Posted on 4.07.09 by Sharon Lin, DO

After watching Barack Obama's campaign to the presidency, I am buoyed up by the idea of community organizing and the power of hope and change. I love this time of year, when my energy and spirit match the spring weather.  Hope. Change.  It is hard to believe we are already in the month of April because so many changes are happening so fast. I have been prepping all fall and winter for the spring launch of my community leadership project.  The themes of social capitol, disparities, quality of life, integrated strategic planning, and networking have weaved together during my intern year and I am finally able to tell you what it is I'm up to.

Together with leaders from the Public Health and Economic Development sectors, I am working to create a public-private partnership network in Sonoma County that will address community health within a socio-economic context.  People are just beginning to adequately acknowledge that the environment, education, health, and economy are all intricately connected. There are so many common goals and fundamental social determinants affecting community health, why not work together to make our society stronger?  I am looking for leaders, people who care about creating a strong foundation for well-being for all.  My role is to pull these people together and make them stick together to create innovative solutions. No easy task.

Isn't this what community organizing is all about?  Before medical school, when I was working as a community organizer in New York City, I felt more ALIVE than ever before.  Working with people from different sectors and bringing them together into a room created so much energy and hope.  However, this time I won't have the luxury of full-time organizing.  I will have to piece-meal my spare time in residency to meet new faces and build relationships from scratch.  I've already spent this past year meeting many wonderful and passionate people in Sonoma County, but now I'll have to kick it up a notch.  I'm throwing myself out there to inspire and be inspired.  Wish me luck!