Board Member Spotlight -
Walidah Karim-Rhoades!

Posted on April 2025 by CIS Greensboro
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What is your role at Cone?

Vice President of Operations, Cone Health

What inspired you to join the Board of Directors of Communities In Schools?

I had learned about Communities in Schools when I participated in Leadership Greensboro in 2023 and Jimmi Williams was a speaker for the agency highlight for Education Day. Based on his passionate, heartfelt presentation, I went and submitted my information on the website that day to be a volunteer. Surprisingly that’s not how I got involved. A board member reached out to me approximately 2-3 weeks later asking if I wanted to be a member of the board, WITHOUT knowing I had submitted an interest form. I took this as confirmation for me to get involved!

How do you plan to use your influence at Cone to help the students of CIS and their families, and why do you think it is important?

I plan to use my influence to assist the students in getting exposure to the various positions available in healthcare at Cone Health that may not be common knowledge to high school students and many in the community. We would love for the students to eventually start a career with us.

You recently coordinated a career fair for students at Smith High School. What happened at the event and what are the future plans for this project?

At the career fair the students had the opportunity to get hands on experience with Cone Health representatives from our lab, imaging, nursing, social work, and operative services departments. Team members were able to share the pathway to be able to work in these various departments as well as share why they loved working in their field. Students were also able to practice doing blood pressures, lab draws on model arms, view an ultrasound demonstration, as well as view a computerized anatomy table which gave students a glimpse into the human body.

What would you like to say to others in the community about helping low wealth students to achieve?

Watching the students light up with curiosity and excitement reminded us all of why we do what we do. If we can build on this excitement and keep the students engaged by providing shadowing and mentoring opportunities, and eventual employment, we have the potential to change the trajectory of some of these student’s lives forever.

For more information or to learn more about please go to www.cisgg.org. To donate, please click on the link: Donate!

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About Us
At Communities In Schools (CIS), we believe that every student, regardless of race, gender, ability, zip code, or socioeconomic background has what they need to realize their full potential in school and beyond. We walk by their side, in their communities, to challenge the systems and barriers that stand between them and their success in life.