(PHOENIX – April 26, 2019) — Esperança, a Phoenix-based nonprofit whose mission is to improve health and restore hope both locally and globally, announces Xochitl Wilson has been hired as the organization’s Community Oral Health Liaison.
The Community Oral Health Liaison is responsible for the coordination and delivery of education for the Sonrisas con Esperança (Smiles with Hope) program. She will work closely with community partners such as school districts, community centers and/or dental clinics to execute the oral health program and provide smile bags to at least 12,960 Arizona children.
Most of Wilson’s previous work experience has been working across disparate communities in Maricopa County. From Diabetes education, Childhood Obesity Classes and General Nutrition to both children and adults, Wilson’s desire to help those with limited community resources has been her driving force to continue working in the area of health and well-being.
“In the local communities where we work, more than 64 percent of kindergartners suffer from untreated tooth decay,” said Jeri Royce, president and CEO of Esperança. “This leads to a host of other problems including chronic disease and missed school days. Having Xochitl work directly with this community will be a tremendous benefit for these kids and their families.”
Wilson received her Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition Management from Arizona State University. Her passion, education and professional experience has allowed her to work with children ages 0 to 5, K-8 and adults alike.
She currently participates with the Health Improvement of Maricopa County Action Lab, primarily with Food Initiatives and Community Advisory Board Member of the Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center and as a community member of the City of Phoenix Head Start Policy Council.
About Esperança
Esperança, an Arizona-based global health nonprofit organization, is transforming lives on a local and global level. Its Phoenix-based program is uniquely positioned as the leader in providing health education and resources to Maricopa County’s most at-risk and under-served youth and adults through programs such as oral health, chronic disease prevention and management, nutrition, and parent ambassador training. Further, the organization works within some of the poorest communities in the world, including Nicaragua, Bolivia, Peru, Mozambique and Ecuador, by coordinating volunteer surgical missions, ecological housing, disease prevention and education, food security and access to clean water. For more information, please visit: www.esperanca.org.