Project description:

About the Center for Healthy Communities

The Center for Healthy Communities (CHC) at California State University, Chico, serves as an umbrella organization for over thirty programs focused on supporting and enhancing the well-being of communities across California. Through grants and contracts, CHC empowers local populations with access to health, nutrition, and social resources, playing a vital role in strengthening community support systems.

How I Got Involved

My involvement with CHC came about serendipitously. While enjoying breakfast at a local café, I overheard a conversation about CalFresh Day, a community event promoting nutrition assistance programs. When I learned they needed help designing a flyer, I didn’t hesitate to offer my assistance. This small act of initiative opened the door to my ongoing collaboration with CHC and allowed me to contribute meaningfully to their mission.

Key Projects

1. CalFresh Outreach Campus Handbook
The CalFresh Outreach Campus Handbook was a digital resource designed to guide and inform staff across multiple CHC locations. This project spanned four months during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring weekly virtual meetings with my director to coordinate revisions and ensure the content met the needs of the organization.

The handbook itself was a massive undertaking, involving over forty staff members who contributed content, edits, and ideas. My role included organizing this input, creating a cohesive design, and ensuring the final product was polished and ready for presentation. Even up to the evening before its release, we were meticulously making revisions to ensure accuracy and professionalism.

Once finalized, the handbook was unveiled during a conference for CHC upper management, where I served as the main presenter. The positive reception from the audience highlighted the success of this project and its importance as a resource for CHC’s outreach efforts.

2. CalFresh Day Promotional Materials
CalFresh Day is an annual event held on college campuses to raise awareness about nutrition assistance programs. In 2019, I was tasked with creating promotional materials, including flyers, social media ads, and graphics, to support the event in Chico, California.

The project required quick turnarounds and adaptability. One challenge I faced was incorporating a QR code into the flyer design. During the proofing process, I discovered the QR code was not functioning as intended—thankfully, this was caught and corrected before the materials were distributed. The experience underscored the importance of attention to detail and thorough testing in all stages of design.

Challenges

Both projects presented unique challenges that required creative problem-solving and persistence:

• CalFresh Day: The tight timeline for designing and revising materials demanded efficiency and fast decision-making. Coordinating the logistics for distributing materials added an extra layer of complexity.
• Outreach Handbook: Managing input from over forty contributors while adhering to deadlines was a significant challenge. Balancing accuracy and clarity with the volume of revisions and last-minute changes required careful planning and collaboration.

Success and Impact

Despite the challenges, both projects were highly successful. The CalFresh Day promotional materials helped draw attention to the event, increasing student engagement and awareness. The outreach handbook became a vital resource for CHC staff, streamlining their efforts across locations and enhancing their ability to serve communities during the pandemic.

I measure success by the difference my work makes, and both projects left a lasting impact. The materials I created supported CHC’s mission of helping college students in need and left a personal “fingerprint” on their goals, which I consider a major win.

Reflection and Experience

Working with CHC was an incredibly rewarding experience. From designing impactful materials to collaborating with passionate individuals, I was proud to be part of an organization dedicated to creating positive change. This opportunity not only honed my skills in design and project management but also deepened my commitment to supporting organizations with meaningful missions.

Looking ahead, I hope to continue working with like-minded organizations that value collaboration, innovation, and community impact. My time with CHC reinforced the importance of using my skills to contribute to a greater cause, and it remains one of my most fulfilling professional experiences.