AmeriCorps
-
Stories of Trust, Resilience, and Care in San Francisco Shelters
Through my AmeriCorps service term, I’ve served as a Health Educator for San Francisco’s most vulnerable populations. I’ve been part of the Department of Public Health’s Whole Person Integrated Care program, which includes low-barrier initiatives like Street Medicine and Shelter Health. These programs are based out of the Maria X Martinez Health Resource Center, which…
-
Beyond the Checklist: Embracing Human Connection in Shelter Health
AmeriCorps – Shelter Health Educator – 2025 When I began my role as the National Health Corps Shelter Health Educator, my biggest worry was not being able to do enough to have a real impact on the community. I was completely new to San Francisco, being born and raised in suburban central Maryland. In our…
-
A Lasting Impact in an Impermanent Role
AmeriCorps – Shelter Health Educator – 2025 A facet of my service experience I find myself returning to is the temporary nature of any AmeriCorps position. Though there is absolutely an impact in acutely solving issues, the power of long-term impact cannot be understated. My current role is not permanent, and the AmeriCorps positions themselves experience…
-
From Resources to Real Impact: Uniting San Francisco’s Unhoused Services
AmeriCorps – Shelter Health Educator – 2025 San Francisco is incredible in that there are so many resources and programs to remove barriers to getting care and meeting one’s basic needs. Having a lot of resources also means many players at once. The Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) helps connect individuals to shelters or housing. Street Medicine…
-
Be the Change: Making Healthcare Work for All
AmeriCorps – Shelter Health Educator – 2025 In my undergraduate public health courses, we often discussed how the current U.S. healthcare system is not built to serve all individuals who need care equitably. I learned about the difficulties in navigating the system, complications with insurance, and lack of cultural competency. I saw various instances of…
-
Breaking Barriers, Building Trust: STI Education in San Francisco Shelters
AmeriCorps – Shelter Health Educator – 2024 In light of HIV/AIDS Awareness Month My name is Anjalie Gowda (she/her) and I was born and raised in Ellicott City, Maryland. I graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2024 with a Bachelor’s in Public Health Science, and a drive to make a difference in…