Empowering Waterbury Teens: Innovative Solutions for Enhancing Public Health in Their Community – Discover More on UConn Today

This summer, nine enthusiastic ninth graders from Waterbury public high schools took part in the Health Equity Scholars Program. The program, run by the UConn Health Disparities Institute in partnership with Waterbury Bridges to Success, offered a fantastic and free four-week experience.

The program focused on health equity research, career exploration, and a method called Photovoice. This approach helps scholars reflect on their community by capturing their experiences and ideas through photography and storytelling. They learned how to identify health-related factors in Waterbury and worked on their own research projects to propose solutions to local public health issues.

Guided by their mentors, Health Equity Fellows Marie Syla, a UConn biology major from Waterbury, and Julian Chaparro, a psychology major at Muhlenberg College, students explored vital topics. Their research covered many areas, including clean air, abandoned buildings, public transportation, parks for recreation, clean water, and access to places of worship, highlighting issues relevant to their community.

At the end of the program, the scholars proudly presented their projects to peers, mentors, families, and community members. They received certificates of completion, marking their hard work and dedication.

Dr. Linda Sprague Martinez, director of the UConn Health Disparities Institute, emphasized the importance of preparing young people to see themselves as future researchers and public health advocates. “Their contributions can truly shape public health in Waterbury and beyond,” she said.

One standout scholar, 14-year-old Lino Delgado, who is now a freshman at Wilby High School, found a passion for engineering and environmental advocacy through the program. Lino’s project on air pollution was even showcased at the 62nd CT Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. His research highlighted the need for electric buses in Waterbury, demonstrating how local youth can contribute to significant environmental solutions.

“The program was great, and I loved making my poster,” Lino said. He explained that the current buses add pollution to the community and emphasized the importance of transitioning to electric options.

Trisha Pitter, who directed the Health Equity Scholars Program, praised Lino’s transformation, saying, “He’s gained a whole new outlook on his future. Kids in Waterbury don’t often get experiences like this, so we really appreciated it.”

Syla expressed her gratitude for working with the Waterbury youth, emphasizing the impact of knowledge on their futures. She aims for a medical career and hopes to inspire others in her community to understand health disparities.

During the program, guest speakers from UConn Health shared their career journeys with the scholars. They discussed various opportunities in public health, allowing students to interact, ask questions, and explore both traditional and non-traditional career paths, including roles as physicians, researchers, and social workers. This exposure helped broaden their career awareness and ignite interests in different fields.

Thanks to the Health Equity Scholars Program, Lino now aspires to become an engineer, eager to drive positive change in his community. The program’s success has inspired plans to expand it to more areas in Connecticut, ensuring more young people can engage in shaping public health efforts that affect them.

Ultimately, this initiative highlighted how local voices are crucial to public health decisions. The success rests on collaboration with community partners, like Waterbury Bridges to Success and UConn Waterbury, who provided support and space for learners to come together. Everyone involved recognizes that local community members are experts in their own lives and have valuable insights to share for healthier futures.

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