Bible Center Church – The Oasis Project
Encouraging Healthy Habits in Homewood Youth (Healthy Start Passport & Curriculum)
Student Interns:
Emma Kotes, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Julia Wiegers, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Sharon Connor, PharmD, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy
Community Preceptor:
Cynthia M. Wallace, EdD, Executive Director, Bible Center Church
Community Site:
The Oasis Project serves as the community and economic development arm of Bible Center Church, located in Homewood, PA. Its name reflects a powerful vision: to create oases — spaces of peace, safety, and joy within a historically underserved community. The Oasis Project aims to bridge the gap in a neighborhood where many children face limited access to the opportunities available in better-resourced areas. With initiatives focused on education, employment, and entrepreneurship, the organization is dedicated to empowering local youth while also fostering lasting environmental transformation within the Homewood community.
https://www.biblecenterpgh.org/
Team’s Experience:
This was the Bible Center Church’s first summer partnering with the Bridging the Gaps program and hosting interns. It was also the first summer that the University of Pittsburgh medical students in the primary care accelerated track were paired with a community site rather than with their longitudinal clinical sites. Given their dedication to primary care, the Bridging the Gaps student interns decided to educate the Homewood community youth about healthy and preventive habits. They developed lesson plans for preschool- through high school-aged children, based on direct input from participants in the Early Learning Center, Maker’s Clubhouse summer camp, and Field2Fork programs. For children in grades K-4, the interns developed a “Healthy Start Passport” to encourage learning about basic healthy habits and preventive measures while simultaneously incentivizing their engagement. The interns planned to leave these passports, as well as their lesson plans, with the Bible Center Church to use for future lessons and camps run by the organization.
Reflections:
Emma Kotes: “Working with the Homewood community, especially its youth, has opened my eyes to the meaningful impact we can have, even as medical students, through preventive healthcare. Being welcomed into this community has also prompted deep reflection on the kind of pediatrician I hope to become, and I could not be more grateful for the experience.”
Julia Wiegers: “I’ve come to realize that the children and the Homewood community have taught me far more than I could ever have hoped to teach them. Their genuine curiosity, compassion for each other, and strong connection to their neighborhood have opened my eyes to the true meaning of health—one that extends beyond textbooks and clinical knowledge and is rooted in community.”
Center of Life (COL)
Hazelwood Eats: Official Camp Cookbook
Student Interns:
Liliana Chavez, University of Pittsburgh School of Education
Pearl Park, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
Academic Preceptor:
Martha Terry, PhD, Associate Professor Emeritus, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
Community Preceptor:
Sarah Crawshaw, MEd, Education Programs Manager, Center of Life
The Community Site:
Center of Life (COL) is a nonprofit organization founded by Pastor Tim “PT” Smith in 2001. COL provides rich academic out-of-school programs and experiences in music and arts for youth in kindergarten through 12th grade. At COL, “Everything Is About People.” The four pillars of COL are education, resources, healthcare, and the arts. The organization offers four main programmatic areas for youth: Fusion/Camp Hazelwood, Aspiring Leaders Teen Academy (ALTA), the KRUNK movement, and COL Jazz. COL’s programs for the broader community include their Family and Community Engagement Center (FCE), Social Justice Resource Center, Jazz/KRUNK Summer Concert Series, and a COL summer basketball league.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns spent most of their time working with Center of Life’s summer day camp, Camp Hazelwood, which serves students from kindergarten through 8th grade. They spent their days immersed in classroom activities, participating in field trips, and building relationships with students and staff. In addition to their work at camp, the interns also supported the distribution of bi-weekly food boxes for the community and attended weekly basketball games and Jazz/KRUNK concerts. As part of their contribution to the community site, the interns developed a series of lesson plans featuring simple, healthy recipes designed for students in 6th through 8th grade. These lessons aim to teach basic cooking skills while encouraging healthy eating habits.
Reflections:
Liliana Chavez: “My time spent with Center of Life has been so rewarding. [That] I have been able to grow connections within the community of Hazelwood and COL has been incredible. I am extremely grateful to the staff and students for welcoming me into their space and allowing me to learn with and from them these past weeks. I hope that our contribution to COL will continue to benefit the youth within this space.”
Pearl Park: “Throughout my BTG experience, I learned what it means to serve the people with humility and compassion in the Hazelwood community. Without the people, there is no such thing as ‘us.’ To be in the shoes of the community is more of a privilege than to make assumptions based on one’s gender, race/ethnicity, class, etc.”
Latino Community Center
Higher Education Survival Guide – A Resource for College-Bound Students
Student Interns:
Maria-Fe Geissinger, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Alejandra Paredes-Marin, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
Betty Braxter, PhD, CNM, RN, FAAN, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing
Community Preceptor:
Mónica Méndez, PhD, Latino Community Center
Geyzel Mendoza, Latino Community Center
Community Site:
The Latino Community Center (LCC) is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering, advocating with, and celebrating Latino families in Allegheny County. Established in 2017, with roots tracing back to the earlier Latino Family Center, the LCC offers critical educational support and family services tailored to community-identified needs. Its core mission is to provide children, youth, and families with the tools and opportunities needed to reach their full potential through educational programming, comprehensive family support, and community-building efforts. Guided by strong values — empathy, inclusivity, innovation, professionalism, passion, and a firm belief in education — the organization envisions a community where everyone is valued and has equitable access to the resources needed to thrive.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student interns set out to leave something tangible and useful for the students at the Latino Community Center. Given that many of the center’s programs focus on education and access, the interns created a survival guide — a practical, easy-to-understand resource for navigating college and higher education. This project was especially meaningful for the interns as first-generation students or individuals who have personally struggled to understand the American education system. The interns were deeply inspired by the children they met and by the children’s dreams and determination to pursue higher education. Their aspirations motivated the BTG team to create something that could support them on that journey.
Reflections:
Maria-Fe Geissinger: “Everyone in this room knows that education opens doors that have ripple effects for generations. I am always inspired by the Latino Community Center's efforts to empower their youth in their education goals, and I hope this project adds to and supports that effort.”
Alejandra Paredes-Marin: “It has been amazing to see a community coming together to give its children the future our ancestors dreamed of. From pre-kindergarten to high school, the goal is to provide them with the tools necessary for their future. I hope this small piece can contribute toward that goal.”
Reimagine Reentry, Inc.
MC4: Community Emergency Response Training – A Curriculum for Building Community Leaders
Student Interns:
McKenna Brunick, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
Graham Emery, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
Academic Preceptor:
Thuy Bui, MD, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Community Preceptor:
Julia Donnelly, MPH, Director of Data & Evaluations, Reimagine Reentry
Community Site:
Reimagine Reentry is a Pittsburgh-based program that provides long-term, trauma-informed support to individuals returning from incarceration. For up to three years, participants receive personalized coaching, mentorship, and access to key resources such as housing assistance, workforce development, and family reunification support. The program focuses on reducing recidivism by building an individual’s strengths, helping them set and achieve personal goals, and fostering their community reintegration.
https://www.letsreimaginereentry.org/
Team’s Experience:
At Reimagine Reentry, the Bridging the Gaps student interns were deeply engaged in developing a Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) program tailored to the unique needs of returning citizens. Their experience included collaborating closely with staff, observing the organization’s strength-informed approach, and gaining direct exposure to the day-to-day realities of individuals reentering society after incarceration. By attending meetings, workshops, and community events, they have built meaningful connections with program participants, gaining insight into their lived experiences, strengths, and challenges. Throughout the process, the interns have prioritized cultural competence, taking time to listen, reflect, and adapt their approach to ensure that the program is inclusive, respectful, and empowering. The interns left the organization with a thorough project proposal for training formally incarcerated individuals in disaster preparedness and community outreach that the organization can pursue grant support for.
Reflections:
McKenna Brunick: “This program taught me about the impact that community-centered work has, as well as how effective it can be at creating meaningful change. Coming from the very zoomed-in biology perspective, it was eye-opening to zoom out and explore how health is impacted at the policy and community level. I am grateful I got to gain experience in many aspects of community-centered initiatives, such as the grant writing process, curriculum development, and meetings with community partners. My time at Reimagine Reentry will impact how I navigate social services/the public health field and the impact I have on my surrounding communities.
Incarceration isn’t simply the result of a ‘bad decision’; it reflects a complex web of systemic barriers, personal circumstances, and histories that have been ignored. My time at Reimagine Reentry taught me that a person’s past should never take away from their potential. Everyone deserves a second chance, and I’ve seen what can take place when they are given one.”
Graham Emery: “This program has been a powerful foundation for my professional growth, allowing me to apply public health principles in a real-world setting while working directly with returning citizens. Through developing the CERT program and collaborating with community partners, I’ve gained valuable experience in policy-informed program design, trauma-informed care, and culturally competent outreach. It reinforced the critical role that health policy plays in addressing systemic barriers and showed me how community-centered solutions can drive equity, safety, and resilience from the ground up. Reimagine Reentry is not just a program or workshop for training; it’s a family. It was about building trust, restoring dignity, and creating new pathways. It reminded us that when a community invests in second chances, everyone rises. Everyone benefits.”
Youth Enrichment Services (YES)
Mental Health Matters
Student Interns:
Esmeralda Narvaez, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy
Haliyat Oshodi, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
Academic Preceptor:
Mary Goldberg, PhD, University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Community Preceptor:
Deanna Sinex, PhD, Director of Research and Program Strategy, Youth Enrichment Services
Community Site:
Youth Enrichment Services (YES) is a nonprofit organization that empowers Pittsburgh-area youth through academic support, leadership training, and workforce development. Since 1994, YES has supported thousands of young people — especially those from underserved communities — by helping them build confidence, develop life skills, and prepare for future success. YES is a provider of the Learn and Earn Summer Youth Employment Program, which offers paid work experience to youth aged 14 to 21 in Allegheny County. Participants receive career readiness training and academic support, and they engage in hands-on projects such as Youth Participatory Action Research. The program ends with youth presenting their work to local leaders, which helps strengthen their community awareness and communication skills. Through Learn and Earn, YES helps youth earn income while gaining real-world experience, mentorship, and the tools needed to succeed in school, work, and life.
https://www.youthenrichmentservices.org/
Team’s Experience:
After meeting with the community preceptor at YES, the need to raise mental health awareness was identified. In response, the Bridging the Gaps interns developed a training module focused on trauma-informed approaches for staff. This module will be integrated into an existing training website for staff, which is under development. The purpose of the training is to help create an inclusive and nurturing environment where students can feel safe and grow into healthy individuals. It covers why this approach is important specifically for this community, how trauma impacts behavior in the classroom, how common disciplinary actions can be re-traumatizing for students, and the effectiveness of trauma-informed approaches in the classroom.
Reflections:
Esmeralda Narvaez: “During my time at YES, I’ve been pushed in more ways than I thought I would. I led my first classroom lecture and facilitated group collaboration, despite my longstanding fear of public speaking. I’ve been learning how to navigate moments of silence or resistance from students and reminding myself not to interpret them as personal failures, but rather opportunities to grow more resilient. Engaging with the students on a day-to-day basis has helped me move beyond labels such as ‘at-risk youth’ and see them as full individuals, each with their own flares and quirks. Working in Homewood, which often carries a negative reputation, I came in with hesitation. But through fieldwork, I’ve also seen a kind of beauty that doesn’t often make it into the media. There exists community, pride in shared history, and strength. It has been a wonderful, learning experience and am incredibly grateful for this opportunity.”
Haliyat Oshodi: “Interning at YES made me realize that youth should be more involved in policy development and community activism. They see the discriminatory practices occurring in their neighborhoods and are greatly affected by them. They have the power to create meaningful change when given the tools, platforms, and support to do so. It also helped me understand that empowering youth to lead and advocate not only benefits their personal development but also strengthens our communities and ensures that future policies are more inclusive, equitable, and effective.”
Youth Opportunities Development
Clairton Cooks
Student Interns:
Michael Ceglarz, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
Beth Pangia, University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Academic Preceptor:
Nina Markovic, MS, PhD, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine
Community Preceptors:
Aliyah Anderson, Youth Opportunities Development
Tre McKeithen, Youth Opportunities Development
Brandon Ziats, Youth Opportunities Development
The Community Site:
Youth Opportunities Development (YOD) is a nonprofit organization aimed at “ensuring peaceful, prosperous communities through the mentoring, education, and empowerment of youth.” Serving middle and high school boys in the Clairton community, YOD offers in-school, after-school, and summer enrichment programs that emphasize academic support, behavioral development, community engagement, and fun/enrichment. The after-school program runs from 3 to 7:30 PM, and involves tutoring, homework time, interactive learning sessions, dinner, and some recreational activities. The summer programming runs from 11 AM to 4 PM and provides interactive group learning sessions, lunch, and recreational activities. Research shows that youth involved in programs such as YOD have experienced improved school attendance, academic performance, and social/behavioral outcomes.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps interns partnered with YOD to support youth health and wellness through a nutrition project tailored for staff, to help make a broader impact. The interns saw an opportunity to introduce balanced meals and snacks into the diets of youth members actively involved in sports and other recreational activities. As part of this project, they introduced a cookbook filled with easy, affordable, youth-friendly recipes that can be made with program participants to engage the youth. The cookbook also included pictures, prep times, nutritional information, and adaptable variations of the recipes for differing palates. The project aimed to equip staff with tools to foster healthy eating behaviors, positive relationships, and further life skills among youth members. The BTG team’s educational sessions mirrored YOD’s goals, introducing topics such as the importance of healthy eating, adequate protein consumption, hydration, and oral health.
Reflections:
Michael Ceglarz: “My time at YOD in Clairton has been both transformative and eye-opening. I was able to witness just how influential mentorship and consistency can be in improving the livelihoods of youth members. I am especially inspired by the staff members here, who are able to create such a safe, structured, and joyful environment for the youth of this community. It's clear how much the kids trust and look up to them. Working on the cookbook project was my favorite part, as it showed me how public health can be both practical and personal. It helped me realize how public health isn't just about systems and policies, but everyday things like relationships and care as well. I am entirely grateful for this experience and my chance to contribute to such meaningful work.”
Beth Pangia: “My time at YOD has been an incredibly meaningful experience that I’ll always cherish. Building relationships with the kids was especially rewarding, and I gained a deeper understanding of the challenges facing the Clairton community, such as environmental pollution and food insecurity. I also had the privilege of working alongside passionate individuals committed to creating positive change. Having Brandon as a mentor was truly inspiring — his dedication to the community motivated me to think more deeply about service and leadership. One of the highlights of my internship was contributing to the cookbook project, which emphasized the importance of accessible nutrition education for youth. The recipes we created offered simple, healthy options to help student athletes improve performance and make informed choices despite limited food access. I’m incredibly grateful to have been part of such meaningful work. The kids at YOD have left a lasting impact on me, and I’ll carry this experience with me moving forward.”