Reflection: Weeks 13 & 14

Hello everyone!

I can't believe we're almost done with the school year! The past two weeks have once again been more relaxed than I thought they would.

We started week 13 by watching a short video called the "Story of Stuff" by Annie Leonard. It was a funny yet educative video. We also had to write the Issue Overview of our Advocacy Project. I thought it was going to be a really challenging assignment, but once I started working on it, it just came to me easily. While working on this assignment, I learned more about my issue. Which is: there are plenty of people in this country with no health coverage due low income. The goal is for everyone to receive access to quality health care services.
We got to go to Bagley Nature Area during week 13 also. It was a fun learning experience, we got a chance to be adventurous, walking trough woods, and learning how to track our steps . Even though I had no idea what I was doing I still fun.

During week 14 we had a guest speaker named Raelene Horvik, a graduate student in UMD's Environmental Health and Safety Master's Program. He talked about his experience working as in the field of Environmental Health, and also explained about the opportunities with focusing on Environmental health as your field of study. We also had a chance to write a letter to our political representative explaining our issue briefly and asking them to vote "yes" on the bill supporting our advocacy project.
I didn't get a chance to go to class on Thursday during week 14, but looking at the calender, we were going to work on a "Repurposing" activity and have a "Junk Competition". I am sure it was a lot of fun, sucks that I couldn't make it.
I can't believe we only have two weeks left, I am looking forward to it and can't wait school is over. Have a great weekend!

Thanks for reading!

Advocacy Project: Letter to Public Official

April 28, 2009
Senator Amy Klobuchar
U.S. Senate
302 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Senator Klobuchar,

I am writing to you because I am concerned about the poor health care services faced in this country. I am truly concerned about the number of people who don’t have access to quality heath care and those that aren't cared for well. I hope that our nation will improve access to comprehensive, high-quality health care services for all, not just those who can afford it. I think low income and disabled individuals deserve the same quality health care as the higher-income individuals. Senator Linda Berglin proposed the bill S.F. No. 2 - Health Care on February 28th 2007 regarding this issue. This bill requires that all hospitals and health care providers must have in place an interoperable electronic health records system in place by January 1, 2015, and that the Health Information Technology and Infrastructure Advisory Committee shall develop a statewide plan to meet this goal, including uniform standards for the interoperable system. This new technology would lead to more accessible health info among nurses and doctors benefiting the patient with better heath services.
I hope that you vote “yes” to S.F. No 2- Health Care bill. Many members of our society are in need of better health care to live with less worries since good health is so important to all. With your help, many lives will be touched in great ways.

Sincerely,

Valerie Voufack