Jermoh Kamara

Born in Liberia, Jermoh Kamara migrated to Worcester at age eleven, attended Canterbury Street School, Dr. Arthur F. Sullivan Middle School, and graduated from South High Community School. At Providence College, Jermoh was awarded both her B.S and B.A in Health Policy and Management and Community Health. Then came her Master’s in Public Health from New York Medical College. Jermoh is also a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES).

As a student in the Worcester Public Schools, Jermoh benefited from scholarships, internships, and college readiness programs, such as Worcester Future Teachers, Collegiate Success Institute (CSI), UMass Health Science Program and National Honors Society, Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), Community Service Learning, and Bottom Line. Jermoh understands the importance of programs that ensure future success for all students. Jermoh is currently the Director of Wellness and Health Equity at the YWCA of Central Massachusetts. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Clark University and at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where she currently teaches undergraduate & graduate students how to conduct social science research for project-based learning. She has worked in the USA, Dominican Republic, India, Ghana and Liberia.

She is also the Founder of HVK Children’s Foundation, an international non-governmental organization (NGO), based in Worcester and Liberia. The Foundation launched an asynchronous, offline e-learning portal which is impacting over a thousand students at six rural partner schools. She also trained teachers to improve the learning and built school latrines to improve the health of all the students and teachers.

Prior to joining the YWCA, Jermoh was a Partnership Specialist for the US Census Bureau, covering Worcester, Massachusetts.

Jermoh's story and background underscore the importance of both hard work and opportunity. When underrepresented students have access to opportunities like Jermoh had, they too can succeed in ventures that they put their minds to!

Jermoh 5 Point Plan is as follows:

1. Enhance technology access for all students. COVID-19 has exposed the digital divide and resultant negative impacts on learning. We need a sense of urgency in closing this gap.

2. Expand STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) and Vocational/Technical Chapter 74 Education.

3. Modernize Health and Sex Education. This can be achieved with parental input and opt outs when and where desired.

4. Bring additional resources to diversity efforts. Expand recruitment initiatives to further diversify the makeup of Worcester Public School teachers and staff.

5. Expand community partnerships. Grow relationships with businesses and healthcare, educational and non-profit organizations. Establish and properly staff an Office of Community Partnerships that would work closely with Worcester Educational Development Fund to align school and system needs with targeted strategic fundraising, in-kind donations, and other forms of outreach.