ELP Experience: Leah Amanuel (Spring 2024)

Tell us about you…

My name is Leah Amanuel, and I am a senior at Howard University, majoring in human performance and psychology from Denver, Colorado. I was drawn to the Experimental Learning Program because it offered an opportunity to merge my passion for public health with my interest in content creation. My primary goal was to creatively and cohesively communicate a critical public health issue.

Tell us about what you worked on…

For my project, I developed a carousel presentation on food deserts and the negative health impacts they have on marginalized communities in Washington, DC, particularly in Ward 8. My key responsibilities included clearly defining food deserts and visually demonstrating the limited options and resources available to Ward 8 residents. To engage the audience emotionally, I incorporated real quotes from residents, highlighting the disproportionate effects of this issue. I also researched the health consequences of limited access to healthy food options and integrated this information into the presentation through visuals, ensuring minimal text. Lastly, I included a "call to action" to empower the audience to make a difference. Ultimately, the presentation featured definitions, statistics, real-world examples, potential health outcomes, and actionable solutions.

Tell us what you learned…

Throughout this project, I honed my research skills, learned to optimize visuals through thoughtful choices of fonts, colors, and graphics, and deepened my understanding of how demographics such as race, income, class, and education influence access to resources. Ward 8, with a population of nearly 90,000—82% of whom identify as Black—has 34% of its residents living in poverty. Despite being one of the largest wards, it has only one grocery store, leading to higher risks of chronic illnesses due to limited access to healthy food, recreational spaces, and other vital resources.

Tell us what the best part was…

The flexibility and customization of the Experimental Learning Program allowed me to balance my responsibilities as a working college student, providing me with the time to refine my work. I am especially grateful for the support of my advisor, Monique Thornton, who provided amazing guidance and constructive feedback that enriched my project, while also educating me on potential outcomes of public health students.

Tell us about your future…

As a result of this experience, I have decided to focus on Food and Nutrition in my role with AmeriCorps Public Health. After graduating, I plan to pursue a Master’s in Public Health, with this program having sparked a deeper interest in health communication, marketing, food, and nutrition. My advice to future participants is to choose a topic that genuinely interests you, leverage available resources, and don’t hesitate to ask for guidance. Research thoroughly and think about how you want to convey your message—because in public health, the possibilities are endless.

By: Leah Amanuel

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Leah's Social Media Posts

Instagram Carousel by Leah Amanuel by Monique Thornton