By Stefie D’Esposito, Community HealthCorps Navigator at DC Primary Care Association (featured in photo above on far right)
When I heard that I had been selected to participate in a roundtable discussion at the White House with eleven other AmeriCorps members, my first thought was – how did this happen? How did I get selected? I couldn’t believe my luck, but I was grateful for the opportunity and excited for the day’s events.
It did not take long for me to realize that I was in wonderful company. As I listened to the stories and accomplishments of the other eleven AmeriCorps members, I was not only impressed, but also very moved. From healthy gardens in Baltimore, to building houses in Texas, to encouraging safe play amongst school children, AmeriCorps members seemed to be tucked into so many different corners across the country. Each job is meaningful; each job makes a difference in someone’s life. Hard-work isn’t the only common characteristic amongst the members I met that morning. Passion, drive, and dedication were as well. It is overpowering to think that these eleven members are doing so much good in the world, but it is mind blowing to realize that we were there to represent thousands and thousands of AmeriCorps members from across the country, all doing good work.
After our morning session and getting to know each other a bit, we started our walk towards the White House. The plan was to have a roundtable discussion with “Senior Policy Officials”. It sounded so…official. But still, many of us were confused about what exactly was going on. With not much time to think about it, we were inside the White House before we knew it- placing our cell phones in their own private cubby holes, sitting in noticeably well-cushioned chairs, drinking out of water glasses with the White House emblem on them. A few members started sharing their stories with Jonathan Greenblatt, the White House liaison for the Corporation for National and Community Service. People were eager to share stories about their hard work, and the meeting was off to a good start.
About ten minutes into the meeting I heard the door behind me open. I didn’t want to be rude to the person speaking so I didn’t turn around. Instead, I saw everyone at the table across from me stare over my shoulder with dropped jaws and stunned expressions. Then everybody started standing up. That’s when I heard his voice, calm and collected, “Hey everybody, how’s it going?” I recognized that voice. I RECOGNIZED THAT VOICE. The tears were already welling in my eyes, and I slowly turned around to see the President, Barack Obama, standing behind me. “Hey Stephanie, how are you?” he said to me, as he placed his hand on my shoulder and then made his introductory round around the table. I’m not sure how I responded to his question, I’m actually not even confident that I gave any response. I don’t think “I’m doing well” really did my feelings any justice. He joined us at the table and gave us his full attention. After a few other members proudly (and nervously) shared their stories, I decided to share mine.
I told the President that I am a member of the Community HealthCorps program within AmeriCorps. I told him that there are four other volunteers on my Community HealthCorps team, and that we are all placed at different community health organizations around Washington, DC. I explained that my site is Whitman Walker Health Clinic, a center of excellence for both lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender health care and HIV/AIDS care. I talked about my specific role as the Coordinator of the peer support program at the clinic. The peer support program provides free one-on-one and group counseling for specific LGBT and HIV/AIDS-related concerns, including coming out, coming out of marriage, HIV status, relationships, gender identity and friends/family members. I continued to explain that my service at Whitman Walker has made a great deal to me. That being able to provide a person with safety and support is incredibly meaningful, and that I am so grateful for the opportunity I have been given through Community HealthCorps.
After I finished my heartfelt (and I’m sure rushed!) explanation, the President thanked us all for our efforts and our time. He told us he was proud of us and of the work we are doing, and encouraged us to continue leaving our mark in the world. After a round of “thank you’s”, I thought my day could not get any better. But then, the President invited us into the Oval Office for a tour!
What I did not have a chance to explain to the President is how this year of service with AmeriCorps has impacted my future goals. Working at Whitman Walker has helped me realize that I am meant to work with individuals. I want to work with people, every single day. And I want the people I work with to know that I support them and that there is always help out there. I have decided that within the next year, I will pursue my Masters of Social Work degree. I believe this degree will help me tie my professional experiences in with my desire to work on a micro-level. Hopefully, the degree will enable me to become a valuable resource for people in need of assistance. And hopefully, just like with AmeriCorps, I’ll be able to find my own little niche in the world.
In preparation for our busy dental day, Dr. Livingston, lead director of the event, spoke to the staff and gave words of encouragement and inspiration. She gave us enthusiasm for the day as she reminded us that we are touching people’s lives and providing them with valuable resources that in other words would not have been accessible. With that being said, we were able to see a total of 33 patients. The dental services provided ranged from cleanings, cavities, tooth extractions, sealants and oral hygiene education.
