As part of our continuing efforts to increase the impact of our community resources, we are excited to introduce you to the 2021 Scholarship Cohort. Each month in 2021 we’ll interview a cohort scholar and learn why community is important to them.
This month we’ll meet Hannah Freidman, Manager of Learning and Community for Intronix Technologies.
Why do you believe in Community/Community Management?
I believe in Community because it can be lifesaving for some folks. You can see this when considering online health communities. People with chronic illnesses who are an active part of online health communities become more engaged in their own health care. They become self-advocates and better adhere to their treatment plans. Along with the social support they get from their peers, these benefits lead to better health outcomes.
In the case of the marginalized community that I work with at my part-time job with the HIV/AIDS Regional Services, I can see that community creates resilience. I work with people experiencing the hardest times of their life. They face loss, illness, discrimination, and many more injustices on a daily basis. However, they are always there for each other; they protect and care for one another. I truly believe that if they didn’t have their tight-knit community of peers and staff, they wouldn’t survive. As Community Managers, we’re lucky enough to facilitate this process in our own communities.
Do you have any community professionals that you look to for inspiration?
I am so inspired by the work of community management experts like Carrie Melissa Jones and Sarah Judd Welch.
What area of Community do you want to learn most about?
I’d love to learn more about Community Strategy. I feel I need most support with strategy as I am a one-person-team without resources or guidance.
Tell us more about your work at Intronix!
My current role is the Manager of Learning and Community for Intronix Technologies. Currently, our community hasn’t launched, so my role involves a lot of preparing and strategizing. I conduct secondary research and write up course content for our future members. I’ve also worked on our wordpress site, making sure it’s visually pleasing and easy to use. Once we launch in the new year, I will get to work with real-live community members (fostering engagement, creating/planning digital content, moderating, etc) – so exciting!
My part-time role of Harm Reduction Outreach Worker also incorporates community. I work directly with my clients to build relationships and support them in accessing the services they need. I often support my clients emotionally and help them to feel cared for, while sharing about myself, too, to strengthen our bonds. This can happen one-on-one or in groups.
Thanks, Hannah! Watch this space for updates from Hannah and our other 2021 Scholarship Cohort members.
You can learn more about our 2021 Scholarship Cohort here.
