HSCommunity: RESULTS WV / Seeking an End to Poverty

September 2021: RESULTS WV / Seeking an End to Poverty

Just as our diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives focus on creating meaningful change where we work, learn, and provide care, one group at Health Sciences is targeting their effort toward creating that change among communities we serve, as well.

A statewide chapter of the national, nonpartisan grassroots organization, RESULTS WV seeks to influence political decisions that will bring an end to poverty. Volunteer members build the visibility of domestic poverty and global health issues by cultivating relationships with members of Congress and their staff in addition to generating media on those topics.

Because of the work of the RESULTS team at WVU, members of West Virginia’s first congressional district stepped up to co-sponsor resolutions in support of the Global Fund before the international replenishment conference in early October 2019. 

Catherine Jones, a graduate student in Art Education, came to RESULTS WV as a way to impact endemic poverty, something that she frequently witnesses as a board member of the Clarksburg Mission.

“Justice and compassion are intertwined at the Mission and each resident has a story of how they fell through the cracks of our social safety net," Jones said. "Not every choice was a good one, but being generationally impoverished can certainly lead to poor decisions.”

Through her participation with RESULTS, Jones has the opportunity to transform what she sees into action for change: “Instead of feeling angry and powerless, I’m able to engage with elected officials to build awareness and influence decisions that are more compassionate and lead to better outcomes for unhoused, impoverished, and otherwise vulnerable people.”

“Many of the health indicators that we see here in West Virginia mirror those of other low-resource regions throughout the world, so our work isn’t only about advocating for change here at home, but addressing inequality more broadly,” noted RESULTS WV group leader Joanna DiStefano, who is also Program Manager for the HSC Global Engagement Office. “It’s undeniable that poverty drives inequality, so our mission is inextricably linked with anti-oppression values. This is what drives our commitment to advocacy.”

Dr. Josephine Reece, Associate Professor of General Internal Medicine and Director of Internal Medicine Global Health Track in the School of Medicine, is a founding member of RESULTS WV.

"I'm a member of RESULTS because my patients need a voice not only to address medical concerns but all the determinants of health: poverty, housing, education, nutrition, etc.," Reece said. "This group gives me the opportunity and resources to advocate for patients not only in our West Virginia community but the global community as well."

While under the sponsorship of the Global Engagement Office at Health Sciences, members hail from throughout the state - faculty, staff, and students in higher education alongside community members including teachers, social workers, and others who have experienced poverty.

Members of RESULTS WV meet monthly. When conditions permit, hybrid meetings (in-person with a virtual option) take place at both noon and in the early evening, and members have the option to attend one of the meetings that best suits their schedule.

Outside of regular monthly meetings, members correspond via email, social media, and text to coordinate actions, generate media, and carry out other leadership activities.

Many commit to different leadership roles within the group, including contact leads for Congressional offices and communications and outreach coordinators. Members with limited availability may choose to join the group's action network, which carries out directed communications strategies at key points in the legislative process. All members are invited to attend an annual international conference in Washington, DC, where they also participate in a lobby day on Capitol Hill.

“We know that the issues our RESULTS chapter has advocated for in recent years — such as poverty, affordable housing, and measures to address infectious diseases globally — have an enormous impact on the health of our community, far greater than those from modern hospitals at the population level,” noted HSC Global Engagement Office Director Dr. Chris Martin.

“Helping the next generation of health leaders both understand and effectively champion these causes is critical to our mission as a land-grant university," added Martin, who is also a professor at the WVU School of Medicine and School of Public Health.

Those wishing to augment their learning experience may also wish to take part in a national organizing and advocacy fellowship opportunity that RESULTS sponsors for volunteers ages 20-35. This 11-month experience is structured to help participants hone organizing and advocacy skills as part of a cohort of dozens of activists throughout the country.

Yolanda Gordon, Senior Associate for Expansion and Advocacy at RESULTS, views the fellowship as an essential vehicle for transformation: “Advocacy and organizing is the life’s blood of selfless service. It is core to our organization and necessary to end injustices in the world. Everyone can be an advocate and provide their leaders with valuable information to help them make an informed decision. The RESULTS Fellowship is a unique holistic fellowship that provides personal and professional growth.”

“The fellowship is about so much more than simply building civic engagement skills,” said DiStefano. “This is a rare opportunity for young people in our state that emphasizes experience, principles, and action, and we are very eager to welcome more national fellows into RESULTS WV.”

During virtual meetings with members of Congress, the RESULTS global and domestic poverty members have discussed their legislative agenda, including addressing gaps in the social safety net laid bare by the pandemic.

To learn more about becoming a RESULTS WV member, contact Joanna DiStefano. Anyone interested in applying to the national fellowship is encouraged to review the fellowship overview and application guide. The deadline to submit fellowship applications is Oct. 15.