Summer Bridge Spotlight: Virginia Leach
Meet Virginia Leach, one of five participants selected for the 2024 Summer Bridge program. A PhD student in Sociology, Virginia worked with the Greater Community AIDS Project of East Central Illinois.
How have you applied your humanistic training to advance the mission of the community organization?
I have applied my humanistic training with the Greater Community AIDS Project (GCAP) by incorporating my skills as a sociologist in my daily interactions with board members and clients of the organization. When working with members of the organization, I recognize their daily challenges and problem-solve for solutions. It’s a great opportunity to learn about a new environment and meet goals for the organization.
How has this experience contributed to your career development? What skills have you gained or developed?
Working with GCAP this summer has given me the opportunity to use my knowledge of health inequalities to assist in meeting the needs of the organization. I can design and distribute surveys that are beneficial to the organization. Not only are these surveys helpful to document the needs of the organization, but they also demonstrate to funders and sponsors that the work they are funding is valuable and needed in the community.
What have you learned from working with this community organization?
Working with GCAP this summer has taught me to speak about HIV/AIDS in a new way. Collaborating with an organization that focuses on increasing outreach to individuals living with and at risk for HIV/AIDS is a challenge given the stigma surrounding the disease. I have learned how to talk about HIV/AIDS with community members in a way that is informative versus frightening.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your Summer Bridge program experience?
I strongly recommend all graduate students who are interested in working outside of traditional academic-track jobs to apply to HWW Bridge. It is a wonderful experience to learn and grow with other graduate students to explore new career opportunities and ask questions your department cannot answer.