My passion for public health advocacy and addressing health disparities began through my involvement with youth-led, local community organizations. Now, as an undergraduate student attending university in my hometown, I am eager to continue the conversation about how we can engage the voices of local community members and leaders to bring diverse perspectives in order to drive initiatives that address the social determinants of health. At Brandeis, I work as a student EMT to raise awareness about CPR advocacy and education in schools. I also serve as a member of CARE (Collegiate Advocates for Resuscitation Education), a multi-collegiate, student-led organization working in partnership with the American Heart Association. CARE collaborates with state legislators, town/city councils, and local community members to pass legislation that would mandate Massachusetts schools to include CPR, AED, and first aid education in the curriculum. My work in CPR advocacy has shown me the importance of connection through community partnerships and the impact of empowering youth leaders. I strongly believe that fostering collaboration is key to creating inclusive strategies, and I look forward to building connections and amplifying underrepresented voices to create equitable access to healthcare and education.