BahnsAdelphe22 @bahnsadelphe22-blog - Tumblr Blog

Pink Ribbon Breakfast

On Saturday, November 19, 2016, we finally had our long awaited Pink Ribbon Breakfast. When I say long awaited, I mean six weeks long awaited. Due to the aftermath and destruction of Hurricane Matthew, the breakfast’s original date of October 8th was cancelled. The fact that two of our events this semester were cancelled and subsequently rescheduled most definitely served as an unexpected plot twist, but in the end everything panned out just fine. During our planning meetings for the Pink Ribbon Breakfast it was most definitely inferred that the Pink Ribbon Breakfast would be the biggest event that we would participate in as a team. The fact that the event was rescheduled for late November just further amplified the feeling surrounding the event because it became the last practicum event of the semester. The feeling was most definitely present that we were going to go out with a bang. 100+ people were registered to attend the breakfast by the time registration for the event concluded, so more guests were going to attend this event than any other event we had participated in thus far.

While conducting the registration table I noticed that there were no long lines of people getting checked in and the flow seemed pretty light. Once the event began, it hit me. Less than half of the people who were registered to attend the event actually showed up. I must admit, this came as a major surprise to me. I would have never guessed that the most highly anticipated event of the semester would have had a relatively low turnout. However, the reason for low attendance was not due to poor promotion, as this event was thoroughly coordinated and advertised. I believe the reason why many people did not come was due to the rescheduling of the event from October to November. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, therefore the original date of October 8th for the breakfast was perfect. A lot of people who observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month would have thoroughly enjoyed attending a community event that honored breast cancer survivors – in the month of October. While breast cancer awareness is a wonderful cause that should be celebrated every month of the year, many people in the community lose interest in attending events about breast cancer after Breast Cancer Awareness Month has passed. This is yet another reason why the continuation of breast cancer awareness is so important. There are women across our county, across our state, and across our nation who are battling breast cancer every day and are not able to cease the fight to save their health due to a change in the month of the year. Supporting the fight against breast cancer is an important cause throughout the year, and I think that with continued education and promotion of breast cancer awareness, many more people in the local community will advocate for the cause throughout the year.

Despite the attendance issue, the breakfast went over pretty well. The breakfast that was served was composed of several fruit platters, miniature muffins, breakfast quiche, orange juice, and coffee. The menu was an interesting contrast from the Pajamas, Pancakes, and Puberty Breakfast. The presence of fruit platters rather than pancakes and bacon was very health conscious, which I thought suited the event quite well. The keynote speaker of the event was Dr. Michelle Langaker, the chair of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of the Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine. Due to her involvement in the practice of women’s health and her relationship with Campbell University, she was a perfect candidate to speak at the event. In addition to Dr. Langaker, one of her students from the School of Osteopathic Medicine spoke as well. She gave a presentation in which she discussed facts and myths about breast cancer, breast cancer risks, signs and symptoms of breast cancer, and methods of breast cancer prevention. I thought she did very well on her presentation and the information she presented included a lot of the information our team has learned about breast cancer throughout the semester.

The next component of the event focused on the stories of women who were breast cancer survivors. These speakers were members of the Harnett County Breast Cancer Survivor Group. Two women courageously told their personal stories of how breast cancer impacted their lives. Both stories were absolutely amazing, and I was astounded to hear that one breast cancer survivor in particular was a 40-year breast cancer survivor. I absolutely love hearing stories of strength and courage that end with such amazing victories. I also enjoyed that the speakers of the Harnett County Breast Cancer Survivor Group spoke about the spiritual elements of their lives and how they strongly contributed to the preservation of their vigor and bravery during their cancer battle. After the survivor stories concluded, all breast cancer survivors were called to the front of the room and placed pink ribbons on a pink ribbon tree to represent their triumph over breast cancer.

The event concluded with the filling out of evaluations and the distribution of pink coffee mugs that were provided by the Harnett County Health Department. Each attendee received a mug upon completion and submission of their evaluation. The comments on many of the evaluations reflected positive views of the event. Once everyone in attendance received a coffee mug, our preceptor allowed all of the team members to have a coffee mug as well. Despite the turnout not being what was expected, I still think the Pink Ribbon Breakfast was a success.

- Briana Harris

Team Pink has had an amazing final week. We successfully presented our final presentation on Wednesday to an audience of classmates, preceptors, and our professor Dr. Tillman. I enjoyed all of the presentations but was relieved when our group was done presenting since we were the last to present. Yesterday we hosted our final event of the semester, the Pink Ribbon Breakfast. Overall I think the event was a success. At the conclusion of the breakfast all attendees were given these adorable pink coffee mugs. Our preceptor gave all Team Pink members coffee mugs as well in honor of our participation. I am glad that I was able to be a part of Team Pink this semester, I have enjoyed volunteering with the Harnett County Health Department and contributing to breast cancer awareness in Harnett County. GO TEAM PINK!!!

This is the final week before our final presentation next Wednesday. Earlier this week we divided up the tasks that need to be completed in preparation for our presentation. Thus far, the PowerPoint is looking very nice and very pink. Wednesday morning here we come.......GO TEAM PINK!!!

Pajamas, Pancakes, & Puberty

Last Saturday Team Pink joined the Harnett County Health Department in hosting the Pajamas, Pancakes, and Puberty Breakfast. According to the statistical analysis of the surveys collected, 24 girls and 19 parents attended the event. I think the event went very well, the girls seemed to enjoy themselves as did the parents who were in attendance. As the girls and their mothers began to come in, we started off with our exhibit activities. Along with the Campbell University Nursing students who also attended, we had 7 exhibits total. The exhibit themes included were Bra Design, Skin Care, Anti-Bullying, Nutrition and Fitness, Self-Esteem, Candy or Medicine Cabinet, and a menstrual napkin display. The activities involved in each exhibit were quite interesting. The Bra Design station included an activity in which the girls colored paper replicas of bras with crayons. The Skin Care station involved an activity in which the girls used liquid soap to wash “acne” off of a laminated face. The girls were able to run around a little bit with that activity so I know they enjoyed that station. The Nutrition and Fitness station had a jump rope and hula-hoop activity, which promoted physical fitness, outdoor activities, and the maintenance of optimal health throughout the teenage years. As a part of our Self-Esteem station, the girls thought of aspects about themselves that they liked the most and wrote them on a mirror. In order to promote medication safety, the nursing students had an exhibit in which the girls viewed an assortment of capsules and candy and identified which pieces were medication and which pieces were safe to eat. Lastly, the nursing students presented a second station composed of a menstrual napkin display and information regarding the use of sanitary napkins during menstruation.

The exhibit that I designed was the anti-bullying station, complete with a “Don’t Be a Mean Girl” theme. I began my station with a “wrinkle the heart” activity in which every girl was given a heart cut-out to fold and distort. As they unfolded the heart I explained to them that the wrinkled heart represented what happens to someone’s heart/emotions when they are bullied. Once concluding with the introductory activity, the rest of my exhibit focused on teaching the girls how to identify bullying, prevent bullying from occurring, and stop bullying that has been ongoing. Additional components of my presentation were “5 Tips to Identifying Girl-to-Girl Bullying”, “How Do You Handle Conflict”, “5 Steps to Managing Big Emotions”, and “Before You Speak: T.H.I.N.K.” Much to my surprise, some of the girls were quite familiar with the “Before You Speak: T.H.I.N.K.” portion of my exhibit, a few of them said they had learned the exercise in school or even had it posted up at home. I was very glad to hear that material I had chosen for my exhibit was not only educational and informative, but was also something the girls were already acquainted with.

I enjoyed the breakfast that was served that morning, complete with pancakes and syrup, bacon, a cheesy breakfast casserole, and orange juice. From what I could see, everyone in attendance thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast as well. The bacon was a definite favorite. I saw one or two young ladies with several pieces stacked up high. Needless to say, the bacon quickly ran out. By the time the breakfast portion of the program was finished, we had gone through about 3 trays of pancakes, we were almost out of breakfast casserole, and of course, we were completely out of bacon. I’m glad everyone had a hearty breakfast that morning.

I believe the best part of the breakfast was the keynote speaker, Gwen Siler. She educated the young girls about the development that they are soon going to experience, all while explaining to the mothers how to support their daughters’ transition into womanhood. Throughout the lecture her delivery was highly entertaining and humorous. She had just the right amount of educational accuracy, wit, and personal knowledge that was necessary to educate and entertain her audience. After hearing Mrs. Siler’s presentation, I believe that both the young girls and their mothers were well informed about the changes that will begin happening within the next few years and how to handle them with confidence.

While Mrs. Siler was presenting, my team and I were in the kitchen dividing up pansies and preparing pans of soil for the girls to do a planting activity. Once Mrs. Siler concluded, the girls came to the back room to plant their pansies. The girls were able to decorate the pink flower pots with stickers and glittery letters that displayed their creativity. The purpose of planting the pansies was so that each girl would have a growing flower to represent the growth, development, and maturity that they will experience within the next several years. At the end of the event I took home an extra, unused flower pot. Though I did not have a pansy, I will keep it as a souvenir to symbolize my experience with Team Pink.

-Briana Harris

This is a photo from my workday Thursday afternoon at the health department. It was a quite relaxing experience to create the exhibit, including cutting out each and every heart. All 32 of them. The Pajamas, Pancakes, and Puberty Breakfast went very well. I will write about that event later on this week. Next we will continue our work on compiling pictures and video footage for our final presentation and our last event, the Pink Ribbon Breakfast. GO TEAM PINK!!!

Team Pink: The Power of Pink Conference

This past Saturday the Harnett County Health Department hosted their first Power of Pink Conference. Originally the conference was to be held at the Harnett Health Sciences Center near Central Harnett Hospital. However, due to disaster relief operations that have taken place in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, the event had to be relocated. The new location that was decided upon was the School of Nursing at Campbell University’s Health Sciences Campus. I found this to be ironic not only due to the fact that we ourselves are Campbell students, but that the classroom that was used for the conference was the very same room that I attended the Interprofessional Education event in. Thankfully the health department was able to retain the initial date of October 29th. As attendees began to arrive, Megan Yelenic and I ran the registration table while Saidah Wright directed foot traffic on the main floor. Upon checking in we gave them gift bags that the team had made at the health department. During a later portion of the conference Megan Yelenic introduced Sylvia Caswell, the speaker of the food facts workshop. Lastly, Saidah Wright presented the evaluations at the conclusion of the conference.

The purpose of the Power of Pink Conference is to provide workshops, exhibits, and information regarding women’s health to women in the local area. Specifically, the information presented regarding women’s health was directed toward educating women about prevention and early detection of breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Harnett County, NC, therefore it is of vital importance to educate women throughout the county and surrounding areas about breast cancer prevention and early detection. Jennifer Plair, HCHD’s mammography coordinator, led the presentation of the Rex Mobile Mammography Program. As a part of her presentation she explained that the Rex Mobile Mammography Program is an essential source of mammography screening for non-insured, underinsured, and low-income women. Many women who are classified into these demographics do not know where they can access a mammogram, or how they would be able to pay for one. Through the Rex Mobile Mammography Program, women who meet the eligibility criteria can have their annual mammogram and can rest assured that their health needs are being met regardless of their ability to pay or health insurance status. The Rex Mobile Mammography Program is especially helpful in rural areas such as Harnett County because there are some residents who are not able to travel long distances to mammography screening facilities that are farther away. Rather than to make financial sacrifices, arrange complex transportation strategies, or risk not getting a mammogram at all, residents who can only travel short distances are able to obtain mammography services in their local town where they are easily accessible.

The three workshop sessions that were a part of the conference were “Breast Cancer Facts & Myths”, “Physical Fitness: Choose a Healthy Lifestyle”, and “Food Facts: Maintain a Healthy Weight to Decrease Your Risk!” I liked that many common misconceptions regarding breast cancer were addressed so that the women in attendance were able to receive an improved understanding of factual information about breast cancer. Teaching the public how to discern between true and false information is imperative because knowledge of the truth often leads to individuals taking precautions to prevent breast cancer and proactive measures to seek early detection of the disease. Team Pink did a similar segment during our performance at the Denim Days Festival a few weeks back, so I found it to be great that the Harnett County Health Department had an identical theme for one of their workshops. The physical fitness workshop was led by Sara Morrison, founder of Total Body Therapy and Wellness of Lillington, NC. As a physical therapist, Ms. Morrison often works with patients who are currently undergoing breast cancer treatment, have had surgery related to breast cancer, or who are recovering from breast cancer treatment. We unexpectedly had a little extra time during her segment, so prior to her presentation she led the audience through a series of exercises that she frequently does with her breast cancer patients. The purpose of many of these exercises is to re-strengthen muscles that are weakened during cancer treatment or due to surgery near the chest cavity. This workshop was very informative of the ways in which breast cancer patients and their caretakers are affected by the physical effects of treatment, such as difficulty walking, difficulty reaching their arms upward, or needing assistance with dressing themselves. The food facts workshop was the presentation that caught my attention the most. The presenter of the workshop, Sylvia Caswell, is a student of the School of Osteopathic Medicine here at Campbell University. I found it to be highly impressive that she was requested to conduct a workshop while still an active student in an academic program. Ms. Caswell’s presentation primarily focused on cancer prevention via the adaptation of healthier dietary behaviors. Behavioral change is a crucial aspect of improving one’s health, therefore it is very important to emphasize when conversing with patients about achieving their optimal health. Ms. Caswell thoroughly explained different types of healthy foods that should be incorporated into one’s diet, in addition to explaining why certain types of food should be eaten in moderation or excluded from one’s diet entirely. Gauging from the audience’s response, I think many attendees enjoyed Ms. Caswell’s presentation the most and subsequently desired to know more information about developing healthier habits of eating.

The speaker of the event was Dr. Harriet Enzor, a licensed professional counselor and professor of Campbell University’s School of Education. Dr. Enzor’s presentation focused on the composition of the human brain and how our body’s neurology can contribute to our happiness. Due to the negative effects that stress can have on the body, happiness is a key factor of preserving one’s health. Methods of happiness preservation such as optimistic and nostalgic thinking are highly important in maintaining a mental and emotional state of joy and contentment.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Power of Pink Conference. Not only did my teammates and I contribute to the planning and execution of the event, but we also learned quite a bit of information about physical difficulties of breast cancer patients and dietary methods of breast cancer prevention. The lunch was delicious as well, complete with croissant sandwiches, pasta salad, and strawberry cake. I have highly enjoyed the community events that Team Pink has participated in thus far, I can’t wait for the Pajamas, Pancakes, and Puberty Breakfast next Saturday!

- Briana Harris

This past week has been super productive for Team Pink. We had two mini-meetings this week in which we discussed our service hours and creative ideas for our final presentation on November 16th. Our third community service event, the Power of Pink Conference, took place on Saturday, October 29th. I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the facilitation of the event in addition to learning interesting information about health and nutrition, brain neurology, and happiness. Next Saturday we will participate in the facilitation of the Pajamas, Pancakes, and Puberty Breakfast for pre-teen girls ages 9-11. I am looking forward to attending the event. GO TEAM PINK!!!

This week Team Pink has been getting back into the swing of event planning. Friday’s meeting at the Health Department was composed of information regarding our next three community events: the Power of Pink Conference (Oct. 29th), the Pajamas, Pancakes, & Puberty Breakfast (Nov. 5th), and the Pink Ribbon Breakfast (Nov. 19th). Due to the fact that all of these events will occur within the next 30 days it is imperative that we work quickly as a team to finalize all activities and exhibits that will be used during these events. The above visual is one example of many possibilities that could be used as an activity or as decoration at the Pajamas, Pancakes, and Puberty Breakfast. I think the slumber party theme will make the event a lot of fun for the mothers and young girls who will be attending. GO TEAM PINK!!!

In last week’s Tumblr post I mentioned that our Pink Ribbon Breakfast was cancelled due to Hurricane Matthew and that the tentative rescheduled date for the breakfast was November 19th. We received notification from the Harnett County Health Department that the November date has been confirmed as the new date of the Pink Ribbon Breakfast. Despite the fact that the breakfast will take place in November rather than during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I still have hope that the Pink Ribbon Breakfast will be a great success and a wonderful celebration of life, strength, and resilience. Two other events we have coming up soon are the Power of Pink Conference on October 29th, and the “PJs, Pancakes, and Puberty Breakfast” on November 5th. As is expected at this point in our practicum, the volume of events is definitely picking up. Within the past two weeks our group began compiling photos from the BBQ Cook Off and the Denim Days Festival for our final project next month. Our final presentation and the Pink Ribbon Breakfast will be here very shortly so it is essential that we carefully photograph and document moments of our practicum experience that we want to highlight. The next six to seven weeks are going to be highly eventful and high-intensity. It will be interesting to see if any more unexpected curveballs come our way. We must wait and see. GO TEAM PINK!!!

Sooooooo......about Hurricane Matthew. Due to the hurricane our Pink Ribbon Breakfast was postponed. As of right now the tentative date for the event is November 19, 2016; there was no other date that the guest speaker could come for the event. During times such as these it is imperative to remember that one must be flexible when working in the field of public health, unexpected events occur often that require either cancellation/rescheduling or first action response. Despite the fact that the event was cancelled, preparations for the event must still take place. On Friday Ms. Hawkins came to the theatre department to take measurements of the pink ribbon tree in order to make arrangements for pickup next week. The tree is 8 ft. by 4 ft., made of plywood, and has a prop-up stand in the back to support it. The tree is not decorated as of right now, it is just brown with bare branches. The tree will be decorated at a later date. Ms. Hawkins was pleased with the outcome of the tree that the theatre department made for us. Hopefully planning for Team Pink events will resume after Fall Break. GO TEAM PINK!!!

Saturday, October 1, 2016, marked the first day of community events for Team Pink. Surprisingly we ended up having two events on the same day, so two of our team members attended the BBQ Cook Off at Mond’s Elite Styles while the other four attended the Denim Days festival. Guess which event I was aaaattttt………..DENIM DAYS!!! I actually had a lot of fun. Throughout the day we distributed information to numerous people about breast cancer awareness and the Rex Mobile Mammography Program. At the end of the day only a few Rex Mammography applications were left. We also gave out many fliers for the Pink Ribbon Breakfast and Power of Pink Conference that are coming up later this month. In addition to the distribution of information regarding the Rex Mobile Mammography Program and our upcoming events, we also painted pink ribbons on many faces, and even one person’s forearm. The arts & crafts portion was one of the main attractions. I loved the community atmosphere of the event. The food was good, the weather was perfect, overall it was a great day. GO TEAM PINK!!!

Team Pink: Why I Learned to Value the Second Week of Class

One unique aspect about Campbell University’s Public Health Program that distinguishes it from others within the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is that the practicum experience begins the second week of class. When I discovered this information I was surprised because in many other health science programs similar requirements such as clinical rotations and residencies are completed during the final year of the program. Needless to say, I was a bit apprehensive about how quickly I was going to begin my community involvement with this program, but it was a challenge I accepted. Once I began my practicum experience I soon realized how beneficial it was to have the practicum start within the first few weeks of the program. The core function of public health is to improve the health of populations through the assessment of health disparities and implementation of community-based interventions to resolve existing health dilemmas. Therefore, engaging in a practicum experience from the beginning of one’s education in public health is vital in order to understand the true exercise of the industry that a student is seeking to enter.

The practicum groups that were available to the class were Team Pink, Team Farmworker, Team Poverty, Team Adherence, and Team Prepare. All of these groups in one way or another addressed a rural health disparity in the local area. Dr. Tillman explained the focus of each group and allowed each student to rank from 1 to 5 which group they liked the best and which they liked the least. Before the end of the week our practicum groups were created. I was selected to be a part of Team Pink. Initially Team Pink caught my attention due to the close proximity of the Harnett County Health Department to the university. However, I quickly realized that my involvement in Team Pink was far greater than the closeness of the practicum site to campus. Team Pink’s primary mission is to educate and raise awareness of the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Harnett County: breast cancer. Through breast cancer education and awareness, women in the local area are able to learn about the importance of early detection and prevention of breast cancer via mammography screenings. As a result, women in Harnett County and the surrounding areas receive life-saving information that preserves their health individually and improves overall mammography rates throughout the region. In addition to our primary mission, Team Pink also assists with other community awareness initiatives such as S.H.O.P. (Stop HIV/AIDS in Our community Program) and pre-teen themed events such as the Pajamas, Pancakes, and Puberty Breakfast. Both of these initiatives serve the community in that they spread awareness about the prevention of HIV/AIDS and provide a safe, fun, and educational atmosphere for pre-pubescent girls to learn about the exciting era of development they are rapidly approaching.

The first project that we worked on as a team was the preparation for the Pajamas, Pancakes, and Puberty Breakfast. However, a few weeks into the practicum we found out that the event had been postponed until November. Though this rescheduling threw a wrench in our original plan, it was actually good that we experienced such an unexpected occurrence because it taught us the important lesson that things do not always go as planned, especially when working flexibly within the community. Since the postponing of the puberty breakfast we have been working on three different projects that will be utilized in our first events of the semester: the BBQ Cook Off at Mond’s Elite Styles, Denim Days, and the Pink Ribbon Breakfast. The BBQ Cook Off event is part of the S.H.O.P. partnership between local barbershops and the Harnett County Health Department, therefore the purpose of the event is to offer educational material on HIV and free HIV testing. In addition to posting up fliers for this event throughout Harnett County and the surrounding areas, my team has constructed a cold and flu season-themed exhibit for children who will be present at the Cook Off. The Denim Days and Pink Ribbon Breakfast events are focused on breast cancer awareness and the celebration of breast cancer patients and survivors. For the Denim Days event my group and I have constructed an exhibit to educate the public about Rex Healthcare’s Mobile Mammography services that are offered at the Harnett County Health Department, in addition to informing them of mammography eligibility requirements. In preparation for the Pink Ribbon Breakfast our team has put together an evaluation to assess the efficacy of the breakfast in educating the attendees of the importance of preventive mammography screenings.

Within the past several weeks I have witnessed how deeply vital teamwork and community involvement are in the practice of public health. I have also witnessed how the implementation of intervention strategies to address health issues within the community is highly effective in resolving health disparities. Although these facts are taught consistently by our professors and repeated weekly in the chapters we read in our textbooks, there is just something intrinsically special about hands-on experience that really brings the reality of classroom teachings to life. I now truly value the reason why Campbell University’s Public Health Program begins the practicum experience during the second week of class. I’m glad we start our activities of community involvement so early and wouldn’t have it any other way.

Thus far, Team Pink has primarily been in the preparation stages regarding our events. However, the month of October is going to seriously change that. As we venture out into the community to engage in events such as the BBQ Cook Off, Denim Days, and the Pink Ribbon Breakfast, the power of our teamwork and fervency of our mission to educate about the early detection of breast cancer will definitely impact many and save the lives of women across the region.

- Briana Harris

This week was yet another highly eventful week for Team Pink. We haven’t even had our first event yet, I suppose the high intensity is just a taste of what is to come in October due to all of the events we have next month. Monday afternoon’s activities included t-shirt rolling and bag stuffing at the Health Department. The torrential downpour that afternoon made for an interesting adventure that day to say the least. Waddling around in damp clothing with the bottoms of your dress pants tucked into your socks is a rather interesting look to have while in an office setting. I forgot to untuck them once we arrived, but I honestly don’t think anyone really noticed. We all had a rather interesting “appearance” that day (giggles). Tuesday we had a “mini-meeting” after class followed by an impromptu business lunch at Hibachi & Company the very next day. While at Hibachi I managed to put up fliers for our October events and also posted a Power of Pink Conference flier at the Lillington, NC, post office before heading back to campus. I then conversed with Dr. Wallace, director of the Campbell University Theatre Department, about possibly having the theatre department donate a pink ribbon tree for our Pink Ribbon Breakfast on October 8th. The verdict is still out on that, but the proposal has been made. Lastly, I contributed some information to our Cold & Flu season themed exhibit for the BBQ Cook Off on October 1st. Next week will be even more eventful with us completing the final steps of preparation for the BBQ Cook Off AND Denim Days, which both take place on the same day. Our first two events taking place on the same day at the same time.....hmmmmm......challenge accepted. GO TEAM PINK!!!

This week was a week of high productivity for Team Pink. Wednesday we had a meeting for an hour after class to discuss plans for the events that we will be participating in within the next 2-3 weeks. Plans for the creation/finalizing of breast cancer awareness and cold & flu season exhibits were highly favored. During Friday’s meeting at the Health Department the itinerary of the Pink Ribbon Breakfast and evaluation were finalized. After our meeting at the Health Department Saidah and I stopped by the Lillington Post Office and posted fliers for the Pink Ribbon Breakfast and BBQ Cook Off on the office’s community boards. As time is drawing closer toward our first community event, our involvement in the community is certainly heating up. October 2016 will be one exciting month. GO TEAM PINK!!!

Over the past week I have pondered upon exhibits that Team Pink can create for the BBQ Cook Off on October 1st. Due to the event being catered toward HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, I think it would be a great idea to do an additional exhibit that is “kid friendly” to entertain any children who may attend. Flu season is now in full effect, so doing an exhibit on hand washing as a form of infectious disease prevention would be perfect for children of all ages. As a team we will meet this week to discuss further details of the Cook Off and any exhibit(s) that we will put together for the event. GO TEAM PINK!!!

Over Labor Day Weekend I distributed fliers of the BBQ Cook Off and the Pink Ribbon Breakfast to all eight (8) public libraries in Cumberland County and even managed to leave one of each at my doctor’s office. Attempting to contact office managers of private practices on the Friday of Labor Day Weekend was not largely successful; many had presumably taken a four-day weekend for the holiday. Thankfully, I was able to get in contact with Selena Beckman-Harned, the head of the community relations department at the Cumberland County Library headquarters. She offered to distribute fliers to all branches of the Cumberland County Library as long as I gave her 8 copies of each flier. I loved how well that worked out. Had it not been for Mrs. Beckman-Harned offering to distribute a copy of each to every branch, I would have had to drive to every branch individually to accomplish such a task. I truly feel God worked that out in my favor. Venturing outside in a torrential downpour to ride across town to distribute fliers for our events made me feel like I was most definitely “taking one for the team”. Despite the weather I actually enjoyed it, I felt very professional. Rain or sunshine, I was determined to get business done. Overall, Labor Day Weekend was highly productive. I can already see that each and every part of this practicum experience will significantly contribute to the honing of my community engagement skills, and that I deeply appreciate. GO TEAM PINK!!!!!!!

This week was a highly productive week for Team Pink. On Wednesday the group had a meeting to compile questions to be used in the Pink Ribbon Breakfast evaluation, and we also discussed presentation and activity ideas for the Pajamas, Pancakes, & Puberty Breakfast. On Friday Saidah and I participated in the Pink Ribbon Breakfast meeting with Mrs. Hawkins and received feedback on the Pink Ribbon evaluation that will be applied to the final copy. I most definitely enjoyed participating in Friday’s meeting, every exposure to community leadership that I receive makes me realize how blessed I am to be able to engage in such wonderful opportunities. Go Team Pink!!!

Trending Blogs

Recently Viewed Blogs

BahnsAdelphe22