“In Puerto Penasco, we spent our days interviewing community members and healthcare professionals, and even had the unique opportunity to aid in hosting a free neighborhood clinic along with some local doctors. Each day I was amazed by the passion and dedication people had towards improving their medical system, and how open and receptive they were to our mission. The food was also fantastic and Cokes in Mexico are way better than the US. ”
— Sara Staley; Class of 2021
“I love SANA because it is rooted in community engagement and sustainable community-led partnerships. When it comes to working with global communities, it is imperative to approach our work with a reflective and critical lens. How can we do the most good, empowering community agency and amplifying community voices, and minimize the potential harm of our entrance into these often marginalized communities? Through critical reflection and an emphasis on open dialogue among members and community leaders, I think our SANA 2020 team worked really hard to strike that perfect balance. Our trip to Penasco was challenging, but also incredibly fulfilling and continues to be so today. The moment it became clear to Saul and the community leaders we worked with that we were here to stay beyond the week we were there, something changed. They became more passionate about our partnership and we as a team grew to love the community members and the people we had worked with. That same passion for each other, this partnership, and improving the health of the Penasco community remains strong today. We are excited to continue to nurture this partnership we have built into the future and co-create health solutions and community interventions specific to the needs and wants of the Penasco community. ”
