Nine rising ninth graders from Waterbury public high schools participated in the Health Equity Scholars Program this past summer, led by the UConn Health Disparities Institute (HDI) in partnership with Waterbury Bridges to Success.

The free four-week program introduced the scholars to health equity research, career exploration, and Photovoice, a research method that uses photography and storytelling to spark conversations and document their experiences, perspectives, and concerns on pressing public health challenges in their city and proposing actionable solutions to improve their community’s well-being.

Each scholar was taught how to identify the factors that influence and impact health in Waterbury and tasked with developing their own health equity research project offering possible solutions to improve public health issues facing Waterbury.

With the mentorship and guidance from the Health Equity Fellows – Marie Syla, from Waterbury and a sophomore at UConn majoring in Biology and Julian Chaparro, a junior at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Studio Art – scholars were able  research topics that ranged from the importance of clean air, to repairing abandoned buildings, access to public transportation and access to recreation areas for exercise, clean waterways, and even access to places of worship for holistic health.

At the close of the program students publicly presented their findings to the UConn Health Disparities Institute, their supportive peers, mentors, family members, and community members. Scholars were presented with a certificate to celebrate the completion of the special program.

“This program is about more than research — it’s about creating opportunities for youth to see themselves as researchers, public health advocates, and as leaders, who can help to address complex community priorities. Their work has the potential to shape the future of public health in Waterbury and beyond,” says Dr. Linda Sprague Martinez, director of the UConn Health Disparities Institute.

Lino Delgado, 14, a freshman at Wilby High School and Health Equity Scholar, shared how the program gave him a newfound passion for engineering and environmental advocacy.  Delgado was selected as a STEM exhibitor and virtually presented his environmental health research project, which explored the importance of curbing air pollution during the week leading up to the 62nd CT Junior Science and Humanities Symposium hosted by CT-AHEC and held at UConn Health.  His research on the impact of air pollution and the need for electric buses highlighted how local youth can drive innovative environmental solutions.

“Lino’s family is so proud of him, and so are we,” says UConn HDI’s Trisha Pitter, who directed the Health Equity Scholars Program. “The research program was very transformational for Lino.”

“Everyone needs public health,” says Delgado who attends Wilby High School. “The program was good, and I really enjoyed making the poster.”

Delgado adds, “Eventually people are going to need electric buses. The buses right now are producing pollution in our community.”

“This great program gave Lino a boost of confidence,” says his older sister Maileen Delgado. “He’s a whole new kid. It has changed his whole outlook on his future. Kids in Waterbury don’t get a lot of experiences like this. We really appreciated it!”

“HDI piloted the Health Equity Scholars Program in Waterbury to explore its impact, and the experience was incredible. It was truly heartwarming to see how engaged the scholars were and open to sharing what they are seeing inside their Waterbury communities and offering solutions. They know what they and their communities need to achieve health equity,” Pitter adds. “It was an honor for UConn Health Disparities Institute to equip scholars with the tools and knowledge to create meaningful change beyond the program. We are also thankful to our Healthy Equity Fellows Marie and Julian who engaged our scholars every step of the way and built personal connections with them that made the research program fun.”

“I had an incredible experience with the UConn Health HDI Team, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to work with the incoming high school students of Waterbury,” says Syla,19, the Health Equity Fellow from Waterbury who attends UConn Storrs. “Sharing knowledge about the social determinants of health is vital, and I feel honored to have played a role in educating the next generation of scholars. Watching them engage with these important concepts in fun, creative ways was truly inspiring. The lessons they learned will help shape their understanding of health in society, fostering awareness that will ripple through communities for years to come.”

Syla adds, “As someone from Waterbury, it was especially meaningful to discuss the disparities affecting my own community. Being able to contribute to this conversation and to empower young minds with knowledge was both rewarding and fulfilling. I look forward to seeing the lasting impact of these efforts as these students carry forward what they’ve learned.”

After UConn, Syla aspires to pursue a career in health care and continue to medical school, striving to make a meaningful impact in the medical field.

Additionally, as part of the program students explored their possible future health-related career interests and pathways. To broaden career awareness, the program invited guest speakers from Connecticut’s only public academic medical center UConn Health. The faculty shared insights into their career journeys, the motivations behind their work, and the diverse pathways within public health and health equity careers. These sessions were designed as interactive engagements, allowing scholars to lead discussions and explore both traditional and non-traditional career opportunities through fun and creative discussions. Guest speakers included UConn School of Medicine’s Dr. Linda Barry and Dr. Anton Alerte, Dr. Moises Y. Salas, and Rev. Cecil Tengatenga.

“Exposing our scholars to traditional and nontraditional pathways to public health, shapes their future career outlook and interests. We explored being a physician, researcher, social worker, therapist, educator, artist and entrepreneur to name a few. I could envision each scholar being   future leaders of Waterbury,” says Pitter.

Delgado now wants to be an engineer thanks to the Health Equity Scholars Program experience with the UConn Health Disparities Institute.

“I want to be an engineer, so I can drive trains someday,” says Delgado.

“We hope to keep the momentum and community engagement of this new pilot program and its students going. Next year, we plan to go back to Waterbury and, also to grow the program in other areas of the state given the great success, interest, and public health need,” says Pitter.

“Our goal is to build on this momentum and bring this program to more communities across Connecticut,” says Sprague Martinez. “Young people are impacted by public health decision making but are rarely invited to contribute to those very decisions that impact them. Programs like this create opportunities to ensure public health efforts reflect the priorities of young people and communities, while also increasing college and career readiness.”

This initiative would not have been possible without the support of Waterbury Bridges to Success, which funded the pilot program, and UConn Waterbury, which provided classroom space for scholars to learn and collaborate. The program’s success is also a testament to the dedicated HDI team, including Sprague Martinez (Principal Investigator), Dr. Rocio Chang (Advisor to the Health Equity Fellows), and Peter Zapata (Program Coordinator).

“People in communities are experts in their own lives and know what they need to be healthy,” Sprague Martinez concludes. “This is just the beginning. We are interested in advancing efforts that ensure public health efforts reflect the priorities in CT communities including young people. Their voices matter, and they are already making a difference.”