Prep for Prep’s PPIP Program Fosters a New Generation of Changemakers

Part internship and part public policy seminar, Prep for Prep’s PPIP program offers high school juniors and seniors opportunities to experience local government and advocacy through hands-on experience and through speaking with professionals on pressing topics that affect our present and future. This summer, the program focused on how the health of our communities is affected by current laws and societal structures. Students heard from journalists, medical students, and lawmakers throughout the course and shared what they learned in final presentations to the Prep for Prep community. 

At PPIP final presentations, four groups defined deterministic health for the audience. Health can be determined by one’s natural environment and built environment. Factors also include social context and inequalities. The first group shared that “social determinants such as racism, water access, and distribution of wealth all interact with one another to create a society where community members of color are worse off in terms of their health.”

Consider this question: What are the gaps between low and high income communities on a proximate level and how do we address them? To highlight the differences between built environments, one student group compared the public resources and services provided in the Upper East Side in Manhattan to those available in Concourse in the Bronx. For example, the supermarket to bodega ratio in Concourse is 1:18, compared to 1:5 in the Upper East Side which may surprise you as it did our presenters. Though local bodegas are appreciated for their convenience and contributions to local neighborhoods, supermarkets provide more, and often healthier, food options. The students also pointed out that Concourse only has one public library, which provides many essential services for families beyond books - wifi, printers, and computer access, to name a few. 

In true Prep for Prep fashion, the presentations ended with a pop quiz! It allowed the audience to not only reflect on the main points of the presentation, but expand upon what they had learned. Kyle W. (XXXIX) reminded the audience that “it is our job to create a world where [marginalized communities] can live happily and comfortably.” The students conducted their own research, building upon what they learned through seminar talks and their internships. Congratulations to our students on their informative and thoughtful presentations: Ushrat A. (XXXIX), Orville A. (XXXVIII), Ashley A. (XL), Soumia C. (XXXIX), Nancy C. (XXXIX), Madison D. (XXXIX), Jameeiah D. (XXXIX), Trinity H. (P9 XXXII), Luke H. (XXXIX), Nairobi J. (P9 XXXI), Aabriti K. (XXXVIII), Jayden L. (XXXIX), Marshury M. (XXXIX), Tabia M. (XL), Krislyn M. (XXXIX), Barbara O. (P9 XXXI), Zaira P. (P9 XXXII), Adama S. (P9 XXXII), Awa S. (P9 XXXII), Rahv T. (XXXVIII), Catherine U. (P9 XXXI), and Kyle W. (XXXIX).

We are grateful to the speakers who contributed their time to our PPIP programming, including alumni Bessy Birhanu (XXIX), Jabari Brisport (XXI), Abigail Drummond (P9 XXVII), Ebony Easley (P9 XX), Elbert Garcia (IX), Karen Greer (IV), Ayman Mohammad (XXXI), Krys Molina (XXXI), and Andrew Wong (XXII). We also extend our gratitude to the companies that have partnered with us to provide internships for our students:

Change Machine at The Financial Clinic
The Hope Project at Sustainable South Bronx
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene 
New York Communities for Change
The Office of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. 
The Office of New York State Senator Jabari Brisport (XXI)
The Office of New York State Senator Robert Jackson
Staten Island Not for Profit Association (SINFPA)
Underground Railroad Education Center