Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler,
2018
Tue, 3/9 1:32PM
25:18
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
commons, health, people, individuals, augsburg, community, neat, volunteer, nurse, comments,
patients, led, stigma, hear, volunteering, homeless, rapport, location, received, experience
SPEAKERS
Sam... Show more
Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler,
2018
Tue, 3/9 1:32PM
25:18
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
commons, health, people, individuals, augsburg, community, neat, volunteer, nurse, comments,
patients, led, stigma, hear, volunteering, homeless, rapport, location, received, experience
SPEAKERS
Samantha Gibson, Alisha Stahler
S
Samantha Gibson
00:00
Hello, my name is Samantha Gibson, and I'm an AmeriCorps VISTA worker with health
commons, would you please introduce yourself for the recording?
A
Alisha Stahler 00:07
Hi, my name is Alicia Stahler, and I am Augsburg student at the Augsburg University for
the nursing program for a bachelor's degree.
S
Samantha Gibson
00:18
Great, thank you. So I just like to reaffirm for the recording that you consent having this
interview and a transcript stored at the library, Augsburg University, where it'll be made
available to the public.
A
Alisha Stahler 00:30
Yes, I have consented for that.
Samantha Gibson
00:32
Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler, Page
2018 1 of 11
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
S
Samantha Gibson
00:32
Great. The last thing I'd like to mention is that there may be some background noise. Is
there some lawn maintenance going on? That's, that's what that buzzing sound is. Alright.
So to get us started, would you please tell me a little bit about where you grew up, and
who you called family.
A
Alisha Stahler 00:50
So I grew up in a small town with a family of four brothers and our parents. We are a
middle class, family. And like most families are some families, we grew up with some
struggles, I had four brothers who did struggle with some alcohol and drug addiction. We
also had extended family of aunts and uncles and cousins that we spent a lot of time with,
we had game nights with them. Our family was pretty much involved in some church
activities, but never really volunteered for much within the community. As I got older,
though, I started to feel the need or felt led to get more involved into the community and
volunteer at a couple different things. I've only carest within the community here in my
surrounding area. And I also went on a mission trip to Guatemala. And I have also been
led to just do random acts of kindness, helping out people at a grocery store paying for
their groceries in line. So that kind of leads into the experience I had through Augsburg,
which kind of led me to get back into doing that.
S
Samantha Gibson
02:04
Okay, did you say that you grew up in Minnesota?
A
Alisha Stahler 02:08
Yep. here in Minnesota, just a small town of population was about 2000.
S
Samantha Gibson
02:14
All right, and how did you end up choosing Augsburg University?
A
Alisha Stahler 02:19
So I chose Augsburg because they're here they have a location here in the Rochester area.
And I have heard a lot of great things about their program. And also I really liked that
they're a faith based.
Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler, Page
2018 2 of 11
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
S
Samantha Gibson
02:35
Thank you. And how did your experience at Augsburg lead to you becoming involved
health commons?
A
Alisha Stahler 02:44
So my first nursing core class to get the bachelor's degree, one of they're not really
requirements, but one of their programs allowed us to volunteer at the Health Commons
in Minneapolis, which kind of seeing patients that were of a diverse culture that had low
social economic backgrounds. So it was just an experience that was outside of what I'm
used to as a nurse working in a health care in the hospital setting.
S
Samantha Gibson
03:21
Yeah, absolutely. What else can you tell me about your experience of health commons.
A
Alisha Stahler 03:26
So at first, I really wasn't sure what to expect, because I haven't really volunteered with
any low income, social backgrounds, you know, homeless kind of volunteering work. So I
really wasn't sure what to expect. It was interesting when we talked about it in the
classroom, just to see the kind of the stigma that goes along with that kind of culture. A
lot of people in the classroom hadn't really been around homeless or difficulties of that
people are faced with in the world today. So it was really interesting to hear what people's
thoughts were. And growing up the way I did having brothers struggle a lot with addiction
and drug abuse, and just the, somewhat of a dysfunctional in our family, I kind of been
involved with a lot of judgment and a lot of what the stigma is on, on people on this world.
So this program, kind of, I felt really led to it because it kind of was nice to go in for myself
not having judgment, I try not to have that kind of judgment on people. So the experience
was quite interesting and really rewarding.
S
Samantha Gibson
04:44
Good to hear. So you mentioned the talking about the experience in class, how was Health
Commons presented to fit in with your curriculum, and how well do you think that your
experience and health comments related to what you were learning
A
Alisha Stahler 04:58
Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler, Page
2018 3 of 11
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
so the point of doing this was to kind of just compare and contrast the difference between
a nurse working in a hospital kind of studying base and a nurse working in a community
kind of setting base. And it was really neat to see how the Augsburg Health Commons
provided more of a community base, and it was provided free and they provided a very
supportive and safe environment, and was very welcoming. And it was definitely not the
medical atmosphere that I was used to. They did things like blood pressure checks, talk to
some of the clients that came there may had respiratory issues I'd seen some people had
some eye and foot issues, it was neat to see how the nursing staff there, and the
volunteers how they all were there to listen and honor each individual that was there. And
they definitely built a rapport with these, these patients or people that were coming there.
And a lot of it was just meeting basic needs that we all kind of take for granted. They
offered socks and diapers, different kinds of toiletries, wipes, underwear, clothing, jackets,
hats, it was neat to see the I went during February, so it was right after the Super Bowl. So
hearing the kind of how a lot of these people that came to the Health Commons, to use
utilize all the support that they give, how they were kind of blocked off during the
Superbowl. So that was kind of challenging, and sad to hear that they were kind of not
able to walk on certain streets during that time. But it was neat to see the NFL had
actually dropped off some jackets. So a lot of the people that were coming into the Health
Commons, were able to get jackets to keep them warm during that cold time. So that was
really, really, really neat to see. And then just seeing the community connections that they
had. And the education that they were giving these patients are the people that were
coming in, it was pretty unique. And then prior to starting before the doors actually open.
One of the the nurses that was leading the health comments received a phone call from a
crisis center regarding an individual who had been coming there for some time. But during
that time, health comments was going under had some construction work going on. And
they had received this call that this individual had not eaten for four days. And they
hadn't seen him and he was pretty nervous about coming into the facility due to the
smaller location at the time. And they had asked the nurse to see if maybe she would kind
of walk around the community to see if they could find them and offer some help that the
health comments was able to provide for these individuals. So I actually had a very unique
experience where I was able to go with that nurse in walk was probably about six blocks
from the Health Commons location and find this individual. And when we found them, I
had stayed back and it was a very safe environment. And the nurse had actually walked
up to this gentleman who was wrapped in a couple of sleeping bags and had his items
around him. And she kind of went up and and stated his name and he peeked out. And I
saw this amazing smile on his face, which she was so surprised to see her. And she had
offered to supply him with some daily needs that the health comments had back at that
location. And so he gratefully accepted that and the nurse and I had walked back and
gathered some supplies for him. And then on the way back, I felt led to purchase a meal.
So we stopped at this location, and I was able to get a few sandwiches for him. So it was
Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler, Page
2018 4 of 11
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
really, really neat to actually walk the street and see some of these individuals that utilize
as the health comments. It's an experience I will always remember and never forget and
just so appreciative of that opportunity.
S
Samantha Gibson
09:21
Thank you for sharing that story. You mentioned how you related to your Health
Commons experience professionally as well as personally. Could you talk a little bit more
about how your experience in Health Commons fit or challenged your expectations in
both of those realms?
A
Alisha Stahler 09:39
Yeah, so it was just neat to see in the hospital setting. I'm so used to the patient
population that's more centered and focused. Whereas coming to volunteer at the health
Commons that's more driven on community based and it's definitely a variety of care and
skill. that's given to a particular population such as the homeless man that was there.
Also, the hospital setting were more focused on treatment and restoring a patient to their
baseline baseline, where the health Commons was more focused on promoting health
through education, and then through the community connections that they offer. And
then giving a lot of the individuals that came opportunities and references for needs that
they may need. The challenging through that is, the difference is that at the health
comments, most of these patients don't have really a medical insurance company that
provides them with as much as a hospital setting does. So a lot of them haven't been
medically diagnosed with things, they don't really receive a lot of preventative health
care, whereas in a hospital setting, most of those patients are receiving preventive care.
They see their primary providers, they have a diagnosis, and they're being treated as
appropriate for their diagnose. So it was really neat to see a group of people come
together at the health comments, and provide care for these people, they individuals that
may not have received care up anywhere else. So the challenge is to we're just seeing just
the need of this within the community at the health Commons. So it was hard to when we
came back to the house comments location and provided for the rest of the individuals
that were there, it was really hard to just give only a certain amount of items to these
individuals or would last longer, so they could provide more within the community. So that
was that was hard to see that. So it really made me want to help and challenged me to
want to do better and, and volunteer more, and things such as this.
S
Samantha Gibson
11:58
You know, thanks for your insight, that story that you told about doing sort of some
Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler, Page
2018 5 of 11
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
outreach to an individual who couldn't come into the health Commons location. I was
wondering how you would suggest that health comments could better accompany people
on their journey of health. And for example, things like doing those outreach services or
adding more hours that they're available?
A
Alisha Stahler 12:27
Yeah, I think that would be a really good idea to do. I think that Augsburg You know, this is
the only opportunity so far through any of my nursing, schooling or my nursing program.
When I did my associates degree we didn't. We didn't do any volunteering like this. In the
past, I've done research and we actually did some outreach. And we're able to go out to
different communities, we did a Somali community where we offered free blood draws.
And we're able to look at these patients to see if they had Hepatitis B, and we were able
to then bring them into the clinic and get them help or educate them. So I think that the
health dogs, Brickhouse Commons could definitely reach out more to doing that. I think
that would be a good idea for them to just open up more opportunities for students for
volunteering. And definitely, with just with classmates that, you know, have this stigma on
these people, I think it was a great opportunity for them to be able to go into the
community and see this, and maybe lose a little bit of their stigma that they have, and try
to push that, you know, disparity away that these will have and actually see them as an
individual and be able to reach out and give them the help that they need and finding the
different references and or different referrals and that are within the community that can
provide help to those individuals.
S
Samantha Gibson
14:01
In line with what you said, how has this experience? Or has this experience changed any
biases that you may have had about homeless or marginally housed individuals?
A
Alisha Stahler 14:13
I think I went in with pretty much an open heart and tried to not be judgmental, but I know
that there's been instances where I might be driving in the car and I'll see a homeless man
standing on the street and I'll get a feeling like Why does he need the money or I had an
instance where I actually helped somebody. And I had filled her gas tank up with gas and I
was actually working on my floor as a nurse and listening to somebody tell a story and it
was pretty much the same kind of similar situation and it turned out to be the same
person. And this individual ended up following the person that she had helped. And in that
situation, the person And actually went to a liquor store. So there is things in life where
people do lead you the wrong way. And that's where that stigma comes. But I think
Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler, Page
2018 6 of 11
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
generally in life that you should be open, and no matter if you're helping them or not, I
think that in life, we should all just provide and not have a bias or a stigma of what these
people are using their money for. But rather than just help these individuals and allow
them to, not all of them are doing that, and some need help. So I think that this has just
opened my eyes that everybody has a story and if we just opened up and not been so not
so judgmental to them, and allow them to get the help that they need. And opening this
community based facilities, such as the health comments will definitely be a good thing,
and to give health care back, and maybe prevent some of the things that are happening
within those individuals.
S
Samantha Gibson
16:03
Sure. From your your experience at Health Commons, can you tell me about some of the
strengths that you heard or learned from the people that you met?
A
Alisha Stahler 16:14
It was quite amazing to see the rapport that the volunteers and the nursing and the
nurses that led kind of instructors in the health Commons, they definitely were building a
good rapport with these patients, they trusted them. Even just walking on the street,
people were saying hi, as we walked by, and they knew this nurse that was leading the
program. And I think that it definitely improves the outcome for these vulnerable, this
vulnerable population who may not receive care elsewhere, or have limited resources. So I
think that it definitely is a strong base to have within a community because of the rapport
that's built, allowing them to come somewhere they feel safe, and they feel a lot of trust.
S
Samantha Gibson
17:05
You mentioned that report. Did you feel as though people felt welcomed into the health
common space? Do you have any suggestions on how we could welcome people better?
S
Samantha Gibson
17:15
During the time I, like I said, I went and there was some construction going on. And I know
that they had mentioned that the numbers were a little bit lower because of the smaller
building. And I think that when they have their construction done with a newer facility
that will be most likely rewarding. I think that just being in the small location that they
were at, at the time, a lot of the individuals that utilize their facility felt a little bit nervous
or felt too enclosed. So I think that finishing up with the construction project that they
had, and opening up a bigger center, I know they had mentioned that they had computers
Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler, Page
2018 7 of 11
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
for them to utilize and be able to kind of help them maybe get a job or find other
references. So I think that will definitely be a key thing for continuing to help the
individuals that are utilizing their program.
S
Samantha Gibson
18:15
Yeah, that construction that you mentioned, I believe it's actually supposed to be
completed this fall 2018. And they'll be moving back into the space. Do you have any
other suggestions or hopes for that space?
A
Alisha Stahler 18:30
No, I think just I think this is just a great opportunity that the health comments has led it's
vital service within their community. And it's definitely for a student. It's extended my
knowledge beyond the traditional learning that I've learned in a classroom setting or
within my job at the hospital. So I definitely think that for them to continue with that
connection within that community and partnering, partnering, partnering with other
references to provide a overall wholesome to get the needs that they need for being met
their basic needs, and I think that's going to definitely help them with their health in their
overall well being.
S
Samantha Gibson
19:18
Did your experience at health Commons impact your future career ideals or your personal
goals? Yeah, definitely.
A
Alisha Stahler 19:26
Like I said, I had volunteered for some stuff prior to this class. But as they say, out of sight
out of mind, I haven't volunteered probably in the last three to four years. So this this
actual program that I was able to volunteer at really opened up my heart and just, there's
so much that we can do within our community and I traveled to Minneapolis for this and I
know right here in Rochester, there are so many things that I can do. So it was a great
opportunity and it actually opened up my mind to hopefully In the near future, be able to
volunteer and give back within the community here.
S
Samantha Gibson
20:05
Great, yeah. What was most valuable or useful to you about your experience and health
commons?
Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler, Page
2018 8 of 11
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
20:14
Like I said, I think the most important thing was probably just watching and seeing the
rapport in that relationship that was built for these patients or these individuals. It just, it
was just an amazing experience with that part. And I think, going forward, it definitely is
going to continue to help people and I think that Augsburg should continue programs and
actually even try to see if they there's other programs that they can add to this for their
students.
S
Samantha Gibson
20:49
What do you think Health Commons could do better? Is there anything missing?
A
Alisha Stahler 20:55
I don't know that there's anything missing. Maybe besides having more opportunities to
volunteer at things, like I said, this is the first time I've done any of that. And the first time
I've even heard of a volunteering program like this through the, through the school. So I
think maybe the only thing is finding other opportunities, not only just in the low income
or the homeless, but maybe providing into you know, the alcohol or the drug addiction
and being able to provide for them to would be a neat thing to see. Also, I think it'd be
neat to, you know, a lot of elderly, I see a lot of elderly in the hospital setting that, you
know, struggle struggle with. And they know a lot of them are malnutrition. So I think even
helping that or volunteering to serve at homes or, you know, go into homes, rather than
having people come to them. And it was a great opportunity to be able to actually have
somewhat of an outreach experience when I was there. So I think that sometimes people
don't always come into a facility to get help. But I think allowing you to go to their home
or the street or wherever they're at would be a big impact.
S
Samantha Gibson
22:20
What, if anything, will you take forward with you from this experience?
A
Alisha Stahler 22:28
I think like I said, just taking back and and giving back from that experience, just put that
drive back in me. And knowing that when I see a homeless person now that from the
stories are heard in the facility, in the four hour, I was there probably about four hours, was
pretty amazing. Everybody has a story, and everybody has a situation. And we need to
stop judging on that and see individuals for who they are and honor them for them, and
Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler, Page
2018 9 of 11
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
not for the situation they're in and being able to provide and and help them in any way
that we can.
S
Samantha Gibson
23:10
Thank you. I know you already kind of told one story that stuck with you. But is there
another another tale of health Commons that really stuck with you from your experience?
A
Alisha Stahler 23:21
Yeah, there was I was able to sit and have comments and kind of hand out some toiletries
and some basic need items. And one of the volunteers that was there has been there, I
believe, for 15 plus years. And she was telling me her story about how she was homeless at
the time and was struggling with just daily needs and finding jobs. And she actually told
the story that the Augsburg health comments actually saved her life. And now she is
giving back by volunteering at that at the facility. And so it was really neat to see
somebody who actually received the help that health Commons gives to these
individuals, and to see how it's changed her life for the better. And she was very, very
grateful for it. And it was really neat to hear her story about it.
S
Samantha Gibson
24:18
That's an amazing story of the community, I think. Yes. Is there any topic that we didn't
talk about or anything you'd like to add?
A
Alisha Stahler 24:29
No, I think that we pretty much just covered our thing there. I think to just the the
donations that the health Commons receives, I think that they can even benefit for more
because there is such a need for the individuals that come. So it was really neat because
our our instructor had said if we felt led to you know, donate any items to the health
comments when we volunteered and I just think that just finding The referrals to find
people to bring in donations to help is probably a key thing. So just reaching out to the
community to get the support for them to run their program.
S
Samantha Gibson
25:11
Great. Thanks for taking some time to talk with me today.
Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler,Page
201810 of 11
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
A
Alisha Stahler 25:14
Yes, you're welcome. Thanks for having me.
Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler,Page
201811 of 11
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
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