Today we’d like to introduce you to Dwight Mayfield.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Dwight. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Growing up with humble beginnings in the 80’s in Los Angeles, I developed a genuine love for my community. My family full of educators provided a solid foundation and belief system of seeking knowledge of self. My family participated in numerous community service events and programs throughout the city. When I was a few months old, my beautiful mother suffered a brain injury from a physical altercation with my father that led to her behavioral abnormality. On occasion, my mother would have bad days that led her in situations with local law enforcement who did not properly distinguish her irregular behaviors caused by her illness. My community stereotyped her and others with her symptoms as “crazy” or “disabled”. I sympathized with her because she is my mother and I know how amazing she is on any given day. I grew up with a chip on my shoulder due to the ongoing lack of education, awareness, and disrespect of those living with behavioral abnormalities.
My neighbors weren’t doctors, accountants, or scientists but I was always encouraged to become one. I can’t sing, rap, nor slam dunk a basketball but that was everyone’s meal ticket off the block. We knew about college but that was a place for the rich and lucky. I was a decent football player with mediocre grades and a low Scholastic Aptitude Test score. My senior year of high school, I discovered this place they called Junior/Community College. One Friday evening in the kitchen, my grandfather asked me about my plans after I graduate. I hunched my shoulders and told him that I’m figuring it out. He gave me an ultimatum, either get a job and go to college or move out. He and my father even provided me an amazing tutor and now mentor, Judas Hicks. Shortly after working with her, I had a paradigm shift and was encouraged to attend nearby Los Angeles Southwest Community College. I enjoyed Kemetic History and soon declared it as my major.
While visiting a local coffee shop, I had a long conversation with Minister Tony Muhammad who encouraged me to major in something that will create change in our community. That Fall semester, I had to take an elective course and I chose Introduction to Psychology. Unbeknownst to me, this course explained all the emotions that I felt over the years and my mother’s behavior too. The course was thought by a young, Black, and confident professor named Dr. Gabriel Crenshaw who is now my mentor. Before the end of semester, I had changed my major to Psychology. I soon transferred to Hampton University, a Historically Black College/University in Hampton, Virginia. I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Master’s degree in Healthcare Innovation and I am expecting to graduate December 2020 with a Doctorate degree in Behavioral Health with a concentration in Management from Arizona State University.
Working in healthcare is amazing because we help people at their most vulnerable time in life. While working in the industry, I did not see many people that looked like me. People in my neighborhood assumed I was a salesmen. Upon my conversations with the youth in my community, I concluded with the idea to make a difference and raise awareness of the fascinating careers in the healthcare industry. Over a 6-month period, I researched and brainstormed many names and ideas for an organization that would educate the youth. My girlfriend Danielle Ball became my sounding board and we agreed on a name. Later I created a business model and submitted the documents to the state for Health Innovators Club to become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The first challenge was understanding the landscape of nonprofits. I had to educate myself on the do’s and don’ts from a compliance perspective as there are many nonprofit regulations. Second, I had to build the brand. I attended many healthcare conferences to network and I used my social media platforms to showcase the organizational expansion. The first obstacle was narrowing down our organizational scope. Health Innovators Club being so broad, I wanted to curate a culture in our programs while also being realistic, sustainable, and scalable.
Health Innovators Club – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Health Innovators Club help youth navigate the healthcare industry. We are a resource for students, healthcare professionals, engineers, entrepreneurs, and technology enthusiasts to educate the public on the advances of the future of healthcare through innovation. Our mission is to create an environment that exposes, enlightens, and empowers the youth to navigate the healthcare industry. Our vision is to be a reputable organization for healthcare innovation resulting in advancement for all. We have six curated programs for middle school, high school and college students. We educate students from a patient perspective on prevention, navigation, and integrated/whole-person healthcare services. Health Innovators Club is a pipeline for clinical and nonclinical careers in healthcare. I am most proud about my organizations efforts to work with lower economic and disenfranchised communities.
We have collaborations with Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital in Compton, Dignity Health California Hospital Medical Center in Downtown Los Angeles, MarSell Consulting and Mental Health Services in Ontario, Minority Psychology Network in Los Angeles, and Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, to name a few. Health Innovators Club is headquartered in Los Angeles, and will officially create our second club in San Diego. Our third club will be in San Francisco, with plans to expand clubs throughout the nation. We have several upcoming programs and projects on the continent of Africa in the works.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is like a piece of art; everyone has their own perspective. My criteria are dependent upon my levels of happiness and satisfaction. My markers of success are dependent upon my capabilities of helping others. I want to leave a legacy. Health Innovators Club solves the healthcare industries top 3 problems.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.healthinnc.org
- Phone: 3233858768
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: d_mayfield_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HealthInnovatorsClub/
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrkm360NJl-Jc3utthXGF-w
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