The 2021 American Heart Association EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator™ recognized Georgetown University student Cornelia Williams and the DC-area nonprofit EMTomorrow for committing to community transformation and health equity as the second-place, $10,000 grant recipient.
A senior studying human science and certified EMT, Cornelia co-founded EMTomorrow in June 2020 to bridge a gap in EMT training and education for Washington D.C.’s underserved young adults. EMTomorrow creates an accessible pathway for EMT certification, training and job placement while supplementing the standardized EMT curriculum with lectures that address health equity considerations in emergency medical services.
The cost of EMT training courses in D.C. may vary with tuition totaling upwards of $5,000 for some programs. Additionally, many training courses are geographically distant from diverse and low-income communities, which contributes to reduced representation in emergency care.
EMTomorrow eliminates financial and geographic barriers to EMT training by providing courses tuition-free for eligible students and ensuring course facilities are accessible in under-resourced communities and by public transportation.
“We consider it vital to provide an EMS education that stresses the importance of inclusion and equity in healthcare,” Cornelia said. “Through the EMTomorrow program, we can help break a cycle of poverty through self-empowerment and financial stability in young adults who do not often have opportunities for workforce development.”
The EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator™ works with diverse social entrepreneurs and organizations improving social determinants of health in their community. The $10,000 grant to EMTomorrow helps to further their work to address health equity in the Greater Washington Region.
In 2021, the American Heart Association invested over $815,000 into the Greater Washington community through the EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator™, Bernard J. Tyson Impact Fund, and the EmPOWERED Scholars program offering higher education financial aid for the next generation of health equity and social justice leaders.
Grants like these are made possible through supporters across the globe who unite in the fight against heart disease and stroke and advocate for a world of longer, healthier lives. Get connected with the Greater Washington Region through one of our upcoming events or consider a year-end donation to support the health and wellness of our community!