Cultivating Young Women Leaders in Northern CA

Mask Up! Young Women Leading the Charge Against Covid-19. 

COVID-19 has been on the rise in our rural communities and many of those we serve are directly being impacted. Folks are experiencing the loss of loved ones, financial hardships, isolation and other difficult challenges. The young women of Women's Health Specialists' outreach team saw this struggle and recognized the need for COVID-19 awareness and resources in our underserved communities. 

The Outreach team had been working on some projects during the warmer weather talking about the need to socially distance, quarantine, sanitize, and wear masks. This campaign was called "Mask Up" which gave short and straightforward tips on how to reduce the spread of Covid-19. Outreach staff helped design posters and flyers to share with the community. The Mask Up campaign exhibited members of the community and strived to develop materials that resonated with those most impacted. The outreach team recognizes the importance of staying personal and intimate to better connect with the communities we serve. 

Outreach started to create materials to share on social media and within our clinics. These materials expanded beyond simple tips, they shared resources such as where to get tested, the status of the counties we serve, and how to stay up to date with all things COVID-19 related. Holding these conversations are especially vital in our communities. Of course, a rural community like the ones we serve are often disconnected from resources. Outreach strived to bridge this gap and become a liaison between the communities we serve and public health institutions. Being a part of the community we serve is a vital part of creating the "resource bridge". Outreach staff understands how our communities behave and absorb information thus making our resources all the more helpful.

This human approach to tackling COVID-19 is what has worked best in the community and our clinics. The main goal of the project was to keep our community safe, provide resources and remind them that we can get through this together. Although we may be apart, community is always at our core. Young women are leading the charge against COVID-19 in our communities, whether that be leading by example, raising awareness, or being a bridge. The love for our people helps us accomplish our work efficiently and with compassion. 

Please enjoy these photos of our campaign. Thank you for supporting our work and the leadership of young people in our communities.

Links:

• Women's Health Specialists