Your Stories: Celebrating Community Health Worker Awareness Week

Our Community Health and Well-Being team would like to recognize, celebrate, and express gratitude to the dedicated CHWs in each market throughout our Trinity Health Of New England region.

Matrisa Crapps, Mercy Medical Center
Matrisa, a new addition to the Springfield Market, has been a CHW for two and a half months. Matrisa says she became a CHW “to fulfill my passion of helping the community. I love to see the expression of gratitude from the people I serve.”

Gisela Davila, Mercy Medical Center
Gisela has been working with the City of Springfield Health and Human Services for 10 years. Gisela said, “in 2013, I was unemployed and facing eviction. A friend was working for Health and Human Services and told me about the job opening. I applied and was hired on the spot. On my first day, I saw how my community needed so much help getting insurance and they didn’t know any information on how to get it or how to keep their health. That’s when I knew that this is my calling.”

Ekellson “Kell” Exantus, Mercy Medical Center
Kell has been a CHW for eight months. Kell explains she wanted to become a CHW because she’s “extremely passionate about helping others and putting people first. I’m very patient-centered – I care about a patient’s needs, values, preferences, and overall help. What I love most about my job is providing health education and help getting them the care or resources they need. It brings me great joy and satisfaction when I improve the daily lives of these patients. That is my common purpose every single day.”

Karissa Ortiz, Mercy Medical Center
Karissa has been a CHW for almost a year. She wanted to become a CHW “to help people less fortunate as best I could.” Karissa said what she loves most about being a CHW is “the appreciation and gratitude I get when I help people in any way I can.”

Virginia Resto, Mercy Medical Center
Virginia has been a CHW in the Springfield market since January 2024, but has been working in healthcare since 2007 as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Virginia says she wanted to become a CHW because, “I know there are a numerous amount of people in need of help navigating resources. I help them navigate, I listen carefully for their needs, and also advocate on their behalf. Being a person they can count on is huge for me. But most importantly, being able to help and see them thrive.”

Jesenia Rodriguez, Mercy Medical Center
Jesenia has been a CHW for four years. She says she wanted to become a CHW because, “I want to help those who are struggling with health, food, housing, and insecurities by bridging the formal health system with our community. I want to be a part of educating individuals on how to live longer and healthier lives which will give them hope for the future. What I love most about my job is working with a medical team and other CHWs who understand the value in helping individuals in need.”

Ninoshka Tirado, Mercy Medical Center
Ninoshka has been a CHW at Mercy for eight months. Ninoshka says, “I am passionate about serving others, particularly those who do not count, with necessary support. I like to know more about the people I am serving. Not only speak to them, but connect with them, and make them feel cared for. A CHW is more than just a provider, it is a person who can assist them with their needs and provide education to enhance their health. This is the reason I became a CHW, to have the opportunity to handle that assistance to someone who needs and does not know how to access the resource, or simply does not have anyone to count on. That’s what I’m here for and I’m glad for this opportunity.”

Michelle Salgado, Saint Mary’s Hospital
Michelle joined Saint Mary’s as a CHW just a month ago. She says she became a CHW because “I wanted to make a meaningful impact on public health and support individuals and communities in need. My motivation stems from a passion for health equity, a commitment to improving access to care, and a personal connection to health challenges. This role allows me to work directly with people, educate them about health issues, and connect them with essential resources, all of which contribute to healthier communities.” When asked what she loves most about her job as a CHW, Michelle said, “the direct and tangible impact I can have on people’s lives. I find immense fulfillment in working closely with individuals, helping them navigate their health challenges, and connecting them with the resources they need. Seeing the positive changes and improvements in their lives and knowing that I play a part in building healthier communities is incredibly rewarding.”

Aleena Durant, Saint Francis Hospital
Another recent addition to the CHW team, Aleena has been a CHW for two months, working with the Comprehensive Women’s Health Center and Breast Center at Saint Francis, as well as the Food As Medicine Program within Community Health and Well-Being. Aleena says she wanted to become a CHW because, “I am passionate about helping people connect with resources and guiding them towards being self-sufficient. What I love most about my job is hearing clients share with me how a resource has helped them in their life.”

Pasqulina Giannotto, Saint Francis Hospital
Lina has been a CHW for two and a half years. Since April, she has been working in the Emergency Department completing social needs screenings for patients. Lina was a CNA/PCA before joining the CHW team and said she “had no idea what a CHW was or what the job entailed. But I researched it quite a bit until I could understand fully what the job was, and I was convinced that it was for me.” Lina said that being a CHW is similar to her role as a CNA, and “with both roles, I get a chance to help people, but working as a CHW helps on another level and that is what I love the most. As a CHW, I get the opportunity to try and prevent a patient from going to the hospital instead of taking care of them after the damage is done. I’m still learning so much every day and I look forward to going so much further in my career.”

Tyrek Marquez, Saint Francis Hospital
Tyrek has been a CHW for six months, working in the Saint Francis Emergency Department and the Joan C. Dauber Food Pantry at Mount Sinai. Tyrek says there are many things he loves about his job, but the number one thing that brings him joy “is the fact that I am consistently giving back to my community. A community that I was born and raised in. Whether or not I am providing a resource, food, or just emotional support, that is enough for me.” Tyrek said he became a CHW “so I can be of service to those in need. I grew up in the north end of Hartford and watched plenty of family and friends, including my own mother, struggle because of low resources. I can now be a part of an impactful change in my community.”

Marlin Melo, Saint Francis Hospital
Marlin has been a CHW for a year and joined the Hartford market four months ago. Marlin said she became a CHW, “because I feel the passion inside of me to help people. It doesn’t matter the race or status; everyone is equal in my eyes.” When asked what she loves most about being a CHW, Marlin said, “What I love most is hearing that I made a difference in someone’s life, and when I know my clients have successfully gotten the help they needed because of me.”

Lashawn Robinson-Nuhu, Saint Francis Hospital
Lashawn has been working as a CHW for 10 years and has been with Saint Francis for the last three. She says, “This is not just a job for me; it is my passion. I cherish the opportunity to assist others with their needs. Being a people person, I can empathize with their struggles because I, too, have relied on others to guide me through life. This is the driving force behind my decision to become a CHW.” Lashawn added that she loves the work she does because “it allows me to engage freely and meet my community members where they are. This job enables me to connect with patients and their families at the bedside, offering comfort and support as needed. I also have the privilege to advocate for my patients at every level, collaborating with various entities with the backing of my supervisor. I find great fulfillment in listening and learning from both our patients and colleagues. Witnessing my patients improve their health and overall well-being brings me immense joy and satisfaction.”

We would also like to recognize the other CHWs from across the region:

Hartford
Quadi Thompson
Gillian Walcott
Maria Palomares-Basch
Rosa Hilaro
Angela Jerome
Heide Rivera

Springfield
Ivelisse Burgos
John Baker

Waterbury
Monroe Hall

Submitted by the Community Health and Well Being Teams from across the region.

Have a story you want to share? Submit your story at TrinityHealthOfNE.org/YourStories