Her day job is to support Healthy Planet, the tool within UConn Health’s electronic health record system that’s dedicated to improving population health.
So it makes sense that when she’s away from work, Jessica Parmelee advocates for access to affordable housing.
“I love to advocate for people, and it connects to my purpose of my job because population health is a big part of supporting our community, connecting our patients who have social determinants of health with some resources,” Parmelee says.
And in her advocacy, she shares her own story — that of a Habitat for Humanity homeowner.
“Their key line is, ‘It’s a hand up, not a handout,’” says Parmelee, who joined UConn Health information technology group in 2014 and today is an application analyst on Epic, the electronic health record system UConn Health adopted in 2018.
She moved into her Farmington house in 2016, after completing Habitat’s process for first-time homeowners. That process includes demonstrating need, meeting income qualifications, spending several hundred hours of performing volunteer work, taking homeowner education classes, and committing to paying an interest-free mortgage.
“It’s actually a really cool process because you get to learn everything,” Parmelee says. “I learned sheet rocking, roofing, things I would’ve never learned outside of this program. So you get the hands-on experience and you kind of know what goes into a house, versus just walking in and purchasing one.”
The process also inspired her to keep working with Habitat for Humanity after fulfilling her commitment. Within six months of moving in, she was back out on Habitat job sites, helping build houses for those who would follow her in Bloomfield, Hartford, and East Hartford.
“It sets you up for success and also sets you up to be giving back to the community as well, because you’re a participant in the community,” Parmelee says. “You got some skin in the game when it comes to your town and being involved, and then just volunteering on other houses and continuing to pay it forward.”
Along the way she found her voice as an advocate. Earlier this year, Habitat invited her to attend the “Habitat on the Hill” conference in Washington, D.C., to share her story and learn more about advocating for affordable housing in the local community.
Her visit, in mid-February, included meetings with staff from Connecticut’s congressional delegation, and she was able to get some time with her congressional representative, Rep. Jahana Hayes. The message for lawmakers was to support legislation that makes affordable housing more accessible.
“I was there to help connect the legislation to a real person, so they actually had a face to connect to why these things were important and the success of affordable housing,” Parmelee says. “They heard about the partnership, the volunteer hours, the homeowner education that you receive. I was inspired because they were inspired after hearing the story.”
Habitat for Humanity long has been associated with former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn. Parmelee recalls a letter she wrote to them shortly after moving in to that first home seven years ago, thanking them for their lifetime support of Habitat for Humanity.
“I told them, ‘Habitat for Humanity gave me a chance to raise my son in safe and affordable housing and a step up in life. The community that has been built around supporting Habitat for Humanity, the volunteers, and homeowners is something that will always be deep in our hearts,’” she says.
Parmelee, who describes Carter as her idol, says her experience on Capitol Hill channeled a connection to his legacy.
“Not many have dedicated their life to just do good for people,” Parmelee says. “When we’re all successful, when our needs are met, it’s a better place. It was so invigorating and encouraging to be in a room of 350 people who just wanted good for everyone. Just, how can we help the greater good? And I feel like that’s what Jimmy Carter has done.”
