Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Certification
Languages
Timeline
Hi, I’m

Elisita Castañon-Hill

Berkeley,CA

Summary

Compassionate Community Health Worker with 15 years of experience in fast-paced positions. Committed to helping community members improve wellness through hands-on support and education. Detail-oriented team player Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy and a positive attitude, with willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals.

Overview

24
years of professional experience
1
Certification

Work History

True Vine Ministries

Lead Community Health Worker
2020.11 - Current (2 years & 11 months)

Job overview

  • Managed team of 10 people,
  • Provided complex counseling and identified alternative resources for community members.
  • Developed and implemented training classes to educate team members and residents.
  • Collaborated on design and messaging for printed and digital distribution of informational materials on COVID and vaccines, chronic diseases, infant and children's health, communicable diseases, mental health, and other community health concerns.
  • Planned, assigned and directed work, as well as evaluated employee performance.
  • Contacted clients in person, by phone or in writing to deliver resources and answer health concerns.
  • Quickly learned new skills and applied them to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity.
  • Carried out day-day-day duties accurately and efficiently.
  • Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
  • Worked flexible hours; night, weekend, and holiday shifts.
  • Performed duties in accordance with applicable standards, policies and regulatory guidelines to promote safe working environment.
  • Helped vulnerable individuals navigate complex healthcare system.
  • Targeted specific community groups with wellness and disease management information
  • Signposted additional health care services and resources to improve outcomes
  • Created and distributed health-related education materials to improve program awareness
  • Developed and maintained relationships with community partners to build program scope
  • Addressed community members' concerns and provided support to vulnerable demographics
  • Assistant produced live health education program on Youtube, promoting health awareness, medical specialists, advocacy groups, and community programs to address health and social conditions that disproportionally affect Black and Brown populations
  • Collaborated with external organizations to coordinate health and social services
  • Participated in weekly and monthly health promotion campaigns to raise awareness of health issues
  • Engaged thousands of community members in health-related activities to enhance overall well-being
  • Collaborated with 50+ local organizations to expand health services and resources
  • Researched data, statistics, and studies for current national and international health trends, focusing on disparities and inequities in access to information, education, resources, health care

Dr. Donna White Carey

Executive Assistant
2020.11 - Current (2 years & 11 months)

Job overview

  • Organized and coordinated weekly presentations to update team of 20 education and outreach workers and bi-weekly community meetings with up to 100 participants.
  • Responded to emails and other correspondence to facilitate communication and enhance business processes.
  • Processed expenses and reimbursements
  • Produced accurate office files, created and updated spreadsheets, crafted presentations.
  • Created expense reports, budgets and filing systems.
  • Prepared documents, reports, and presentations.
  • Screened and responded to calls and emails, scheduled appearances and presentations at special events.
  • Wrote reports and newsletters.
  • Worked with as many as 15 other businesses and CBOs to effectively plan and coordinate logistics for special projects and events.
  • Managed and reviewed filing and office systems.
  • Created and managed office systems to efficiently deal with documentation of deliverables.

University California Berkeley

Wellness Program Instructor
2008.10 - Current (15 years)

Job overview

  • Leveraged program curriculum and materials to plan and implement enrichment activities that aligned with program goals.
  • Led group exercise classes, in varying Dance styles, Senior aerobics, Healthy Heart aerobics, and Strength & Stretch classes.
  • Maintained class attendance records and documented clients' progress toward stated goals.
  • Developed exercise programs for groups of 100+ participants.
  • Interacted with individual participants in group fitness settings to cultivate and maintain positive relationships.
  • Increased group participation 200% through promoting program, outreach, and tailoring classes to participants expressed needs and desires.
  • Established classes to effectively match skill and learning levels of all participants.
  • Enhanced client experience by maintaining motivational and supportive culture.
  • Managed group fitness classes of up to 100+ members.
  • Provided guidance and inspiration to class members and recommended additional fitness resources.
  • Created structured and innovative fitness programs to be executed in small to large group atmospheres.
  • Encouraged sustainable habits for health, fitness and well-being.
  • Monitored client progress in group settings by assessing technique and form.
  • Utilized fitness expertise and creativity to develop therapeutic movement classes.
  • Offered inspiration and guidance to all club members and group event patrons.
  • Developed and organized group fitness health classes for gym of 3000+ members.
  • Coached clients on proper techniques to obtain maximum benefits and prevent injuries.
  • Encouraged clients to participate in and enjoy group fitness classes.
  • Demonstrated respect, friendliness, and willingness to help wherever needed.
  • Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions, and make decisions.
  • Exercised leadership capabilities by successfully motivating and inspiring others.

Brasarte

Dancer/Instructor/choreographer/Director/BOD
1999.09 - Current (24 years & 1 month)

Job overview

  • Coordinated with choreographers to enhance and refine movements to properly enact intended vision.
  • Developed professional relationships with different dance professionals, choreographers and performers by actively listening and effectively communicating.
  • Choreographed group performances for traditional and contemporary dance pieces.
  • Performed in multiple roles for stage and festival productions by attending daily rehearsals to perfect execution of dance movements.
  • Incorporated variety of movement styles into percussive dance routines for stage performance.
  • Choreographed and taught dances and moves to groups of up to 50 other dancers.
  • Choreographed dance routines appropriate for all age group and skill level for children and adult classes.
  • Performed Brazilian and modern dance routines for live theatre shows.
  • Picked up choreography moves easily and immediately incorporated changes in choreography or new moves by staying flexible.
  • Maintained welcoming, harmonious, inclusive, and safe space for all participants, building supportive, diverse community.
  • Educated participants about Brazilian culture, stemming from African and Indigenous cultures, to preserve cultural traditions that have been endangered by colonialism-slavery, genocide, cultural and environmental looting, forced religious and language assimilation, "modernization" and "development"

Berkeley Unified School District

Dance & Movement Instructor
2017.10 - 2019.02 (1 year & 4 months)

Job overview

  • Taught dance to 600 children in school for 30-45 minutes per week, in 27 different classrooms, with children ages 4-14 years old, and special education children integrated
  • Created healthy and safe learning environment for all students by implementing class rules and promoting mutual respect and gentle discipline.
  • Planned routines for recitals and performances.
  • Planned, prepared and delivered lesson plans introducing students to dance techniques and ballet positions.
  • Utilized different styles of teaching to accommodate students of all capabilities.
  • Communicated with students and parents in person, via email and by phone to resolve issues and answer questions.
  • Taught Humanities-culture, history, interpersonal relationships, and environmental consciousness through dance classes for culturally diverse and all-abled students.
  • Prepared classrooms for new student groups.
  • Choreographed up to 27 dance numbers for school's year-end recital.
  • Organized special open houses to showcase student achievements.

Albany-Berkeley Soccer Club

Program Manager
2013.03 - 2016.05 (3 years & 2 months)

Job overview

  • Managed 4 and 5 year old introductory soccer program with 150-200 children enrolled in 4 seasonal sessions per year.
  • Coached team of 8 trainers in early child hood education and mental/emotional/physical developmental skills to ensure understanding and positive interactions, reflecting and accomplishing organization goals and core values..
  • Interacted with participants and parents to identify individual and group needs and concerns.
  • Orchestrated smooth and efficient program development by collaborating cross-functionally with other age and performance levels, defining foundational level for youngest and most inexperienced group up to adolescent competitive level
  • Resolved problems and provided solutions to families, employees, management, and directors acting as liaison for all channels and communicating in objective, neutral manner.
  • Assessed performance and scheduled cost control while maintaining contractual and internal performance requirements.
  • Devised tools and benchmarks to improve team performance and monitor success.
  • Implemented and led meetings, opening up dialog with trainers to discuss challenges and inadequacies
  • Launched developmentally appropriate program with themes to create fun and educational introduction to soccer and sports based on movement mastery, imagination, social interaction for team and community building
  • Identified program needs and designed processes, built model that was easily replicated in older age groups
  • Addressed and resolved technical, financial and operational concerns by working with trainers, coaches, management, and directors.
  • Pitched and built new programming strategies to boost participant interests and diversify offerings.

Education

Berkeley City College , Berkeley

Certificate from Community Health Worker
05.2021

University Overview

Teacher's Assistant for second half of course for my cohort and full course of an additional cohort.

Univesity of California Santa Barbara , Santa Barbara, CA

Bachelor of Science from Linguisitics
06.2007

University Overview

  • Study Abroad: Brazil, Portuguese & Afro-Brazilian Culture

Diablo Valley College , Pleasant Hill

Associate of Science from Business Administration And Management
05.2004

University Overview

Played Intercollegiate volleyball for 2 years

Classroom assistant and tutor for Blind student

  • Dean's List (Fall 2002, Spring 2003, Summer 2003, Fall 2003, Spring 2004)

Skills

  • Team Assignments
  • Schedule Management
  • Community Health Improvement
  • Cultural Mediation
  • Training Skills
  • Healthcare Advocacy
  • Resource Advocacy
  • Expense Reduction
  • Communications Support
  • Materials Development
  • Community-Based Resources
  • Leading Community Events

Accomplishments

  • Achieved 7000+ vaccines at a local pop-up in West Oakland, a medically underserved community, by overcoming the digital divide with elders and people without internet access who were confused about vaccine requirements or having difficulty making appointments.
  • Collaborated and participated in multiple coalitions of Community-based organizations to mobilize and advocate for marginalized communities through COVID pandemic.
  • Created a model of outreach and education materials to communicate a multitude of health topics with varying health literacy barriers considered.

Certification

  • Certified Community Health Worker - 2021

Timeline

Lead Community Health Worker

True Vine Ministries
2020.11 - Current (2 years & 11 months)

Executive Assistant

Dr. Donna White Carey
2020.11 - Current (2 years & 11 months)

Dance & Movement Instructor

Berkeley Unified School District
2017.10 - 2019.02 (1 year & 4 months)

Program Manager

Albany-Berkeley Soccer Club
2013.03 - 2016.05 (3 years & 2 months)

Wellness Program Instructor

University California Berkeley
2008.10 - Current (15 years)

Dancer/Instructor/choreographer/Director/BOD

Brasarte
1999.09 - Current (24 years & 1 month)

Berkeley City College

Certificate from Community Health Worker

Univesity of California Santa Barbara

Bachelor of Science from Linguisitics

Diablo Valley College

Associate of Science from Business Administration And Management
  • Certified Community Health Worker - 2021
Elisita Castañon-Hill