Written by Ashlee Choi, Program Coordinator at the UW Global Health Resource Center
As a person with a liberal arts education, I was a little intimidated to spend the evening dancing, networking, and “doing global health” with other 20 and 30-somethings—folks who likely, in large part, have backgrounds in global health. How wrong I was!
The GHRC (Global Health Resource Center at UW) was well-represented by myself, Jana Shih, Jennifer Lucero-Earle, and Jon Hickey. While Jana and I were running one of the registration tables, Jon was busy uploading pictures and posting Twitter updates as the evening progressed. By the time registration was through, the party was well underway. The atmosphere was lively, loud, and thrilling; the perfect medium for social networking and mingling. Folks who worked in the field of global health were asked to don blue ribbons on their dresses or dress shirts in order to make themselves available for fielding questions by non-global health folks. This of course was voluntary, but most were very enthusiastic to share.
A popular room (aside from the dance floor), was the innovation room. This is where the DGH/GHRC display was, as well as displays and contraptions from other local GH organizations. The GHRC created large (about 3.5’) cut-outs of puppets that are used in Kenya to captivate locals and hopefully generate an interest in HIV testing. By the end of the night, our pile of departmental brochures had severely thinned, and the puppet cut-outs had become a popular background for pictures.
Party with a Purpose was refreshing and energetic. The WGHA and PATH brought together young people from various disciplines, professions, and stages of life, and simply asked them to have fun in the name of global health. There was a unique creative buzz that inspired people to learn about Rotavirus and share about their own global health interests. I think this is in part because Party with a Purpose allowed us the space to dance, laugh, and embrace the very much youthful desire to seek knowledge in an unconventional environment. It was a fantastically well-run event, and I look forward being a part of it next year!
-Ashlee
