Changes In the City is Perth Amboy by Gabriela

Changes In the City is Perth Amboy by Gabriela - August 2021 Scholarship Essay

This past summer, I have taken the role of a community health ambassador in my community, Perth Amboy, New Jersey. This urban city is has a 78% Latino population making up one of the lowest vaccination communities in the state of New Jersey. Before starting the job on June 21st, the city was just about 35% vaccinated, cases were still dramatically increasing. I was home for the summer from college, and I knew it was my time to make a difference. With the implementation of going out to the community reaching out to the citizens, I was able to educate others about the facts on the covid vaccine and bust any myths and misconceptions that people may have had. I was able to hold conversations with various citizens and answer any questions that they may have had about each vaccine or the virus itself. I also scheduled rides for those who couldn't afford or did not have transportation to any covid information cites and vaccine appointments. My community is currently 73% vaccinated, a 38% change in vaccination rates since I have started.

During this time, I was also helping out in food/ meal distribution throughout the city. In Perth Amboy, there is an 18% poverty rate where most kids would get their daily meals from school. With schools being closed and COVID still a thing, many families were missing out on meals. During these drastic times, I have been helping give out free produce boxes and cooked meals to various families throughout the community. I have dedicated my summer to help my community in any way possible. I have kept my community healthy by volunteering to help make sure families were fed and educated in order to raise vaccination rates.