Madeline Smith Back to Member List

Madeline image

Hometown: Syracuse, NY

 

Educational background: B.S. in Psychology and a Minor in Biology from Syracuse University. 

 

What is your title and role at your host site? 

I will be an outreach coordinator and work to connect with early learning and child-serving agencies with the overall goal of providing proper information about vaccines and increasing awareness of their importance. I will also be working to tackle the problems surrounding COVID-19 by assessing the needs of children who have been affected by this disease. By talking to them I will gain a better understanding for the toll this disease has taken on the youth in the community and be able to link kids with recourses in order to help them stay safe and healthy.  

 

Why did you join the National Health Corps Florida AmeriCorps program?

Serving in the AmeriCorps will allow me to educate myself on the communities I want to serve after pursuing a master’s in public health. It will also allow me to do meaningful service in order to help underserved communities and provide a voice for those who cannot advocate for themselves. 

 

What are you hoping to gain from your year of service?

I am hoping to learn a lot about other communities and the ways in which I can be of service to them. I also hope to grow personally and professionally as I prepare for my future career. I will work to develop my communication skills and gain a better understanding of how national crises are handled within communities. Last but not least, I hope to leave knowing that I have made a positive impact on the members of the Jacksonville community and that the service I do will have helped ease the stress COVID-19 has inflicted. 

 

What are your plans after AmeriCorps service?

I will pursue a master’s in public health.

 

Where do you envision yourself in 5 years?

I envision myself working either for a company or a non-profit aiming to lessen the poverty gap and ensure that all members in a community have equal access to health-care and other basic necessities.