Community Events Assistants play a big role in supporting VNS Health’s outreach activities. On top of driving VNS Health’s vehicle fleet, Community Events Assistants have other responsibilities. They secure a spot for neighborhood outreach and set up the outreach table.
Demitrious Cáceres, a SelectHealth Community Events Assistant, operates the VNS Health SelectHealth van. He helps SelectHealth provide outreach to all corners of New York City.
“I’ve always been a people person, so I like engaging,” explains Demitrious. “I love talking with people out in the community. We deal with insurance, so people tend to share their life stories. You get insight into what people are going through, especially with SelectHealth. The people we work with—whether they’re homeless, transgender, or HIV-positive—are the ones we help.”
We followed Demitrious through a day of special events work for SelectHealth.
5:00 am – Morning routine
On a normal day, I wake up at 5:00 am and I’ll go through my morning routine and then pick up the SelectHealth van by 6:30 am. If it’s a special event day like today, then I’ll wake up, quickly get ready, and run to my car to get to the van by 6:00 am!
6:00 am-7:00 am – Pick up the van/Drive to the event
I start my day when I get into the van and text my supervisor that I’ve arrived. Then I drive to our location for the day, secure a parking spot, and wait for a Community Outreach Representative to arrive. After that, I’ll start setting up our table, tent, and signage.
10:00 am – Set up with outreach
I do take pride in the way I set up the table. I think I have an eye for aesthetic and try to set the table up nice.
10:30 am-1:30 pm – Tabling
I’ll work with the representatives and if needed, provide basic information about our health plans to people on the street. I’ll stay by the table and hold things down if one of the representatives needs to leave the table for any reason. I’ll also restock the table with giveaway items as they’re given out.
1:30 pm-2:45 pm – Next stop
Depending on the amount of traffic we’re getting in one location, we’ll move to a different location. Today for instance, after the main event ended, we went to the corner of 125th Street and Lenox Avenue.
2:45 pm-4:00 pm – Harlem
There’s usually a lot more people walking in Harlem, and more people will stop at our table. We were able to enroll some new people in SelectHealth who came up to us while we were there.
End of the day
After breaking down the table and leaving Harlem, I was stuck in traffic for about an hour! I got back to the parking lot to drop off the van around 5:00 pm. After that I went back home and prepared a bible study for my cousins.
Prior to joining VNS Health, Demitrious was driving ambulances as an EMT in Manhattan. His EMT experience equipped him with a set of skills both as a driver and as a care person. Now, Demitrious works hand in hand with the entire VNS Health community outreach team to bring SelectHealth out into the community.