Collective Projects

merging biology, systems thinking and environmental & social justice at different scales with different beings

High Level Health & Climate UN Conference and Report Launch

Producer, Designer, Lead Writer, and Project Manager

Following the UN High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage and the Climate Action Summit in 2019, The Access Challenge held an African-focused conference weaving together senior officials from the climate, health, and other sectors. The 500+ conference featured African Presidents and First Ladies, Director-General of WHO among others to highlight five intersection points between health and the environment: Food, Air, Water, Communities, and Finance. The senior panels disrupted the status quo by weaving together the UN’s SDGs to shape a new narrative about how specific sectors can collaborate to achieve health for all and engage in meaningful climate action. In partnership with Harvard Global Health Institute, the post-conference report was launched with praise from leaders such as the head of UNDP. A highlight of this report was a policy discussion between the leaders of the African Union, government, philanthropy and private sector.

Access Challenge’s Organization and Universal Health Coverage Pan-African Campaign Strategy

Co-Designer

Using systems thinking, I co-designed the process of campaign strategy development. In looking at the trends within the health, international NGO, and global landscape, I ensured a longitudinal and holistic understanding of their impact. Following the development of the campaign, I then led the team and board through the process of organization’s strategy and development. This process supported the transition of the NGO from a traditional NGO-industrial complex model to a values and African-driven model. Additionally, I built an internship program through partnerships with graduate global health programs such as those at Columbia University, NYU, and Hunter College.

Oberlin College & Town’s Closed Loop Food System

Facilitator

A self-created title and project to encapsulate my thinking for many projects located around Oberlin College and Town. Working in the College Dining Services, I facilitated the education of college students around composting; met with the four dining hall supervisors and recorded/ audited their recycling programs; built a partnership with a new local composting facility to handle the dining and six student-run co-operatives; developed a relationship with a local orchard to supply apples for Shuttle Home, a student-run bus company going to Chicago, New York and DC; secured $5,000 to support the local food rescue program; and created a poster and promotional material for nine suppliers, while managing the social media launch for the Oberlin Food Hub. While sitting on the board of the Oberlin Student Cooperative Association, I managed the negotiation of closing an industrial kitchen in exchange for ADA accessibility.