What went well?
I had productive meetings with Inmar, the partner supporting medication disposal. I learned about the differences between kiosk-based and mail-back programs, as well as how federal regulations impact their implementation. This helped shape the direction of the initiative by steering it toward mail-back programs as a more realistic and accessible option for community spaces. I also began outreach to organizations across Wards 7 and 8, emailing ANCs, prevention centers, and youth orgs. I also attended the Health Alliance Network meeting to talk about the implementation of this project.

What could have been done differently?
While I sent out a high volume of outreach emails, I underestimated how many would not respond, especially from youth programs during the summer. I could have balanced email with more strategic follow-up calls or in-person visits sooner to increase engagement. Additionally, I did not clearly track all the organizations I contacted until later in the week, which created some disorganization in follow-up planning.

What did I learn about myself when working with others?
I leaned into resourcefulness and responsibility. I asked questions during meetings with Inmar and adapted quickly when I realized that not all community spaces could host kiosks. I also stayed committed even when responses were slow or absent. 

What did I learn about leadership?
This week deepened my understanding of strategic leadership. Leaders do not just set goals, but they adjust when presented with new information. Learning about the legal and logistical frameworks required me to plan accordingly. 

What do I want to develop or focus on next?
I want to refine my outreach process by creating a better system for tracking communication and starting to schedule in-person visits. My next focus is on initiating more meaningful conversations and getting my first site commitments confirmed.