communityblockinitiative

We are a non-profit organization founded by student registered nurse anesthetists who recognized a disconnect between their educational institution and the surrounding community.

Serving as a conduit, Community Block Initiative awards service-driven scholarships for student anesthetists that create meaningful pathways between their nurse anesthesia cohort and under-resourced primary education schools in their local communities. These scholarships support programs that deliver a STEM-focused curriculum in nursing skills and health literacy, helping to dismantle barriers to higher education and the nursing profession.

Our initiative raises awareness for the nurse anesthesia profession, drives sustainable change in communities and promotes positive outcomes for all involved.

OUR MISSION

Our students, acting as ambassadors, align community needs with university resources, fostering collaboration between local communities and nurse anesthesia programs to drive sustainable change. CBI is dedicated to building connections and supporting under-resourced communities, creating a harmonious environment where local residents and student anesthetists work together for better, more equitable outcomes in both directions. By facilitating partnerships, we aim to ensure fair distribution of resources and opportunities, offering educational, social and professional experiences to those who might otherwise lack access.

OUR VISION

CBI envisions flourishing communities rooted in the belief they are built from shared commitment, values, and inputs. Our vision is to annually award a service-driven scholarship to one student anesthetist at every program in the country for their role in coordinating community outreach.

Flagship Project

Our initiative launched at Case Western Reserve University's Nurse Anesthesia Program, where fourteen junior and senior student anesthetists delivered STEM curriculum focused on health literacy to students at Daniel E. Morgan Elementary School. Throughout the program, students engaged in interactive, hands-on activities exploring healthcare topics and skills, while gaining increased awareness of nursing and of nurse anesthesia.

Activities included investigating sickle cell disease genetics through DNA extraction from bananas, role-playing scenarios, and examining case studies on diabetes and hypertension, aimed at deepening the understanding of health conditions disproportionately affecting African Americans. We hosted a CPR day that included hands-on training with CPR mannequins and instruction in managing infant choking emergencies. To enhance anatomical knowledge, students dissected pig hearts and practiced vital sign assessments using stethoscopes and blood pressure cuffs. We introduced further basic nursing skills with hands-on exercises such as calculating medication dosages and preparing syringes.

We would like to thank The Cleveland Council of Black Nurses and CWRU's FPB School of Nursing's CNESI for generously providing equipment and supplies. Special thanks to Dr. Sonya Moore, Program Director of Nurse Anesthesia, and Dr. Camille Warner, Associate Dean for DEI at CWRU for their pivotal support.

Gratitude also to Ms. Janice Eatman-Williams, Director of the FOCUS Group School-Based Outreach at CWRU for facilitating our partnership with Daniel E. Morgan, and to Mrs. Me'Chelle Hayes, Dr. Mary de Haan, and Dr. Grant O'Connell for their contributions to curriculum development. Lastly, we extend our thanks to Principal Dessie Sanders at Daniel E. Morgan for warmly welcoming our students and fostering meaningful interactions between both schools.

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