In Kentucky, there are significant disparities in cancer rates and related risk factors among communities of color, including Black and Hispanic communities.
The is working to address cancer disparities in communities of color through inclusive outreach and engagement.
Two new community health workers 鈥 Khadijah Wallace and Gabby Rodriguez 鈥 are building relationships and making a positive difference by working with community partners to get the word out about cancer screenings and risk reductions.
The new community health worker positions form part of the 好色先生 Markey Cancer Center鈥檚 community outreach and engagement team under the , a statewide cancer control program led by Markey Cancer Center and the University of Louisville Brown Cancer Center.
Community health workers collaborate with regional cancer control specialists to provide strategic outreach to Black and Hispanic communities.
They build on the strengths and programs of community partners, such as churches and other organizations, said Lovoria Williams, PhD, Markey鈥檚 associate director of equity, diversity and inclusion.
鈥淲e can work through these settings to meet people where they are to provide education about the resources available at Kentucky鈥檚 only NCI-designated cancer center,鈥 said Williams, who also serves as an associate professor in the College of Nursing. 鈥淢arkey strives to become a resource for all populations. We want people to think about Markey as a resource for education and screening, as well as excellent cancer care.鈥
Shared experiences
Khadijah Wallace says her passion for helping others and making her community healthier led to her position as a KCP community health worker. The potential impact of her role became clear to Wallace on Dress in Blue Day, an annual event that brings awareness to and honors those affected by colon cancer.
Wallace spoke to congregations and pastors in the Lexington area to encourage participation in the event, where people learned more about screenings.
鈥淢any had never heard of that event, and they really enjoyed the chance to be a part of a positive health initiative,鈥 said Wallace.
Many people still don鈥檛 want to talk about cancer and view it as the 鈥淐鈥 word, Wallace says.
The event sparked conversations about colon cancer. People felt comfortable enough to share their own experiences. At one church, a man talked about his colon cancer diagnosis and treatment with his fellow churchgoers for the first time.
鈥淗e鈥檇 never talked about it before, but he said that Markey took very good care of him,鈥 Wallace said. 鈥淗e described everything, and he said Markey had a plan of action for him. I鈥檓 so glad that he was able to tell that positive story.鈥
Building relationships
Gabby Rodriguez works with the Hispanic population. Part of her role includes creating Spanish translations of health information resources and interacting with community members in both Spanish and English at community events.
鈥淎s a Hispanic woman, I understand the struggles many Hispanic families face in regard to access to health care,鈥 said Rodriguez.
Rodriguez discovered during one of her first days on the job that building trust is key and it鈥檚 an ongoing process. She was visiting a store in an area of Lexington with a large Hispanic population to deliver flyers promoting free mammograms and Pap smears.
鈥淭hey told me about their experiences with individuals who come to them to help and never show up again,鈥 Rodriguez said. 鈥淭hat opened my eyes to how difficult it must be for these communities to open up and to trust individuals.鈥
Rodriguez wants people to know she鈥檚 there for them and willing to help.
鈥淚鈥檓 just happy to have the chance to make an impact in the lives of these communities and let them know that resources are available for those who don鈥檛 have the access to the health care that they deserve,鈥 she said.