When I first joined Acclinate, one of the biggest lessons I learned came quickly: community engagement doesn’t follow a straight line. It’s layered, relational, and deeply human. You’re not simply connecting programs to people. You’re connecting history to trust, lived experience to opportunity, and data to real lives.
That reality changes how you show up to do the work. Strategy matters, but it can’t stand alone. What carries the work forward is mindset. And for me, a growth mindset has been essential in navigating the space between medical research and the communities we serve. It’s what allows me to explore, pivot, and learn while staying grounded in humility and purpose.
Across every study, activation, and outreach effort, this mental framework helps me connect the dots thoughtfully. It reminds me that meaningful engagement comes from curiosity, listening, and a willingness to evolve based on what the community is telling us, not what we assume they need.
Relocating to Philadelphia: My Growth Mindset in Action
One of the clearest examples of this mindset playing out in my own life was relocating from New York to Philadelphia this past summer. On paper, it was a geographic move. In reality, it meant stepping into a completely new community ecosystem.
This shift meant I had to learn about new neighborhoods, new organizations, and new cultural rhythms. I had to understand how influence flowed, where trust already existed, and where it had been broken in the past. I was learning the power structures that shape how people experience healthcare, research, and opportunity in Philly.
At the same time, the mission stayed consistent. The communities I serve and the cultural realities shaping their experiences felt familiar in many ways. This move didn’t reset my work but deepened it.
What the transition reinforced for me is something we often say, but don’t always live out: you can’t serve a community you don’t take time to understand. Relocating required me to slow down, observe, and listen before trying to contribute. That mirrors the exact approach I bring to community engagement at Acclinate. Enter with openness. Listen first. Let the community teach you what it needs.
Connecting the Dots Starts With Curiosity
When I approach a previously unreached or underrepresented community, my first question is never, “How do we activate?” It’s much simpler and much harder: “What don’t I know yet?”
This point is where a growth mindset becomes foundational. Rather than assuming that what worked in one city or population will translate cleanly to another, I start with curiosity and presence. That early stage is about learning, not executing.
Some of the first steps I focus on include:
- Mapping leadership: Who holds influence here? Who do people turn to when decisions matter?
- Listening without an agenda: What do residents actually care about? What have they experienced, both positive and harmful?
- Understanding historical context: What events or patterns shaped their relationship with medicine, research, or healthcare institutions?
- Spotting alignment: Where does Acclinate’s mission naturally meet the community’s priorities and needs?
This approach treats cultural competency as an ongoing practice rather than a checklist. When you work with overlooked or over-extracted communities, integrity must be the baseline. Trust from care, consistency, and respect.
Delivering With Integrity
Every community touchpoint matters. Whether it’s a heart health activation, a kidney awareness event, ambassador outreach, or a clinical trial education session, integrity has to sit at the center of the work.
To stay aligned with Acclinate’s commitment to wellbeing and excellence, I anchor my approach in three principles:
- Transparency: Be clear about who we are, what we’re doing, and why it matters. No hidden agendas.
- Humility: We are entering someone else’s space. Respect comes before outcomes.
- Consistency: Trust grows through repeated presence, not one-off engagement.
A growth mindset helps me prioritize trust-building over pressure. It allows space for relationships to develop naturally and for feedback to shape how we move forward. Metrics matter, but they come later. Without trust, the numbers don’t mean much.
"A growth mindset helps me prioritize trust-building over pressure."
Growth Mindset as a Strategic Advantage
One of the takeaways I shared during Acclinate’s Table of Five discussion at our company retreat, where I had the opportunity to represent a Gen Z perspective, is that innovation doesn’t always come from new tools or platforms.
Often, innovation shows up as better listening, faster learning, and a willingness to adapt. A growth mindset helps us design community plans that stay flexible and responsive rather than rigid. It supports engagement strategies that are shaped by real input, not assumptions.
This concept is especially important when working across diverse populations, including Black, Hispanic/Latino, AAPI, and other underrepresented communities. Each group carries its own cultural nuances, histories, and priorities. Honoring those differences requires patience and a genuine commitment to learning.
Connecting the dots across communities is ultimately a form of stewardship. It’s an ongoing practice of learning, unlearning, listening, and adjusting. My relocation to Philadelphia taught me that in a very personal way, and my work at Acclinate reinforces it daily.
A growth mindset is how we build bridges, strengthen trust, and move toward more equitable outcomes. It shows up in every activation, every partnership, and every conversation. And when done well, it allows communities to feel seen, respected, and valued, which is where real progress begins.
Want to learn more about our approach to community engagement? Schedule a 1:1 with our team.
.webp)
