Logan Hartzell’s Summer 2022 Experience
When I first found out about the Healthier Together Georgia project and its dedication those in rural communities around Georgia, I knew I had to get involved and see what I could learn. It’s safe to say that working with Healthier Together Georgia over the course of the summer has been both inspiring and educational for me. Although I spent my formative years outside of Georgia and its small towns, I grew to love and appreciate the culture and beauty of these communities upon moving here in my teens. The role of an undergraduate research assistant for Healthier Together Georgia came with several roles. My role was on the evaluation team and mainly consisted of attending and facilitating county focus groups, collecting data in the form of surveys within communities, and even attending a garden workday!
On the evaluation side of things, each of the four focus groups I attended was a definite highlight of the summer. During focus groups, our team was not the object of discussion, but rather observed the coalition members who are driving forces in their communities. The people we heard from varied in occupation; we were able to hear from local mayors, educators, librarians, retirees, or just anyone who felt a deep connection to their community. Being in the school of public health, I always felt that learning about communities and their needs from afar is one thing, but being present and hearing their lived experiences provides insight that really shouldn’t be understated! In addition to focus groups, we spent time at community hotspots to collect surveys about individuals’ lifestyles and their use of community amenities such as the community gardens. Just as with the focus groups, I feel as though talking to and listening to community members really strengthened my ties with rural communities, and the public health challenges which aren’t discussed as readily as those in urban communities.
Most likely the biggest highlight of the summer was the garden working at the Sharon Garden in Taliaferro County. During that hot summer day, we really got to appreciate the effort put in by these communities and see the actualization of all their hard work to provide nutritious foods to the community. Being able to do something outside of my comfort zone and help around the garden was one I will not forget! We also got to see the results of long-awaited projects in some of the communities, including finished parks, walking trails, and gardens.
The rural communities around Georgia are the backbone of our state and provide so much cultural value and hospitality for which Georgians are known. Working with Healthier Together Georgia in these rural counties has reinforced my love for a community-based approach to public health and is hopefully just the beginning of my journey in this field!
