Alliance Hall of allentown
Alliance Hall: A Place to Play, Grow, and Belong
Student Interns:
Iqrah Mohammad, DeSales University, School of Health Sciences, Medical Studies to Physician Assistant Program
Andrew Vogel, DeSales University, School of Health Sciences, Medical Studies to Physician Assistant Program
Academic Preceptor:
Tricia Bernecker, PhD, RN, DeSales University
Community Preceptor:
Tina Amato, MS, LDN, RD, Nutrition and Physical Activity Manager, Allentown Health Bureau
Community Site:
The Alliance Hall Summer Program is a free summer recreation program at Central Elementary school run by the Allentown Health Bureau aimed at giving youth aged 7-13 years a safe place to play during the summer. Children are given the opportunity to engage in a variety of activities, including arts and crafts, sports, daily swimming, and other physical activity. Children also receive healthy breakfasts and lunches.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns assisted with the Alliance Hall Summer Camp program by supporting daily activities and engaging with youth participants. The work focused on creating a safe, fun, and structured environment for children through games, educational sessions, and field trips. The interns also helped lead dental and oral health presentations, using interactive tools like dental props and coloring sheets to teach healthy habits. Throughout the program, they built strong relationships with campers to encourage confidence, creativity, and positive behavior.
Reflections:
Iqrah Mohammad: “My experience at Alliance Hall was incredibly fulfilling. I had the opportunity to connect with children and create a positive environment where they felt seen and heard. Through activities, such as playing sports and making bracelets, or handing out breakfast in the mornings, I saw firsthand how impactful it is to simply engage with the students and be present. This experience deepened my passion for working with youth and reminded me of the importance of creating safe spaces where every child can thrive.”
Andrew Vogel: “Being part of the summer program helped me realize how much the little things, like sitting with a kid at lunch or cheering them on in the pool, can really make a difference. It made me more mindful of how I show up every day, and how important it is to be a positive example. What you don’t do is just as important as what you do, because the kids are always watching and learning from how you act, even when you don’t realize it.”
Casa Guadalupe
A Summer with the Casa Kids
Student Interns:
Rachel Baffour, DeSales University, School of Nursing
Amanda Deutsch, DeSales University, School of Health Sciences, Medical Studies to Physician Assistant Program
Hala Mahmoud, DeSales University, School of Health Sciences, Medical Studies to Physician Assistant Program
Academic Preceptor:
Tricia Berneker, PhD, RN, DeSales University, School of Nursing
Community Preceptor:
Andrea Wilson, PhD, Education Staff Lead Coordinator, Casa Guadalupe
Community Site:
Casa Guadalupe Center is a nonprofit organization that provides educational services to children and young adults, as well as housing, behavioral health services through its Lotus clinic, and services for elderly residents. Established in 1969, it serves underrepresented communities in the Lehigh Valley and Allentown, with a focus on the Latino community. In partnership with organizations such as the DaVinci Science Center and Innastar, Casa Guadalupe offers a summer program that provides children with a packed schedule of educational, engaging, and memorable activities that encourage creativity and self-expression.
Team’s Experience:
The BTG student interns spent the summer at a community-based education center where the primary focus was on youth empowerment, creativity, and health. Their work centered on honing the students’ teamwork skills through interactive lessons and activities such as entrepreneurship, literacy, financial literacy, mental health, and performing arts. Activities included students practicing and directing screenplays and dance performances in preparation for an end-of-the-year performance. The interns also brought in partners to teach yoga, engineering, performance, visual arts, and science. They contributed to improving classroom management, behavior, and engagement through consistent guidance and structured routines.
Reflections:
Rachel Baffour: “This summer, I feel like I learned so much from working with the staff, the kids, and my fellow interns. Especially working with the specific demographic of 2nd and 3rd graders, I feel like I learned how to better handle challenges that arose with compassion, understanding, and empathy. Using these qualities helped me to patiently resolve conflicts between the students. Honestly, this experience has encouraged me to utilize the skills I developed in this program within my profession, understanding that there is much more to a person than what is on the surface, and to provide the best service possible, you must consider the person within and all of the factors that affect their lives. As a nurse, I will strive not to see people as just another patient, but as a human being who comes along with life experiences that have shaped who they are.”
Amanda Deutsch: “After the duration of the summer program with Casa Guadalupe, I will take a lot from this experience, both in my personal and professional life. This [experience] allowed me to develop and strengthen my interpersonal skills between various demographics, including children, adults, and my peers. Working specifically with my class, which was 4th and 5th grade, taught me a lot about patience and understanding the emotional environment to properly proceed with lesson plans. As I forward my efforts to become a physician assistant, I will bring the same levels of empathy and compassion that I shared with these children in my practice.”
Hala Mahmoud: “The BTG CHIP experience left a profound impression on my personal and professional development. Engaging directly with community members and organizations allowed me to better understand social determinants that affect health in the community. This experience also emphasized the importance of empathy, active listening, and patience when working with underserved populations. Working in a team allowed me to enhance my communication and collaboration skills, which is essential for working within a team in a healthcare setting. My time at Casa Guadalupe working with students in grades 6 to 12 allowed me to build strong, trusting relationships with the students. They began to open up to me about their challenges, dreams, and struggles both inside and outside of school. Being a consistent, supportive presence helped me understand the importance of active listening and being there for students. I learned that beyond assisting in education, creating a safe space for students to feel heard and valued is crucial. This experience shaped how vital it is to see how community work and healthcare extend beyond clinical work and how it involves building trusting and genuine relationships.”
Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley (PNLV)
Promise in Action: Stopping Violence and Strengthening Community
Student Interns:
Casey Clark, Temple/St. Luke’s School of Medicine
Kenan Kanopka Jr., Temple/St. Luke’s School of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Tricia Bernecker PhD, RN, DeSales University, School of Nursing
Community Preceptors:
Abby S. Letcher, MD, Lehigh Valley Health Partners
Naomi Melendez, Volunteer and Intern Coordinator, Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley
Community Site:
Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley (PNLV) is an Afrocentric, grassroots, nonprofit organization focused on violence prevention. PNLV is working to create safe, healthy, and inclusive neighborhoods across Allentown and the Lehigh Valley. Guided by an anti-racist, women-centered, and liberation-based framework, PNLV empowers residents to drive local solutions to systemic challenges. Its initiatives focus on youth violence prevention, health equity, leadership development, and community wellness. Through partnerships, outreach, and grassroots organizing, PNLV helps families and neighborhoods thrive from cradle to career.
https://promiseneighborhoodslv.org/
Team’s Experience:
The BTG student interns participated in many important activities. They assisted with operations at the Promise Food & Wellness Center, packaging and distributing food orders to community members experiencing food insecurities, using the center’s Order-Ahead model to ensure a dignified and efficient experience for those in need. They participated in weekly Lunch-and-Learn sessions, engaging in discussions on topics such as community advocacy, men’s mental health, nutrition, and Black- and woman-centered mental health. They delivered an interactive health education presentation to Promise Neighborhoods staff and community members on cardiovascular health, tobacco cessation, and oral health, and shared resources for healthy living and professional support. They shadowed Dr. Letcher and her team during street outreach with Valley Health Partners, learning about harm reduction, opioid use disorder treatment, and strategies for connecting underserved individuals to care. They engaged in community outreach by playing sports with local youth and promoted Promise Neighborhoods programs, including youth mentorship, violence prevention, safe spaces, and career development initiatives. They canvased a high-risk community facing gentrification, violence, poverty, and other determinants of health to provide free resources, Narcan®, environmentally friendly water bottles, and, most important, to create authentic relationships with the community members in that neighborhood. They volunteered with the setup for the Promise Works graduation ceremony, supporting a federally funded workforce development program that provides training and job readiness for adults facing employment barriers such as incarceration, homelessness, substance use history, and many more. They also completed T.R.E.E. Training and received certificates from the T.R.E.E. Institute, which provided in-depth education on trauma, restorative practices, emotional intelligence, and equity.
Reflections:
Casey Clark: “I would like to be a physician who thoroughly cares for my patients. To do this, I will need to not only address problems that patients bring to my office but also reach out to the community and engage with those who need care but may not feel comfortable coming to health providers. Promise Neighborhoods is a prime example of learning from its community and adapting to meet its needs. I am inspired by the people who work here and the work they do, and I hope to continue engaging with my community and with Promise Neighborhoods throughout my career.”
Kenan Kanopka Jr.: “After growing up in the Lehigh Valley, I thought I knew everything about my community. Bridging the Gaps showed me that there’s a real difference between my experience and what many people in the community are going through. As a future physician, it’s important to understand the needs of the people we serve, and BTG brought to light some of the serious challenges our patient populations face. It gave me a deeper understanding of the hardships in our community and, ultimately, will help me provide better, more compassionate care.”