I am recently retired from a 30+ year career. I have always believed we should participate in Community Service activities to keep our communities strong and viable. The quality of life in our cities and towns is only sustained with the help of many volunteers. So, during these work years I have participated in many community service activities including; being a Girl Scout leader, assisting in horseback riding therapy for autistic children, participating in CERT and the Walnut Creek Community Service Day, and volunteering at ARF and the Ruth Bancroft Garden.
Since Clinical Laboratory Science is not a well-advertised allied health care profession, I like to let young people know about this career. I did two career day presentations this March, one at Riverside Middle School and another at Foothill Middle School. It was my second round at both schools and I hope to participate again next year.
A larger project I undertook began in early 2013, with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) I created the Contra Costa ACA team. We were an all-volunteer group and participated in Covered California’s Community Outreach program. Over the next two open enrollment cycles, we held over 150 events in Contra Costa County, primarily in our libraries, that offered education and enrollment in Covered California programs, as well as MediCal via our partnership with the Contra Costa County Health Care Services. We were commended for our work, by then Congressman George Miller, in a letter to the Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County. Congressman Miller also bestowed individual letters of appreciation on the members of our entire Contra Costa ACA team.
In 2015 I attended in the Walnut Creek Citizen's Institute. This program game me a lot information and direction as to where I might find other opportunities to participate in my community. I am just beginning that new journey.
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