Annual Report 2021: Stories of Impact

When Jade Newton was deciding where to apply to nursing school, she wanted a school that was deeply committed to its community and would prepare her well for a career in health care.

A Compton native, she didn’t have to go far: The Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles more than fit the bill, with a focus on training diverse health care leaders committed to social justice and equity. One expression of that mission is the historically Black university’s partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Greenwood Initiative on mobile vaccine services to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines.

As a nursing student, Jade had a unique opportunity to gain clinical experience and serve local residents by joining the program. “Having the opportunity to volunteer with the mobile vaccine outreach program was important. Some people can’t get to a doctor or pharmacy to get the vaccination,” she said.

Jade spent her days as a volunteer giving COVID tests, handing out supplies like masks and hand sanitizer, and helping the vaccination team in Compton – the place where she grew up. “It’s important for the community to see people who look like them giving vaccines. It helps create trust.”