Community Partner: CAIN (Churches Active in Northside)
CAIN is much more than a food pantry, but the cornerstone for how to best care for the most vulnerable in society. United by a deep commitment to justice, equity, and community care, all those who seek refuge here find that service is not required but inspired by selfless acts of giving. Founded to address hunger and poverty in Cincinnati’s Northside neighborhood, CAIN operates with the belief that every person has the right to live with dignity and abundance. “We affirm food sovereignty as a fundamental human right, ensuring access to nutritious and culturally relevant food through programs like our Rainbow Choice Food Pantry and community meals at Phil’s Place. Grounded in the lived experiences of our neighbors, we fight to end poverty by centering and empowering those most impacted.”
Driven by collective partnerships, advancing justice, embracing diversity, and uplifting marginalized voices, CAIN reached out to UC College of Medicine in spring of 2024 to start their and Northside’s first clinic. Almost a year out, our partnership has blossomed into sustainable consistent care and primary care follow-up in this area. Hand in hand, CAIN and UCCOM foster a welcoming, inclusive community where every individual can seek good health and well-being. Fundamentally, these tenets serve as paramount vital forces for resilience and longevity. Together, we are building a more just, compassionate, and connected Northside—where everyone belongs and no one is left behind.
About Quinn
Growing up in Dayton, OH, I was first exposed to social work and Christian justice through my high school when I enrolled in Christian leadership and justice. Little did I know that this year would spark an interest not only in wanting to help others as a Christian but also discern my lifelong vocation as a doctor. These thoughts and deep passion to serve the marginalized led me to school in South Bend, where I minored in Compassionate Care in Medicine. The coursework and seminars thrust me into the most captivating aspects of the doctor-patient relationship and the importance in realizing that compassion shown to the most vulnerable in society not only nourishes community but self-sustains your work as a caregiver. My desire to carry these principles into medical school and CAIN’s need for a clinic, was a perfect match. I chose this elective to give structure and meaning to our fast-growing clinic and also guide my future as an orthopedic surgeon. In the smallest of interactions with patients or in a large OR operation, compassion will always orient my way.