June 17, 2022- Shardai Hickmon, DCLI healthcare coordinator previews the Jerry J. Dawson Civic Leadership Institute’s upcoming healthcare boot camp, her experience in Richland’s Minority Mentor Protege Program, and her passion for healthcare.
“I joined Dr. Morris’ [Dr. Juanita Morris, DCLI coordinator] entrepreneurial class and it was a lifechanging course, that helped me see what my true heart’s desire was, which was healthcare,” Hickmon said. “I didn’t realize how much I missed being there, how much I needed to be in that realm, so I started speaking with her & Dr. Jeremy [Dr. Jeremy Morris, Richland’s Vice President of Finance] about being my mentors. They offered their guidance, and we sat down a few times, and discussed what purpose looks like and it brought me full circle back to healthcare.”
The healthcare boot camp is about to begin, and this will be Hickmon’s first year with the program, as a coordinator. She believes that this program is not just about students being in healthcare, but it is about giving youth purpose just like the MMPP did for her.
“This is not solely based off of being in the healthcare field,” Hickmon said. “This is purpose. I hope that the way the entrepreneurial class sparked something in me, that this sparks something in them to show them what it is they always felt on the inside. That they can literally do whatever they put their minds to. This is also about building community. It is also a each one, teach one type of system. So, I hope the healthcare pillar becomes a household name in our community, and it is something that people are desperately trying to get their kids into because it is just that impactful. and how cool is it that I get to be a part of it.”
The boot camp will begin on Monday, June 20th, and will last until Friday, June 24th. Every day will begin at 9 a.m., and end at 3 p.m.
Find out more about the healthcare boot camp HERE.
Below is the full interview with Shardai Hickmon, DCLI Healthcare coordinator.
