A Milken Institute School of Public Health graduate student recently represented the George Washington University at the inaugural Allstate Foundation National Youth Service Summit, emerging as one of 75 students chosen from a highly competitive pool of 500 applicants to attend the three-day conference in Chicago.
The Allstate Foundation selected Niaomi MoShier, a Minisink, N.Y., native, to attend the summit by identifying them as one of the best young leaders from non-profit founders, policy advocates, civic leaders and community activists at the forefront of driving positive change in their communities. The selection process was built to find students who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, dedication and impact in their service work.
The summit in late September brought together these 75 leaders, including MoShier, from across the United States for a weekend of learning and collaborating with the goal of them leaving more connected, committed, confident and empowered to continue and enhance their service work within their communities.
“The networking opportunities were invaluable, and it was inspiring to meet so many people who not only look like me but are also actively working toward meaningful change,” MoShier said. “We created a group chat on Instagram and plan to meet monthly to support one another and discuss our initiatives. It's great to have accountability partners as we continue to pursue the work we're passionate about.”
MoShier’s passion for service took shape inside of hospital walls—a setting she never really left.
Starting at age 12, MoShier became the primary caretaker for their mother and accompanied her to doctor’s appointments, eventually documenting medicine intake and raising questions about new symptoms. Through this experience, MoShier began to realize some of the political and social determinants of health and became passionate about advocating for marginalized groups and addressing healthcare disparities.
Nowadays, MoShier holds a fellowship at New York-Presbyterian’s Community and Population Health Division, where they work to promote cultural awareness within medical spaces. She supports several initiatives, including a personal favorite focused on reducing maternal mortality and morbidity in marginalized communities through education and advocacy.
“Often, communication barriers arise due to existing stigmas, and I aim to bridge that gap,” MoShier said. Many people in these communities feel that seeking healthcare makes them feel "othered," which is rooted in historical and social contexts. It's important for healthcare providers to understand this stigma—it's valid.”
“My identity as an adult aligns closely with civic engagement and community service aimed at improving the lives of others.”
MoShier, who thought going into their undergraduate days at Howard University that she would eventually pursue medical school, began to lean more toward the policy route after a course on Black women in pop culture at Howard that showed them the intersections of race and gender were infrastructural and that their career ambitions would require a broader approach.
While at GW, she took Jennifer Sass’ environmental public health class that explored various opportunities for advocacy and ultimately redirected her focus to public health policy.
In addition to their fellowship at New York-Presbyterian, MoShier is involved in several other community initiatives. She works with the CUNY School of Public Health as a data analyst for mental health initiatives and serves on a youth committee consulting the Department of Health on matters affecting youth mental health. She has also volunteered with LGBTQIA+ initiatives in Brooklyn.
“I'm always eager to get involved in any relevant projects that arise,” said MoShier, who just launched a blog focused on creating mentorship and guidance for young Black women going into public health field.
That mindset is precisely why the Allstate Foundation selected MoShier to attend its inaugural National Youth Service Summit, and she looks forward utilizing the tools gained there to further develop their passion for health equity and advocacy.
GW Serves is a series featuring students who are living out the university’s mission to build up public service leaders and active citizens to create a better world.
