While choosing just one national or global health issue to discuss here is a challenge, I'd have to pick the stark lack of equitable access to person-centered healthcare, and especially mental health services. Originally from Portland, Oregon, I've been a globe-trotter for many years, and seen first hand that, around the world, individuals from under-served and marginalized communities often face a dual burden: systemic barriers to accessing care and healthcare systems that fail to honor their cultural context, lived experience, or traditional healing knowledge. I believe that everyone deserves access to a full spectrum of safe, effective, and culturally relevant healthcare options—not just those who can afford it or who live in urban centers. My passion for this work is personal as much as it is professional. I am a single mother of two in my 40s, returning to graduate school to deepen my contributions to the global health field after years of hands-on work. The road to this point has been far from linear! Balancing motherhood with full-time work, financial stress, and professional dreams has tested my resilience at every turn. But it has also, without a doubt, clarified my purpose. I am committed to building healthcare systems that don’t leave anyone behind, both locally and globally. My passion for social justice in healthcare began with direct service in integrative care settings. I worked at the Charlotte Maxwell Clinic in Oakland, California, an inspiring organization that offers free alternative healthcare to low-income women undergoing cancer treatment. There, I witnessed the powerful impact of blending conventional and holistic approaches to support not just physical recovery, but emotional and spiritual well-being. Later, I moved to Nicaragua where I had the honor of being the Program's Director of Natural Doctors International, helping coordinate integrative medical brigades and support women around issues of partner violence and mental health. These experiences fueled my decision to pursue a dual Master's degree in Global Health and Clinical Nutrition, and to found my nonprofit organization: Salud Para Todos Caribe. Based in the Talamanca region of Costa Rica, SPTC is dedicated to improving access to quality, culturally respectful healthcare for Indigenous and Afro-descendent populations. In a region that has long been neglected by national health policies, we work for sustainable public health services that include traditional medicine, integrative health education, and mental health care. Mental health is a particularly urgent focus of our work. In Talamanca, many residents—especially young people—live with high levels of trauma, economic insecurity, and social exclusion, yet mental health services are nearly nonexistent. We are currently launching a pilot initiative to expand access to community-based, trauma-informed psychological care in partnership with local leaders and practitioners. This includes training community health workers, integrating traditional healing practices, and advocating for national policy reform that better serves rural and marginalized populations. I care about these issues because I have lived them—navigating systems that often feel inaccessible as a single mom, despite the privileges I enjoy such as the language I speak, the passport I hold and the color of my skin. I passionately believe that healthcare is a human right, not a privilege reserved for the wealthy. With this scholarship, I promise to continue my graduate studies while expanding the impact of my nonprofit work. My ultimate goal is to contribute to global health systems that are inclusive, decolonized, and grounded in community needs. I am truly committed to creating a better world, and extend my deep gratitude for your consideration of my application.

Returning to graduate school as a single mother in my 40s has required deep resolve (and maybe a little bit of craziness), and yet it’s also the most life-affirming decision I’ve ever made. I’m currently completing a master’s degree in Global Health and beginning a second in Clinical Nutrition, a path that bridges my past experience in holistic nutrition with my longstanding commitment to health equity. My work today is rooted in the belief that nutrition is a powerful tool to prevent illness, promote healing, and restore autonomy around our health—especially for those most often left out of healthcare systems. Many years ago, I earned my certification in holistic nutrition from Bauman College of Holistic Nutrition and launched a private practice in the Bay Area. While I loved working one-on-one with clients, I felt called to reach people facing structural and systemic barriers to care. This calling eventually led me to Nicaragua, where I lived and worked for two years as Programs Director for Natural Doctors International. After becoming a mother, I put much of my professional work on hold to provide for my family—but I never lost sight of the vision to merge nutrition with social justice in healthcare both locally and globally. That vision has come to life through Salud Para Todos Caribe, a nonprofit I founded in 2023 to provide preventive and integrative health services to historically underserved communities on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. We serve Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and migrant families who face significant obstacles to care despite Costa Rica’s national health system. With a volunteer team, we’ve already offered over 800 free one-on-one consultations and more than 40 educational workshops on topics like menstrual health, nutrition and substance abuse. As we prepare to open our own community health center, we are excited to expand our offerings—including expanded nutrition education and culturally grounded dietary support—to meet growing demand and a very urgent need to prevent and manage chronic diseases with food. One of the greatest challenges I’ve faced is balancing my passion for nutrition and public health with the realities of being a low-income, single parent. I’ve struggled with wanting to give my children the most nourishing meals possible while making difficult decisions about groceries, rent, and school supplies. This lived experience has deepened my compassion and commitment to helping families make healthy changes within their means. I know firsthand how hard it is to hear, “food is medicine,” when you’re worried about affording that food. If awarded this scholarship, I will continue working toward a career that brings nutrition education and therapeutic interventions to those who need them most—but who are least likely to have access. I envision leading public health nutrition programs that integrate culturally relevant food traditions, accessible clinical support, and evidence-based strategies to reduce chronic illness. In Costa Rica and beyond, I plan to train community health workers, host cooking demonstrations and workshops, and help families understand how small shifts in diet can support major health improvements. Just as importantly, I will advocate for structural and policy change—because food security, clean water, and equitable health access are prerequisites to good nutrition. Amber Hudson’s story, and this scholarship, honor the powerful truth that nutrition is not a luxury, but a necessity. It’s not just about living longer, but about living better. I would be honored to carry this mission forward, and I thank you sincerely for your consideration.

Returning to school in my 40s as a single mother of two boys has been the most courageous and daunting decision of my life. Like many single moms, this wasn’t exactly my life plan, but I’d humbly like to believe that, similarly to Debra S Jackson, I am now walking a path of reinvention and transformation for myself and my children as I take on a dual masters degree in Global Health and Clinical Nutrition. My journey has taken many twists and turns, as many of ours have, I suppose. Going back to the beginning of my adult years, I fell in love with academia and swore that if it paid me, I would dedicate myself to learning forever. My undergraduate degree in Women’s Studies led me into the nonprofit world, where I worked for several inspiring organizations in San Francisco, New York, and Portland Oregon, supporting survivors of domestic violence and their children. This work cemented my desire to incorporate human rights work into my professional and personal paths and my conviction that true change comes from addressing systemic inequalities. After returning to school for a certificate in holistic nutrition in my mid-twenties, I discovered the intersection between social justice work and healthcare, specifically. I began a private nutrition practice in San Francisco, yet realized that my calling to work with under-served communities was strongly pulling me back to the nonprofit world, and I accepted a position as Programs Director for Natural Doctors International (NDI), living and working for two years in a rural Nicaraguan village. When my first son was born 8 years ago, my professional aspirations were largely put on hold, as I’ve always been the sole financial provider. I found freelance writing work and other gigs that helped me pay the bills, but certainly were not aligned with my passions. While I’m grateful that they let me put food on the table and have a flexible schedule to spend more time with my children, I finally got to the point where re-dedicating myself to what fills me up became a fire inside that I couldn’t ignore. In 2023, this fire led me to consider graduate school, and was also what inspired me to found Salud Para Todos Caribe, a nonprofit organization that provides preventive health services to marginalized communities. My masters programs are opening doors I never thought possible to help me grow this organization into something big, and into work I know is creating positive change in the world. Returning to school at this stage of life could be considered a daily act of resilience. My sons have watched me study late into the night, attend virtual classes while breastfeeding and stirring pasta at the same time, and struggling to stay strong under the stress of finances. I am driven by a vision of a healthier, more equitable world—and by the knowledge that I am modeling bravery and the power of education for my children. This scholarship honors the same values that guide my journey: the strength to embrace second chances, the courage to overcome adversity, and the belief that education can transform lives. It certainly has mine, and scholarships have been my lifeline. Debra S. Jackson’s legacy strikes me as one of resilience and transformation. While I don’t always succeed, I do strive every day to embody these qualities, knowing that education is not just a personal endeavor—it is a commitment to my community, my family, and a better future for us all. Thank you in advance for considering my application and for the many lives you've already impacted with your generosity.

Becoming a parent dramatically changes every facet of our internal and external lives, from everyday details to core values. As a single parent, those changes can feel even more all-consuming and leave little space to consider things like higher education. I'm Rachel Fiske, a 40-year-old single mother of a delightful (and incredibly willful) six-year-old boy. Over 15 years ago, I graduated with a bachelor's degree in social work and women's studies and went on to work in social services and social justice in various capacities. Having always had a deep love of travel, I spent multiple years living and working in Central America, where I became fluent in Spanish. This led me to work with several inspiring nonprofits, mainly with the Latina community. About ten years ago, I had the unique opportunity to work as the Programs Director for an NGO in Nicaragua promoting health equity with a focus on natural medicine, which is where I had an "Aha" moment, and understood that my future career goals would focus on the intersection between integrative medicine and public health and how to extend high-quality integrative care to vulnerable populations. In 2016, my son was born. Shortly after, I found myself a single mom. My son's father struggled with addiction; we've heard little from him over the last four years. As the sole breadwinner, my higher education and professional pursuits came to a screeching halt as I entered this new chapter of single parenthood. My focus shifted to making ends meet. I was fortunate to make just enough doing freelance nutrition coaching and health content writing. My son had always had a sweet and close relationship with his Dad, so navigating his grief and confusion over his father's sudden absence has been a heavy weight to carry. He has struggled with anger, and I've done my best to connect him with resources and professionals to help him process these big feelings for such a small person. Now that he has started elementary school, I finally feel the bandwidth to recommit myself to my professional goals, which I have no doubt will lead us both to bigger and better things. While single parenting is an everyday challenge, and there are never-ending moments I wish I had set different examples, reacted in a better way, or shown my son more patience, one thing he will always see is that I am dedicated to using integrative healthcare as a tool for social justice, community connection and healing for body, mind, spirit, and planet. Pursuing my Master's in global public health will help me achieve my goals and allow me to demonstrate to my son what is possible. With this global public health master's degree from the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM), I intend to start my own nonprofit organization providing free integrative medical care to vulnerable low-income populations. I've done this work abroad and know it can be possible here at home. I do not doubt that there are many deserving scholarship applicants. As a 40-year-old single mom, it feels daunting to be considering a master's degree. But life is too short not to try for the things that bring us the most joy. I humbly and gratefully ask that you consider my past work experience a testament to my passion for global health work and an example of how I will commit myself to this opportunity with pride and dedication.

Becoming a parent, single or not, dramatically changes every facet of our internal and external lives, from everyday details to core values. As a single parent, those changes can feel even more all-consuming and leave little space to consider things like higher education. I'm Rachel Fiske, a 40-year-old single mother of a delightful (and incredibly willful) six-year-old boy. Over 15 years ago, I graduated with a bachelor's degree in social work and women's studies and went on to work in social services and social justice in various capacities. Having always had a deep love of travel, I spent multiple years living and working in Central America, where I became fluent in Spanish. This led me to work with several inspiring nonprofits, mainly with the Latina community. About ten years ago, I had the unique opportunity to work as the Programs Director for an NGO in Nicaragua promoting health equity with a focus on natural medicine, which is where I had an "Aha" moment, and understood that my future career goals would focus on the intersection between integrative medicine and public health and how to extend high-quality integrative care to vulnerable populations. In 2016, my son was born. Shortly after, I found myself a single mom. My son's father struggled with addiction; we've heard little from him over the last four years. As the sole breadwinner, my higher education and professional pursuits came to a screeching halt as I entered this new chapter of single parenthood. My focus shifted to making ends meet. I was fortunate to make just enough doing freelance nutrition coaching and health content writing. My son had always had a sweet and close relationship with his Dad, so navigating his grief and confusion over his father's sudden absence has been a heavy weight to carry. He has struggled with anger, and I've done my best to seek out community resources to help him process these big feelings for such a small person. Now that he has started elementary school, I finally feel the bandwidth to recommit myself to my professional goals, which I have no doubt will lead us both to bigger and better things. While single parenting is an everyday challenge, and there are never-ending moments I wish I had set different examples, reacted in a better way, or shown my son more patience, one thing he will always see is that I am dedicated to using integrative healthcare as a tool for social justice, community connection and healing for body, mind, spirit, and planet. Pursuing my Master's in global public health will help me achieve my goals and allow me to demonstrate to my son what is possible. With this Master's degree, I intend to start my own nonprofit organization providing free integrative medical care to vulnerable low-income populations. I've done this work abroad and know it can be possible here at home. I do not doubt that there are many deserving scholarship applicants. As a 40-year-old single mom, it feels daunting to be considering a master's degree. But life is too short not to try for the things that bring us the most joy. I humbly and gratefully ask that you consider my past work experience a testament to my passion for global health work and an example of how I will commit myself to this opportunity with pride and dedication.

Becoming a parent, single or not, dramatically changes every facet of our internal and external lives, from everyday details to core values. As a single parent, those changes can feel even more all-consuming and leave little space to consider things like higher education. I'm Rachel Fiske, a 40-year-old single mother of a delightful (and incredibly willful) six-year-old boy. Over 15 years ago, I graduated with a bachelor's degree in social work and women's studies and went on to work in social services and social justice in various capacities. Having always had a deep love of travel, I spent multiple years living and working in Central America, where I became fluent in Spanish. This led me to work with several inspiring nonprofits, mainly with the Latina community. About ten years ago, I had the unique opportunity to work as the Programs Director for an NGO in Nicaragua promoting health equity with a focus on natural medicine, which is where I had an "Aha" moment, and understood that my future career goals would focus on the intersection between integrative medicine and public health and how to extend high-quality integrative care to vulnerable populations. In 2016, my son was born. Shortly after, I found myself a single mom. My son's father struggled with addiction; we've heard little from him over the last four years. As the sole breadwinner, my higher education and professional pursuits were largely put on hold as I entered this new chapter of single parenthood. My focus shifted to making ends meet. I was fortunate to make just enough doing freelance nutrition coaching and health content writing. Now that my son has started elementary school, I finally feel more space and time to recommit myself to my passion. While single parenting is an everyday challenge, and there are never-ending moments I wish I had set different examples, reacted in a better way, or shown my son more patience, one thing he will always see is that I am dedicated to using integrative healthcare as a tool for social justice, community connection and healing for body, mind, spirit, and planet. Pursuing my Master's in global public health will help me achieve my goals and allow me to demonstrate to my son what is possible. With my Global Public Health Master's degree from the National Univeristy of Natural Medicine (NUNM), I intend to start my own nonprofit organization providing free integrative medical care to vulnerable low-income populations. I've done this work abroad and know it can be possible here at home. I do not doubt that there are many deserving scholarship applicants. As a 40-year-old single mom, it feels daunting to be considering a master's degree. But life is too short not to try for the things that bring us the most joy. I humbly and gratefully ask that you consider my past work experience a testament to my passion for global health work and an example of how I will commit myself to this opportunity with pride and dedication.

My son's early educational years were spent in non-directive educational atmospheres. Above everything else, they supported nurturing each child's soul. When he entered elementary school, and his teacher reported that he was "disobedient," I admit that part of me was glad to hear of his fierce independence. While it might get him into trouble sometimes, it will also serve him greatly. This is the example I've tried to give my son over the years: that success largely comes from practicing kindness, recognizing injustice, and pursuing what fills you and those you love with joy. After high school, my educational path has been unconventional. I went to three different Universities with time off to work and get to know myself scattered in between. The University I graduated from (Global College University) took a hands-on approach to learning where we had the opportunity to develop our own major and travel the world. My undergraduate thesis project was a comparison of Machismo in Guatemala and Patriarchy in the United States and how we can work together to recognize and eliminate gender injustice and systems of power and oppression. I went on to work in the field of social services for various nonprofits, mainly with the Latina community. Working with several nonprofits in the health equity field helped me realize that my true passion lies in the intersection between integrative medicine and public health and how to extend high-quality integrative care to vulnerable populations. When my son was born in 2016, and shortly after I found myself a single mom, my professional pursuits were put on hold as I entered a new chapter of life as a parent. Now that elementary school has begun, I have more space and time to recommit myself to my passion. While single parenting is an everyday challenge, and there are never-ending moments I wish I had set different examples, reacted in a better way, or shown my son more patience, one thing he will always see is that I am dedicated to using integrative healthcare as a tool for social justice, community connection and healing for body, mind, spirit, and planet. Pursuing my master's in global public health will help me achieve my goals and allow me to demonstrate to my son what is possible. I do not doubt that there are many deserving scholarship applicants. As a mother approaching 40, it feels daunting to be considering a master's degree. But life is too short not to try for the things that bring us the most joy. I humbly and gratefully ask that you consider my past work experience a testament to my passion for global health work and an example of how I will commit myself to this opportunity with pride and dedication. I'm ok with the fact that, perhaps, my son isn't always "obedient." I'd rather he learn to be inquisitive, fair, generous, passionate, and confident enough to achieve his dreams.