PKD Life - Fall 2022 - 19

Hopes for the Future
Peer ambassadors for the PKD
Foundation share what they aim
to achieve by participating in
the program:
I hope to bring more awareness
about PKD to the African American
and Hispanic/Latino communities
through a variety of social media
platforms, providing encouragement
and valuable life lessons to those
affected by PKD. I've been a hemodialysis
technician for 22 years, and
through the ambassadors program
I am learning how to make a more
profound connection with my renal
patients who suffer from PKD.
- Dwelyn Williams, CCHT, Arizona
I believe the Peer Ambassadors
Program will be an important
resource for improving equity in
healthcare. My goal is to empower
PKD patients of color with
resources to help them advocate
for better healthcare outcomes.
- Funke Ojuri, California
I'm hoping to reach out to people
in dialysis centers and hospitals to
let them know they are not the only
ones suffering with PKD. They need
to know that they are not alone.
- Iris Resto, New York
create a two-way relationship in which
ambassadors go into their virtual and
real-life communities to create awareness
and education around PKD, then
provide feedback to the Foundation
to help achieve its inclusion goals and
ensure that it is being culturally competent
in what it's delivering and how it's
doing it.
" In terms of raising awareness, the
Peer Ambassadors Program that is just
getting off the ground is our most immediate
success, " says Sydney Shepherd, an
account supervisor at CURA Strategies,
which supports the PKD Foundation's
advocacy efforts. She adds that these
volunteers have chosen to make an
extra commitment to raising awareness
and creating partnerships in their communities
by visiting houses of worship,
community centers, and even nephrology
practices to get resources and information
into the hands of people from
underrepresented communities.
" We're in this for the long haul, "
Shepherd says. " And we want to engage
diverse audiences and meet people
where they're at. The Foundation is really
committed, and you can see the passion
to end PKD in all communities. "
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PKDCURE.ORG
19
Being a PKD ambassador puts the
hopes I have for future generations
in the palms of my hands. I want
to be able to impact my community
in a way that is lasting and,
more importantly, life-altering.
As an ambassador, I am empowered
because I am actively affecting
change.
- Patrice Adams, Florida
I believe everyone deserves proper
care of their PKD, regardless of their
race or gender. I am striving to reach
the racially deprived communities
and encourage screening and proper
treatment of PKD.
- Alyssia Gomez, Indiana
http://www.PKDCURE.ORG
PKD Life - Fall 2022

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