We were delighted to have two passionate interns join the HealthFinders team for the summer.
Jaylyn Elioza was motivated to work with HealthFinders by a desire to make a difference. She joined AmeriCorps and secured a placement at HFC for the summer. Born in Faribault, Jaylyn is a first-generation college student pursuing a master’s degree in social work, minoring in Spanish and educational studies at Saint Scholastica, in Duluth. She became an impactful addition to HFC this summer, driven by her motivations to connect with her community and learn about an organization integral to Faribault.
“I was motivated to join AmeriCorps because I wanted a summer job that was impactful and beneficial for me and for others. I believe in taking care of myself but also taking care of others at the same time and AmeriCorps provides endless opportunities to achieve this.”
Within her time at HF, Jaylyn observed a team that is wholly dedicated to the improvement and accessibility of health care for everyone in Faribault and the surrounding communities.
“ I have gathered that the team here is 100% dedicated to the improvement and accessibility of everyone in Faribault and in surrounding communities. There are so many people here who have special talents and work together to create a welcoming and helpful atmosphere for patients and youth.”
Jaylyn used her assignment with HFC as a vital step in shaping her understanding of community health, particularly as it relates to youth. During her service term, she wanted to learn about all the resources HF provides for the youth and hopes to help spread awareness of these resources.
Through her experince at HealthFinders, along with her passion to support her community, Jaylyn is energized to empower the youth of Faribault. As she continues her work, she embodies the spirit of service and community engagement, paving the way for a brighter future for all.
Bella Thomas has an interest in public health and learned about HealthFinders through one of her professors at Carleton College. She found it was a good fit and says she strongly connects with HFC’s mission to serve and strengthen communities.
“I'm passionate about public health because I believe everyone has the right to healthcare, and HFC embodies this belief in their work. Educating and engaging community members is very important to me, and being able to do this throughout my internship was incredibly rewarding.”
Bella, who is from Minneapolis, says her experience engaging with smaller communities and learning about how non-profits function has given her valuable insight into public health. She said the hands-on experience she gained working with HFC over the summer has helped her develop creative thinking skills and insights into connecting with people from diverse backgrounds. She says this experience will help guide her career decisions as she continues to pursue her education.
“Through this experience, I learned how to synthesize and research public health topics specifically tailored to the needs of the HFC patient community. A significant part of my learning involved gathering information and presenting it in a way that is both digestible and accessible. Additionally, I gained a deeper understanding of the community that HFC serves. Although I’ve been part of the Northfield community for three years while attending college, immersing myself further in the community reinforced the importance of culturally responsive care when serving a diverse population.”
Bella is currently a senior at Carleton College majoring in Sociology and Anthropology. After graduation she plans to obtain a Masters in Public Health.
We want to extend a heartfelt thanks to our interns for their hard work, passion and dedication. For more information about internships at HFC, visit https://www.healthfindersmn.org/internships
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