News

Local Educator learns the daily work of improving health in the region

June 13, 2024

Ms. Helga Ericka Kihara, an instructional coach at Canutillo Elementary, shadowed staff from the Paso del Norte Health Foundation and the Paso del Norte Community Foundation for one week as part of the CREEED Educator Externship program.

The unique externship program partners with regional businesses and local school districts to provide current educators with a one-week paid externship at a business facility. The experience is a rare professional development opportunity that effectively bridges the gap between the classroom and the workplace.

“We were happy to welcome Ms. Kihara to our offices to learn more about the work we do to improve health and quality of life in our region,” said Tracy J. Yellen, CEO of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation and Paso del Norte Community Foundation. “We are grateful that Ms. Kihara will share what she has learned from her time with us with staff, students, and parents for a healthy and vibrant community.”

Ms. Kihara was engaged with the day-to-day activities of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation and Paso del Norte Community Foundation staff, including site visits with grantees, communications and marketing processes, accounts receivable, development, and administrative operations.

“Participating in the externship has provided me with valuable insight into the different fields that impact our economy, society, and relationships,” said Ms. Kihara. “As a border town, I feel that educating our youth about the opportunities out there for them is crucial to their well-rounded development.”

The Health Foundation leads, leverages, and invests in initiatives, programs, and policies to promote health and prevent disease in the Paso del Norte region. To learn more about the Health Foundation, visit pdnhf.org.

To learn more about CREEED’s Externship Program, visit creeed.org.