NHC Central California member, Clarissa Noh, interviews Krystal Aguirre for the Humans of National Health Corps collection. Read below!

Krystal Aguirre is a Program Coordinator in the Expanding COVID-19 Vaccinations department at Aria Community Health Center. Originally from Hawaii, she quickly fell in love with Lemoore’s close-knit and welcoming atmosphere. Krystal first joined Aria in 2023 as a community health worker, and under the guidance of her manager, Sam, worked her way up to her current role. Driven by her passion for patient care and community outreach, she continues to immerse herself in the local community and recently finished her Master’s in Health Administration. One of her favorite aspects of her job is collaborating with community-based organizations to host large scale events that provide the community with essential resources. In June, Aria partnered with La Ley Radio Station to host a Back-to-School Backpack Drive in Porterville, where they distributed free food and backpacks to the families. Over 300 people attended, and over twenty community-based organizations showed up. Another highlight was the Posada Navidena resource fair also held with La Ley in December. At this event, Aria provided free clothes, food, and toys to the Porterville community. Although organizing these events require significant effort, Krystal finds the work rewarding, as it not only strengthens her relationship with her team, but also helps her grow as a leader. Krystal describes her work as “humbling” as there's always something new to learn - especially as preventative care continues to evolve.