Aug. 26, 2024 -- “Be the Change.” For some, it’s just an inspirational saying adorning a poster on the walls of a classroom or office. But for the annual National School-Based Health Care Conference, it was the theme of their Youth Advisory Council Training Program in Washington D.C. in July. And for Heights High 2024 graduate Dashara Turner and rising junior Addison Hart, it’s how they live their lives.

The two young women had the opportunity to travel to D.C. in the beginning of July with three MetroHealth school-based nurse coordinators to participate in the conference and present to fellow students about their experience addressing food access issues in the Heights. 

The three-day event was “a remarkable gathering of professionals dedicated to advancing school-based health care,” according to the National School-Based Health Care Alliance. Professionals and students came together to learn with and from one another, attending sessions on everything from mental health to how to use social media to enhance access to school-based health services.

Dashara and Addie worked with Nurse Coordinator Kelly Blevins and Larrise Williford, who both attended the conference along with Betsy Martinez, to create a presentation detailing the work that Heights High’s Youth Advisory Council has done over the past year to address food insecurity in the community. 

“There are lots of families right here in the Heights without access to basic resources,” said Addie. The YAC has hosted monthly food markets where anyone in the community can come to the high school to pick up pallets of fresh, healthy foods, especially produce. The markets, which began in May and will run on the last Friday of the month through October, “have been very well-attended,” according to Addie. “We never waste any food and manage to give everything away,” a remarkable feat since the Cleveland Food Bank sends 4000 pounds of food each month.

Dashara, who will attend the University of Cincinnati in the fall to study psychology on a pre-med track, felt like their presentation, which included a simulation where small groups had to budget for food and other essentials, was “more serious than some of the others. Most of the groups finished over budget or right on the end. They had to figure out which bills to pay or which non-essentials to get rid of in order to have enough money to buy food, diapers, formula and prescriptions. … It put the emphasis on empathy by putting people in other people’s shoes.” 

Both girls appreciated the opportunity to interact with young people from diverse backgrounds all across the country. Learning about rural poverty and the unique experiences of indigenous students was especially eye-opening. “Hearing everyone’s thoughts was so amazing,” said Addie. “I asked so many questions.”

Dashara agreed and was particularly eager to interact with some of the adult professionals at the conference. “This was a great chance to network. So many people from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital gave me their cards and talked to me about internships, partnerships and research studies.” 

Ms. Blevins was proud of the work and effort both girls put into the conference, and into the Youth Advisory Council in general. Addie will be taking over leadership of the YAC this fall, handed down to her from Dashara. Scholarships from the School-Based Health Alliance paid for both girls’ airfare, hotel and conference fees. 

They even got to do some sightseeing in the evenings, hitting the White House, Vietnam War Memorial, and Washington Monument. “My favorite was the Martin Luther King, Jr. monument,” said Addie. “We sat there for a good twenty minutes, just soaking it up.”

To learn more about MetroHealth’s School-Based Health Wellness Clinic at Heights High or to sign a release for your child to receive medical care, visit here.