Public health grad promotes community, healthcare access

Raymell Green’s voice lights up when he talks about the Tulane Black Student Union cookout he organized.

The event drew more than 500 people, including Black Tulane alumni, as well as prospective and current multicultural students on campus.

“The cookout is a big thing in the Black community. We had food, music, games and just really enjoyed our time together. We got four Black-owned businesses to cater the event,” Green said.

While the cookout, now in its second year, fostered his love for event planning, Green is no stranger to organizing events on campus throughout his time at Tulane.

He has organized about 10 events per semester and is president of five organizations on campus.

On May 20, he will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

Green is especially proud of the work he’s done with the Black Queer Collective. He credits his best friend Jessica Brimage and his friend Domo Johnson, both Tulanians, for working together to make sure the BQC continues to thrive.

On April 30, they held their first Vogue Ball with five participation categories.

“Everyone did so well, the judges were like, ‘We have to give some award to all the participants,’” said Green.

This summer he will move to the San Francisco area to intern at Color, a health technology company that aims to help populations lead the healthiest lives that science and medicine can offer. He’s excited about the opportunity and shares a passion for making healthcare more accessible.

“Coming to college I knew healthcare access was inequitable—but COVID-19 exaggerated that feeling. It made it even more apparent how some people have to go bankrupt or give up a huge portion of their paychecks to afford health care,” he said.

In addition to his friends, Green is grateful for the support of Carolyn Barber-Pierre with the Center for Intercultural Life as well as Professor Latha Rajan, who supported him and helped him when he struggled to acclimate to school as a first-year student.

The future is full of opportunities for Green, who is excited to keep working in the public health space as he continues to seek out chances to plan events.

“I have my public health motivation, but I also love bringing people together. I’m going to keep doing it and enjoying it—if this is the route my life takes,” he said.