CEW IV Foundation Scholarship Program

Social justice is the heartbeat of communal harmony and the bedrock upon which equitable societies are built. The issues that resonate with me most profoundly are racial equality and educational access. These twin pillars of social justice are not only intrinsically linked but are also the scaffolding for addressing a myriad of other societal challenges. Racial equality is a fundamental right, yet it remains elusive. As a black woman, the echoes of inequality are not just historical footnotes; they are the lived experiences of my community. The Black Lives Matter movement has been pivotal in highlighting systemic racism and police brutality. The tragic deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, among others, are not isolated incidents but the manifestations of a deep-seated societal ailment that requires immediate and persistent action. Educational access is equally critical. In underserved communities, quality education is often a privilege rather than a right. I've witnessed firsthand how zip codes can determine destiny, how children with potential are relegated to the peripheries because their schools lack resources. The pandemic has exacerbated these disparities, with remote learning highlighting the digital divide. Students without access to reliable internet or devices are left behind, their education disrupted. Why is it important to get involved? Involvement is the catalyst for change. It is not enough to recognize injustice; one must actively work to dismantle it. I believe in the power of grassroots movements and policy advocacy. By volunteering with local organizations that focus on racial justice and educational equity, I contribute to the change I wish to see. Whether it's through tutoring programs, community workshops, or peaceful protests, every action counts. Let me paint a scenario: Imagine a young girl named Maria, living in an underfunded school district. She has dreams of becoming a scientist, but her school lacks basic laboratory equipment. Her potential is immense, but her opportunities are limited. Now, envision a community-led initiative that partners with local education institutions to provide resources and mentorship for students like Maria. This is the kind of real-world impact that is entirely possible and stems from social justice advocacy. All it takes is a community that believes — that has faith. My involvement is driven by the belief that we are all interconnected. The fight for racial equality and educational access is not just for those directly affected; it benefits society as a whole. When we lift the most marginalized among us, we elevate our entire community. It is a moral imperative to get involved, to lend our voices, our time, and our resources to the causes that shape the fabric of our shared humanity.

When I was 7 years old, my mother worked full-time at a hospital while attending school to become a surgical technician. I remember helping her with her anatomy and physiology flashcards. As I grew older, my interest in science intensified. I recently participated in a program called Black Men in White Coats. This program's mission is to increase the number of black men in medicine by exposure, inspiration, and mentoring. In this program, I learned that the already low number of black male applicants to medical school was decreasing. This fact made me think about how many male black doctors I had encountered in my life and the sad reality was I had never seen a black male doctor. This experience made my dream of becoming a doctor even more important. I realized this is an issue that affects not only the black male population but people of color across the nation and it has had a profound effect on my own family. Both of my grandfathers passed away, one had liver cancer, and it was like he went to the doctor one day and was dead the next week. My mother’s dad died at 65 years old, Papa Robert had been feeling ill for about 2 weeks and refused to go to the doctor saying it would just create more medical bills. Healthcare diversity is a social justice issue because, across the nation communities of color, populations with lower socioeconomic status, and people with cognitive and physical disability are often disproportionately exposed to conditions and environments that negatively affect health risk. The African American community has endured a long history of healthcare discrimination, including unethical medical experimentation and denial of basic care. These experiences have undoubtedly contributed to the deep-rooted distrust and reluctance to seek medical attention among African Americans. Access to quality healthcare is an ongoing issue in the African American community. Gaps in health insurance coverage, medical deserts in predominantly Black neighborhoods, and racial biases within healthcare systems all hinder timely and appropriate medical care. The lack of access exacerbates health disparities, hindering early detection, proper treatment, and prevention efforts. African Americans often face bias and discrimination within healthcare systems, leading to lower-quality care and an unwillingness to seek medical attention. Implicit biases, stereotypes, and racial profiling affect the physician-patient relationship, contributing to mistrust and dissatisfaction within the healthcare system. My journey toward pursuing a medical career has been shaped by my passion for science, my values of inclusivity and diversity, and the potential to make a difference. As I embark on my college journey, I intend on majoring in Biology on a pre-medical studies track. As a doctor, I want to work towards improving healthcare outcomes and patient satisfaction by treating individuals with respect, compassion, and cultural sensitivity. There is already a stigma that black men do not like to go to the doctor. My goal is to help alleviate this stigma, by participating in public health campaigns and initiatives that help with disease prevention, promote healthy behaviors, and improve overall well-being in high-risk communities with education about preventive measures, immunizations, and addressing health disparities. In addition to my passion for medicine, I have always been driven by a desire to help others and positively impact society. This is why I feel it is important to be involved and advocate for healthcare diversity.

The impact felt by the covid-19 pandemic world-wide has left no stone unturned, whether in direct mortality or significant economic devastation, no one can debate the way we move forward has forever changed. However, the racial injustice and power inequities unveiled in the United States has further left an indefinable awareness and change in how we understand race, poverty, systemic discrimination. This shift has made us all ask the inevitable questions, "what do we do?" and "how can I make a difference?" The reality of how separate a nation we really are has come to light and in the details of that separateness we have felt the radical nature of a people lost in false ideology of isolation, marginalization, segregation, and entitlement. Further, what has been unearthed is the ridiculously tragic and embarrassing reality that the issues we are still protesting and fighting for - from climate change to body autonomy - are the same injustices and problems of our past. Yet, while the pull to feel overwhelmed is real, this generation seems to carry a vitality and belief that there can be answers to our problems and that injustices can end with one singular action that lead to a movement of change. As a native Brooklynite, I have witnessed a wave of gentrification that has aesthetically affected the infamous neighborhoods of Bedford-Stuyvesant and Bushwick but has also inspired organizations to support its native inhabitants to stay and keep their homes and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Through programs like Neighborhood Lift and IMPAACT, residents of historical sites in all five boroughs have been granted opportunities to become viable contenders in their own neighborhoods and keep outsiders or investors from overtaking and reclaiming family history and legacy. The pandemic highlighted our country's fragile and inequitable healthcare system with sky rocketing numbers of Black, Latino, and poor people dying from the disease over other social economic and racial groups. This disparity in healthcare, which includes mental wellness has mobilized communities in all boroughs to create greater access and facility to clinics, counseling, rehabilitation, and basic wellness centers for families and young children. Only two weeks ago, our mayor announced an initiative to treat diabetes holistically by incorporating both nutritionists and medical doctors, rather than continuous methods through the pharmaceutical realm, which, in fact, has proven to worsen conditions and overall progress. I’ve seen the youth caring and lending a watchful eye on their elders – from volunteering to accompanying them on errands to sweeping or snow shoveling during the winter. Seeing such compassion and empathy bolsters my faith in this generation who seek social justice for all people the world around. Perhaps the greatest social justice emphasis, for me, has been the awareness and need for agency in climate change and the need to act globally to protect what remains of mother earth. It is the reason I am on a pre-law track to study environmental law and someday soon advocate for protection of the earth. Extreme weather across the country and world-wide has cost lives and basic ways of life for billions of people and native animals. Rising sea levels are already approaching communities and shifting and changing land mass affecting the survival of vegetation, animals and the cycle of life. Local jurisdictions are not as effective as federal ones, but recent reductions in emissions and greater uses of natural gas has made significant impacts in larger cities like New York. The optimism is palpable and invigoratingly contagious. I know that I will contribute to finding answers and being part of the solution to social justice everywhere.