Nicola Morrow —2015 Fellow

Nicola Morrow

Year: Class of 2017
Major: International Studies
Minors: Political Science and French
Concentration: Community and Global Health
Face to Face Health and Counseling Service, Inc.

I spent my summer working at Face to Face Health and Counseling Service, Inc. Face to Face is a community health clinic located on the east side of Saint Paul. The clinic, as well as its associated youth drop-in center, serves homeless and otherwise unstable young people. The organization’s mission is to “empower youth to overcome barriers and strive toward healthy and self-sufficient lives.”

While it took me a few weeks to fully settle into my role at Face to Face, I ultimately had an incredibly productive experience. I became involved with a Preconception Health Grant from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and eventually completed the full quarterly report for the grant. I also designed and developed an evaluation program that included facilitating focus groups with past clients and writing a full-year report for MDH on the grant’s progress. Throughout the evaluation process, I learned more about government grants, the culture of data reporting in my organization, and health disparities in Saint Paul. My supervisors trusted me with important projects, and that autonomy meant that I had plenty of room to learn and grow. I would highly recommend Face to Face to any future Chuck Green fellow who is looking to engage with the world of community health in an environment that encourages independence and creativity.