My name is Sydney N. Evans. I graduated in 2021 from Kent State University with my Bachelors of Science in Public Health concentrating in Community Health Outreach and Development. In addition to becoming a Community Health Worker (CHW) through the Ohio Board of Nursing in 2021. Recently, in spring 2023 I became a graduate from the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences concentrating in community practice for social change. Being a lifelong Clevelander, I know that there are others out there just like me, from communities like mine, and I feel compelled to provide support and encouragement for future generations to succeed. Currently I am a full time researcher and community navigator for the Cleveland African American Prostate Cancer Project (CAAPP) at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. The aim of the project is to evaluate the effectiveness of three intervention strategies on increasing prostate cancer screening via prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing in PSA naïve African American/ Black individuals aged 40 and older across Cleveland neighborhoods using a community based approach in barbershops. Being able to build my career at age of 25 has taken much grit and determination on my behalf, however, I believe my ability to stay consistent has proved to be one of my greatest strengths as well as one of my most praised attributes from my mentors, educators and colleagues. Currently, I have personal and professional goals that coincide with the reason why I am continuing my education into the Jack Joseph and Morton Mandel social welfare doctoral program in the Fall of 2023.
