Personal, academic and career experience prompted Hope to join the Cayenne Wellness team as a Community Health Worker. The daughter of a social worker turned elementary school teacher, Hope’s upbringing made her certain she would later pursue a career in social welfare. As a Sacramento resident, involvement with local grassroots organizations encouraged her to advocate for underserved community members, especially those facing serious illnesses and economic insecurity.
Hope achieved her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Hamilton College in 2021, focusing her studies on the reproduction of systemic inequalities across race and class. After graduation, she presented her senior thesis research on mothers’ class-based strategies for balancing paid work, schooling, and parenting during COVID-19 at the 2021 American Sociological Association Honors Conference. Conducting dozens of in-depth interviews with women during the COVID-19 pandemic showed her the real-life challenges families face when navigating serious health crises and economic insecurity. This academic and one-on-one experience with disadvantaged mothers provides critical perspective for her work at Cayenne Wellness.
From 2019 to 2021, Hope worked with a cancer rights organization to connect people diagnosed serious illnessed to life-changing financial and healthcare-related information. This work introduced her to federal and state healthcare legislation and regulations, as well as employment rights law. As a cancer rights advocate, she guided individuals navigating cancer, medical debt, and other crises through a detailed intake process, as well as provided referrals to resources ranging from information on state employment protections to local food banks.
Hope is excited to apply her knowledge of social inequalities, familiarity with health and employment rights law, and belief in compassionate healthcare to her work as a Community Health Worker at Cayenne Wellness. By supporting, advocating for, and providing relevant information to those diagnosed with sickle cell disease, she hopes to improve the daily life and long-term health outcomes of patients in northern California.
