
RR
Project Description
RR aims to recognize public health barriers that are unique to the diverse communities or “hubs” of Houston, including Gulfton, Sunnyside-Pasadena, and Third Ward, as well as the resources that alleviate the health discrepancies in our hubs. Students will gain perspective by engaging in weekly, interactive workshops designed to grow awareness of resource gaps (such as lack of food, supplies, and psychosocial care) across Houston’s hubs. In addition, students will have opportunities to volunteer and collaborate with community health workers (CHWs) through diverse volunteering outreach events. Volunteers will also have access to shadow CHWs to gain in-person knowledge and insight into their work in the field. Through the experiences RR offers, students will learn about the social determinants of health, public health concerns specific to Houston, and CHW’s unique role in bridging between the community and health institutions.
Plans Moving Forward
Students that are joining RR will be learning about community-specific issues affecting the hubs we serve through in-person and online interactive weekly workshops. Student volunteers will also address those very community issues by helping CHWs coordinate their projects or events. Within the third week of every month, RR students will expand their community impact by attending a volunteering event in lieu of a workshop. RR offers diverse volunteering opportunities, including Power4Life events, Bread of Life distributions, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy events, and more. Students will also have the opportunity to shadow community health workers (CHWs) on site. Through RR, you can help bridge health disparities and gain unique experiences and knowledge from the CHWs you will be collaborating with.

Member Expectations
- 1 hour per week student commitment*
- Students must attend all workshops.
*Note: outreach/volunteering events will occur on the third week of every month and may take up 3-4 hours, but students may leave earlier with prior notice.

Project Heads
Rani Nune, Biology, Senior
Gabi McAndrews, Public Health, Senior
Christina Kuruvilla, Biomedical Engineering, Junior
Publications
- Unique Program Brings UH Students and Community Together to Tackle Public Health Issues
- Arete 2019
- Public Health Webinar Discusses Healthcare's Future
- PEERS Program Goes Remote
- Pharis Fellowship Scholars Start Individual Experiments to Improve Health of Houston Community
- UH Healthcare Organizations Discuss Racial Disparities in Medicine
- UH CHWI Helping Houston Communities Impacted by COVID-19
- A Glimpse into the PEERS Program
- UH Honors Student Spotlights
- PEERS Competition Addresses Community Health Issues