A public policy course on the impact of policies on children and families led junior public health major Sophia Thompson to her passion: maternal and child health and policies that can address racial and economic disparities within the field. That passion led the Baltimore native to a unique University of Maryland opportunity: the Karabelle Pizzigati Initiative. The fellowship, which counts Thompson as a member of its newest cohort, pairs students with organizations supporting children, with a paid internship along with mentoring to help the fellows get the policy skills they need for a career in children’s advocacy. Thompson shared what the fellowship means for her future with Sumaya Abdel-Motogaly.
Why did you apply for the fellowship and what experience do you hope to gain?
I took Professor Brandi Slaughter's course, Special Topics in Public Policy: Child and Family Policy where I was first introduced to the topic of children's advocacy. Prof. Slaughter's work and the passion of others within the field of children's advocacy inspired me. I became especially interested in the intersection of children's health and education policy, which led me to apply for this fellowship.
With this fellowship, I hope to gain experience with those working directly with children's advocacy. I hope to learn from those who work in children's policy to become a more compassionate and strong children's advocate.
Why is children's advocacy important for you?
Professor Slaughter always tells us, “Children only have one childhood.” She is right: it is our collective responsibility to ensure that we as a society are doing everything we can to ensure that children’s one childhood is healthy, happy, and leads them into a successful adulthood.
Children’s health and education policy are vital human rights that our country should prioritize more. Our nation, as wealthy as it is, needs to focus more attention on the health and education of our children as an investment for our collective future.
What are your career goals and how will the fellowship help advance your future goals?
I recently applied for the accelerated BS + MPH program with a concentration in epidemiology. I am very interested in social epidemiology specifically, and exploring social and structural barriers to health to inform health policy solutions. The Karabelle Pizzigati Fellowship’s opportunity to work in children’s policy will make me a stronger children’s advocate and a more well-rounded public health professional.