The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #51924

Stephanie C. Kim, MPH, School of Public Health, Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, Suite 1120, New York, NY 10032, 212-305-1777, ssc45@columbia.edu, Jill Gotts, Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th St., 9th Floor, New York, NY 10019, and Cheryl Merzel, DrPH, Dept of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W. 168 St., New York, NY 10032.

The Public Health Association of New York City (PHANYC) initiated and cosponsored a volunteer/advocacy fair, the first of this kind of event in New York City, at Columbia University's health science campus in October of 2001. A broad range of organizations and advocacy groups, reflecting numerous public health issues in New York City, were represented at the fair. Staff were available to provide information about their organizations as well as opportunities for membership or volunteering. This was a truly unique event as it allowed not only students, future public health leaders, to learn more about and become involved in local public health advocacy and volunteer opportunities, but also permitted agencies to network and gain awareness about other organizations in the surrounding community. PHANYC used its diverse membership to make this event possible. Thirty one agencies including local chapters of national organizations and community-based organizations participated in the fair. About 150 students attended the fair. This event turned out to be a success which we feel could easily be replicated at other schools in order to foster collaboration between public health organizations, students and the community.

Learning Objectives: This presentation will discuss

• how this event was initiated
• the process for implementing this event
• lessons learned & outcomes from the event

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.