Washington and Lee University
The Shepherd Poverty Alliance presented me with an eye-opening opportunity to intern with the B.O.L.D Teens of Dorchester, Mass., this summer. The health disparities in Codman Square were by far the most major form of poverty that I witnessed during my stay in Boston. Sustaining that health disparities are more of a problem than food options, the inequalities produce effects which create a continuum that touches many social determinants such as housing, transportation, education and health. Before I worked with B.O.L.D Teens I was unaware of health disparities and unaware of the fact that I have been living in a community in Memphis with health disparities for the majority of my life. The reasons why certain things are and were the way they are in my community did not occur to me until I worked for this program. I am extremely grateful to have worked with a program such as B.O.L.D Teens because never before have I seen a group of young people so passionate for change in their community. I intend on taking all of the knowledge passed down to me in this program to the city of Memphis so that I can get the youth in my community educated about issues and prepped to advocate for them. There may just be a B.O.L.D Teens Memphis in the future!