Marcelo Sandoval - Reflection

Marcelo Sandoval

Introduction to Public Speaking

Reflection on Civic Action and People Matter Project

Through the participation in the Public Speaking class project, I was able to observe the different presentations that gave me the opportunity to learn more about important topics such as immigration, its effects on the population, and how the environment is directly related to public health and care for our society. The different groups had the opportunity to address these issues from a unique point of view; this allowed me to learn about historical facts and current situations of which I was unaware. I had the ability to get involved myself through in-depth research together with my group, having the opportunity to talk to experts related to health care and the environment, which helped me connect with the different problems we have today. For this reason, our objective was to highlight and present these problems in the class and provide different recommendations to prevent these situations from getting bigger and bigger.

Group #4 Presentation - Immigration & Healthcare

The first presentation made by team #4 was based on the topic of Immigration and Health Care and how both issues relate to each other in our society. In the presentation, many important aspects were shown, such as medical progress and its evolution over time, which has represented a great change in the different techniques, going from more natural and outdated practices to more modern and careful ones through the use of technological devices that provide better care for people's health. Thanks to this presentation I learned that while countries like Japan have a universal system that guarantees equitable access and lower costs, in the United States the model is still mostly private, which generates high expenses and leaves millions of people without the possibility of having medical treatment due to the lack of health insurance for various reasons, among which one of the most important is immigration. The group highlighted how immigration has been tied to access to health care due to modern barriers immigrants face due to their legal status, language or costs.

I found this presentation very interesting. It showed us a valuable perspective on how health in many parts of the world is considered a basic right. In the United States, on the other hand, it is still a conditional privilege for many people, especially immigrants. There are several organizations that fight for justice and equity in the health care system and for the rights of immigrants.  This shows that, although there are great challenges, there is also awareness and efforts to achieve greater equity.

Group #3 Presentation - Immigration & Families

Group #3 continued discussing immigration, but from a different perspective than the previous group. This presentation focused on immigration and families, outlining some historical events that led millions of people to emigrate to the United States in pursuit of the "American Dream." The group highlighted the need for millions of people to seek new opportunities. Many of these needs arose due to various reasons, such as the pursuit of freedom of expression, religion, or politics. Many people were also forced to flee their countries to protect their lives from wars or violent conflicts.

These situations throughout history have inspired many generations of immigrants to build a better future for their children. However, today this is a more complicated task due to various changes in immigration laws, which create numerous barriers and difficulties for immigrants. Behind every immigrant is a different story, even for those born in the United States. Today in places like Florida or California, which have a large immigrant population, many children and people suffer from a cultural problem where they face the dilemma of whether or not to preserve the cultural identity of their immigrant parents, which has led thousands of families to not feel completely united due to the difference in cultures by which they feel represented.

I thought it was excellent how the group presented the problems the immigrant community faces today, not only legally but also socially. I understood that every statistic is not just a number, but also an important fact in our history. This presentation helped me appreciate the role of immigrant families and communities, but above all, it helped me value even more this opportunity I am experiencing as an immigrant and how things are constantly improving to achieve equality for all families seeking a better future far from their country of origin.

Group #2 Presentation - Environment & Healthcare

The next presentation was about the environment and health care. As a group, we tried to demonstrate how health and the environment are completely connected. Taking care of our health is not only about caring for our bodies, but also about caring for everything that surrounds us and provides the resources we need to live. Various historical events, such as the Donora fog of 1948 or the New York smog of 1966, were two major events that represented significant environmental pollution, leading to various respiratory illnesses. Because of this, laws such as the Clean Air Act were enacted, and the Love Canal case of the 1970s led to the creation of programs that helped clean up toxic or highly polluted sites.

The group compared air pollution levels in the United States with those of other countries, demonstrating that with the help of renewable energy and environmental protection policies, low pollution levels can be achieved. They cited Finland and Iceland as examples of countries with some of the cleanest air in the world. Additionally, they presented the water quality levels in Miami-Dade County, which currently does not present a serious problem, but is gradually approaching legal standards. If these limits are exceeded in the future, it will pose a significant danger to the residents of Miami-Dade.

Preparing this presentation helped me understand, from a professional perspective, the importance of keeping our environment clean, since all the resources we use can pose a health risk if we don't take care of them. Climate change is a major problem we face, one that can negatively impact people's lives. Protecting water and air is crucial to preventing the risk of toxic diseases, so we must all start taking action to reduce the amount of pollution we spread on our planet. Taking care of our health is important, but to do so, we must also protect our environment to ensure a healthier future for everyone.

Conclusion

This project allowed me to see from a personal perspective the different conflicts and challenges that we experience in our society. Presentations on immigration, families, and the environment showed me that public health is deeply connected to the social and environmental challenges of our time. Environmental protection has a direct impact on the quality of life of communities. Unfortunately, many people cannot ensure a great quality of life because access to health care today is a privilege that many people cannot afford, especially for immigrant families. I understood that behind every statistic there is a human story of effort and resilience of millions of immigrants trying to find a better future for their children. But to secure a future we must first make sure we take care of our environment. As I said before, this project allowed me to value my own trajectory as an immigrant, but it also helped me to recognize that every day we move towards an uncertain future, and it is our duty as citizens to guide this future to a more equitable and healthier one for all families who dream of a better life.