentation because my supervisor and I presented to administrative staff about our donations-based program, what we are achieving, why it's important, and what we need in a manner that was data-driven. There was a lot of interest during the presentation, and many questions about what individuals could do to help our initiative.

"The Paths We Walk" is an interactive art activity designed to help individuals explore and share their spiritual journeys through guided reflections and creative expression. This lesson plan was created as a facilitated lesson for the Peaceworker practicum seminar during a semester whose theme was Wisdoms, Worldviews, and Wellsprings. In co-creating this lesson with another fellow, I drew up on my own facilitation expertise. Together with another fellow, I planned and facilitated the lesson for a group of 10 Peaceworker Graduate Fellows and staff. Paired with a partner, participants visually map their experiences, considering family influences, personal growth, and the intersection of both, fostering deeper understanding and connection. The session was well-received and impactful. 

The ARTEMIS Manual offers comprehensive guidance for establishing and running a Patient Advisory Committee (PAC) focused on polysubstance use research, emphasizing patient engagement and collaboration with communities. It provides strategies for recruitment, meeting conduct, evaluation, and creating effective partnerships to ensure research that is patient-centered and culturally competent. I created most of this Standardized Operating Procedure to inform how the ARTEMIS PAC will function. In addition to this, the ARTEMIS Manual will be a great tool for a different project to replicate this when studying polysubstance use and performing patient engaged research.