This summer, I had the privilege of interning with RaisingHealth, a New York City based non-profit dedicated to advancing health equity through community-driven care, advocacy, and outreach. RaisingHealth’s mission is to spotlight underserved communities, particularly the immigrant population of New York, and to provide these communities with access to health and social care. Their work feels especially vital given the many systemic barriers in the US healthcare system that often make healthcare inaccessible to these communities. At RaisingHealth, I had the chance to contribute to efforts that respond directly to these issues and to see how community-based interventions can make a tangible difference. My project involved a dual focus: I worked with the community health team to achieve RaisingHealth’s goal of providing health and social services to 75% of all eligible community members, whilst also developing and piloting a new therapy group for Mandarin speakers with the mental health team.

As part of the community health team, I helped to distribute culturally tailored food parcels to families facing food insecurity across New York. This experience opened my eyes to how systemic gaps in access often manifest in everyday struggles; many community members faced barriers when attempting to meet their basic needs, which then had a ripple effect on their health. In turn, many then found themselves navigating a healthcare system that was not designed for them.  In my time at RaisingHealth, we often found ourselves focusing on the social determinants of health and wellbeing, at a time where holistic support is, unfortunately, all too rare. Through that lens, we were able to identify areas of priority within the community, such as culturally sensitive health education. Building from this, I took the lead in designing outreach materials for some of our health programs, including a food nutrition workshop that could be delivered in several languages. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from the community was a strong reminder that leadership is most successful when it is founded on connection. I feel fortunate that I was able to build strong connections with not just the local community, but with my team, who never failed to be welcoming, curious, and kind. It’s been inspiring to work alongside such dedicated and caring individuals who bring compassion and cultural understanding into every aspect of their work.

My work with the mental health team built on these values. As part of my project, I helped design outreach materials for several new therapy programs and co-facilitated a therapy group for Mandarin-speaking community members. The conversations I had during those sessions were some of the most meaningful parts of my summer. They really highlighted how much demand there is for accessible, culturally competent care, and how much stigma still exists around mental health. Seeing how tailored, community-based care can reach people who might otherwise be left out was incredibly powerful. I’m especially proud of how our team approached these conversations with such empathy and respect, always meeting people where they were at. An unexpected and lovely bonus to creating this open, supportive environment was the kindness shown to me in return. Many of the people I met on my project went out of their way to help me navigate some of the trickier elements of being in a completely new country (I’m looking at you, New York subway system), bring me into their social circles, and make me feel welcome. One of the best parts of the project for me was how freely we all engaged in culture swapping, especially when it came to food: sharing homemade dishes, trading recipes, and several group outings to local food places. 

One of the biggest highlights of my internship was helping out at RaisingHealth’s 10th Annual Health Empowerment Celebration. The event brought together more than 1000 community members for free health screenings, food parcels, and connections to other health and social services. I co-led the mental health table, where I got to talk directly with community members about wellbeing and the services we offer. It was so rewarding to see people open up, ask questions, and leave with new resources and a bit more confidence in taking care of their mental health.

These six weeks have really reaffirmed my passion for working in healthcare, and for making it more inclusive, equitable, and community driven. More than anything, this experience reminded me that healthcare isn’t just about systems or treatment - it’s about people. It’s about meeting them where they are, understanding their stories, and making sure no one gets left behind.