It is with profound respect and admiration that I put forth the name of Dr. Leslie Youngblood, DNP, RN, for the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty. Leslie wholeheartedly embodies the spirit of this prestigious award through her steadfast commitment to tackling health inequities. She achieves this by actively immersing students in community service and by personally demonstrating the profound impact of community engagement at every level. Leslie’s dedication to addressing health disparities is not merely a theoretical concept discussed in the classroom; it is a deeply ingrained principle that permeates her teaching philosophy and her personal actions. She has been instrumental in introducing and fostering a culture of community engagement among our nursing students. This is evident in how creatively she has integrated service-learning opportunities into her students’ experience in Public Health nursing clinical. These experiences provide students with firsthand exposure to the social determinants of health and the challenges faced by underserved populations in our community. They have been exposed to the LHW Little Pantry, created to provide those in the Ansonia community who don't have access to healthy and nutritious food, the ability to acquire necessary nourishment through food, and the LHW Community Garden. The students’ testimonials of the impact this has on them are tremendous.

For Leslie, advancing the learning of our students goes beyond teaching; most recently, she has engaged with the SON to provide our first health fair in the city of Ansonia. She is not only participating as a faculty member, but a community member as well. She is also working with the SON to provide an opportunity to expand our dream of creating a clinic to serve the community. What makes Leslie extraordinary is that while most of us were enjoying our weekend Leslie was busy having the 69 bikes assembled for the health fair. As we all know, getting one bike assembled is a headache, let alone 69. She was also busy making sure that all the volunteers were lined up. This is the level of her dedication to the community and us.

In conclusion, Dr. Leslie Youngblood is an extraordinary nursing faculty member who embodies the true spirit of the DAISY Award. She is not only educating future nurses but also cultivating compassionate and socially responsible healthcare professionals who will make a tangible difference in the lives of the most vulnerable in our society.