Shkiyah Little- Completed a Summer Internship (5PTS)

Participating in the Bullard Center competition was an enriching and transformative experience that deepened my understanding of environmental justice and community resilience. My team and I conducted a research project focused on climate vulnerability in Houston communities, examining how environmental, social, and economic factors intersect to influence the ways in which neighborhoods experience and respond to climate impacts.

Throughout the program, we visited several communities across Houston to gain a firsthand understanding of the challenges that residents face. During these visits, we collected data, engaged with community members, and developed community profiles that reflected key local characteristics such as access to green spaces, exposure to flooding, housing quality, and public health conditions. We then utilized the Vulnerability Index to assess and compare each community’s level of risk and resilience to climate-related events.

This experience revealed the multiple and layered ways in which health can be impacted by environmental and structural factors. It became clear that climate vulnerability is not limited to physical exposure to extreme weather but also extends to broader social determinants of health, including access to healthcare, economic stability, and community infrastructure. Witnessing these complex interactions deepened my appreciation for the importance of integrating public health perspectives into climate resilience work.

Participating in the Bullard Center competition strengthened my passion for addressing climate and health inequities and reinforced my belief in the importance of community centered approaches to environmental problem solving. I am grateful to the mentors, peers, and community members who supported us throughout this journey, and I am proud to share a photo of our second place trophy as a reminder of what thoughtful collaboration and purpose driven work can achieve.

-Shkiyah Little