by Camelia Singletary, MPH

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In this episode of Public Health Perspectives, I’m speaking with Whitney Anderson, a graduate student at Saint Louis University currently finishing her Master of Public Health with a joint concentration in Maternal and Child Health and Epidemiology. As a part of her graduate experience, Whitney recently had the opportunity to complete a 9-month internship with Generate Health, a local organization in St. Louis, Missouri, that aims to advance racial equity in pregnancy outcomes, family well-being, and community health. During her time with Generate Health, Whitney served as an epidemiology intern for a grant the organization received to assist families in St. Louis with obtaining needed resources while navigating other challenges throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Whitney obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Public Health at Saint Louis University in 2016 and has spent the last 4 years working in the public health field. She currently works as a Public Health Program Representative at the City of St. Louis Department of Health.

All levels of the socioecological model need movement in order to improve the housing sector in St. Louis. This includes access to affordable, quality housing for families, as well as safe neighborhoods to raise their families in. Whitney worked with FLOURISH Motivated Outreach for the Restoration of Equity (MORE) to address housing issues that can impact the health of Black moms and babies. Some issues include: old homes with lead paint, pest/rodent infestations, the presence of mold and other asthma triggers, overcrowding and affordability.

Listen to the Podcast:

Related Resources:

• COVID-19’s Disproportionate Impact on Communities of Color Spotlights the Nation’s Systemic Inequities
• Perspective Transformation: Learning to See Racism
• Improving Health for African-American Women in Columbus, Ohio: An Interview with Dr. Mysheika Roberts
• A “Forgotten History” of How the U.S. Government Segregated America