Health Promotion Planning & Evaluation

CHOSEN GROUP:

Bill Moyers Journal: Santa Ana Health Crusade

Hello Class, I had the advantage of continually relocating to different cities as a child.

Where I live the next city over was almost always another world. I have lived in both poverty-stricken communities and wealthy communities. The overall attitude about life between the two statuses of each city is noticeable. The racial differences seemed evident as well with the wealthy people being composed of mainly white and the poor people being composed of blacks and Hispanics like myself. I understand the struggles that come with living in a community that lacks as many resources as Santa Ana. I even have a cousin currently living with diabetes who has reported having multiple fainting spells due to lack of food in the household. I can relate to this group in those ways, but I think the real challenge lies on if that group can relate to me.

I have refined my way of speaking and acting to reflect the kind of life I want to live, and it has served me well. Now, I am afraid that I have become un-relatable to others because of this. I am overall a happy person, and most would think that to be a good thing but surprisingly enough some people consider that suspicious. They sometimes even think that maybe I haven't gone through the things that they have. Gaining the trust of the community would require some finesse. That's not to say that I would pretend to be something I am not.

It is only meant to say that I would have to be more aware of my attitude in these situations. Optimism is a great tool to have, but it is also important to keep in mind the realities of the situation and even to get on the same level of the people. I have not worked within a community of this sort before, but I have much personal experience, and I intend to use that. Making a difference may mean that I push for policies, services or funds that may not have been available before.

It may be that I listen to the crucial needs of each community and focus my attention there. Either way, I can use my strengths of determination and adaptation to succeed in fulfilling the needs of this community.

Text:McKenzie, J. F., Neiger, B. L., & Thackeray, R. (2012). Planning, implementing, & evaluating health promotion programs: A primer (6th ed.).