Author: Alexa Montgomery
"I discovered the importance of loving what you do."
During the Summer of 2023, I interned at Care Ring as a Davidson College Nonprofit Leadership Fellow. The goal of my fellowship was to explore Charlotte’s nonprofit sector and understand Care Ring’s role as a healthcare nonprofit. I learned about programming by helping with patient intake and attending nurse case conferences and participated in donor stewardship activities, attended a breakfast and assisted with donor thank you letters. From direct patient services to fundraising, I found out how busy working in a nonprofit can be, but more importantly, I realized what it means for Care Ring to be the “heart of community health.”
To begin to understand Care Ring’s role in community health, I had to get hands-on and see Care Ring’s healthcare workers in action. One of my first opportunities to do so was at the newly launched mobile care unit called The Bridge. Through stormy downpours and blazing heat, I worked alongside Mental Health Counselor Desi McKoy, Community Health Workers, Miguel Garcia and Sunday Shobowale, and Registered Nurse Georgette Caldwell to serve residents of the Grier Heights neighborhood every Tuesday afternoon. I explained our services like free blood pressure and A1C testing to those who asked and helped patients fill out intake paperwork before boarding the clinic. After their clinic visit, I watched patients’ faces light up when given a goodie bag and free meal.
Desi, Georgette, Miguel and Sunday exhibited compassion and integrity by welcoming anyone who wants to be seen in the mobile clinic or individuals seeking help to meet other needs such as food referrals. By connecting Grier Heights residents to community resources, The Bridge empowers residents to become independent and take control of their health. For these reasons, the opportunity to connect with the Grier Heights community was the most fulfilling experience for me, and The Bridge served as an exemplary model of Care Ring’s values.
Beyond the clinic and nurses, compassion is evident behind the scenes within the senior leadership team that truly feels more like a family. In the administration office, much of my time was spent building the foundation for a Patient Ambassador program, which provides Care Ring patients with an avenue for telling their stories. I also worked with volunteer coordinator Ya’Nirah Evans (pictured, in yellow) and staff from each of Care Ring’s programs to hold the end-of-year accomplishments celebration.
However, even while I was at my desk or setting up the celebration, I heard how invested Chief Executive Officer Tchernavia Montgomery, Chief Administrative Officer Paula Culp, Program Director Stephanie Malloy, Director of Individual Giving Jennifer Wolfram (pictured), and many others were in helping each patient. They knew the mothers being served by the maternal-child health programs and sought updates on the mothers’ journeys. Everyone was also invested in the progress and development of The Bridge as the office buzzed with excitement at the prospect of expanding to new neighborhoods.
What makes Care Ring the “heart of community health” is the culture within the organization itself. Each staff member upholds Care Ring’s values of compassion, integrity, collaboration, and empowerment regardless of their position. For this reason, I would say my experience at Care Ring was transformative. I accomplished more than the goal of my Nonprofit Leader Fellowship because not only did I explore the intersection of healthcare and the nonprofit sector, but I discovered the importance of loving what you do.
Care Ring would like to thank Davidson College and Alexa Montgomery for the opportunity to host her this summer. She was a significant contributor to our mission and we wish her the best of luck in what we are certain is a very bright future.