American Red Cross HBCU Ambassador Leadership Program

 From July 7th through the 11th, I had the opportunity to participate in the American Red Cross HBCU Ambassador Leadership Program training week. Throughout the week, I had the opportunity to learn about the importance of recruiting Black donors. Although we make up less than a quarter of donations that the Red Cross receives, our blood is valuable in saving the lives of those who look like us across the nation. We, as well as Latinx donors, often have type O blood, which can be used to save the lives of anyone with any blood type. Additionally, we have a greater prevalence of possessing the sickle cell trait and our blood can be used to treat sickle cell patients across the nation. I also learned about the importance of inclusion and transparency in blood donations and the changes that the American Red Cross has made in regards to members of the LGBTQIA+ community being able to donate with less restriction and discrimination. I renewed my CPR certification and learned other life saving techniques such as the Heimlich maneuver, stopping a bleed, and knowing the signs of a heart attack and stroke.

I am beyond honored to have been selected to be apart of this program and soak in all the knowledge necessary to plan and execute blood drives on my campus. Meeting students from other her HBCUs and Hispanic-Serving Institutions across the nation was the highlight of my experience and I am grateful for the lifelong connections I have developed.

By Kaia Hall