No Matter Where in the World
The lessons and experiences we have as children deeply shape how we view and feel the world. Growing up, I was fortunate to have wonderful parents who taught me and my siblings to always look for ways to help others with greater needs than ours, and to also look beyond our circle of family and friends. As a family we were involved in many helping endeavors and events that imprinted those guiding principles in our lives.
I was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. I came to St. Louis to learn English after graduating from high school. Not speaking English when trying to make friends, attend college, and move around a new city was a disorienting experience. My vocabulary was basic: happy, sad, mother, father, door, window… Not exactly indicative of the “A” student I had been most of my life. I got to experience first-hand that lack of verbal communication skills is often seen as indicative of poor intellectual ability, and that many people don’t have the patience to communicate with someone struggling to do so. As a teen, it felt like many of my accomplishments were being erased. I was also experiencing something else new – college dorm life, which provided additional opportunities for experiencing culture shock. On the other hand, I also had the pleasure to receive much kindness from people who were eager to be cultural guides and informal English language mentors, many of whom became dear friends.
As I focused much of my time to learning English, I missed a key experience of my life growing up – helping others in more challenging life circumstances. Learning English, or anything else, felt empty, unless I could find some way to help others with greater needs. I was fortunate to have come to St. Louis as a teen to learn English, and not as an immigrant fleeing war, violence and/or extreme poverty. I knew I had much to be grateful for and much to give of myself as well.
Speaking very little English was going to be a barrier, but I figured there had to be a way. So, I went to the Academic Advising office- for advice, of course - on how and where I could volunteer. The advisor, who became a dear friend, gave me a bus route map, and showed me how to get to a nearby nursing home where I could play the piano for the residents, so my limited English language skills would not be a barrier.
Fast forward almost 45 years later, having spent my life working in non-for-profit organizations helping the most vulnerable in the St. Louis community, and volunteering for numerous endeavors, I have found that there is tremendous pain and suffering in our community and the need for help is great. Much of the need is only visible only when one travels around St. Louis to areas of high poverty, where homes are falling apart, and key resources for wellbeing such as grocery stores and healthcare providers, are miles away.
Some of us do not have to endure the hardship of several bus transfers in the rain, or even more inclement weather, when ill or pregnant, elderly or caring for children, nor navigate a new city without the benefit of speaking English, while experiencing dental pain, or unsure which shelter for the unhoused may have a bed for the night. Poverty, racial and social injustice, disabilities, trauma, health issues, and anything else that causes physical and emotional pain are needs that exist in most societies in one way or another, but helping others beyond our direct circle of family and friends helps to build community. Also, it is not hard to help and to involve children and youth, so that these experiences may help them find their purpose while helping others. There is always a way to help, and someone in need - no matter where in the world life takes us.
Yvonne M. Buhlinger is Executive Vice President of the Affinia Healthcare Foundation and Vice President of Development and Community Relations for Affinia Healthcare. The Foundation works to secure resources to address unmet healthcare needs in our community. The community health center provides primary and preventive, serving the most vulnerable in the St. Louis area.
Ms. Buhlinger joined Affinia Healthcare in 1996 as Coordinator of Managed Care, promoted to Director of Managed Care within six months. In 2004, her responsibilities expanded to include implementation of a $15 million lead remediation and prevention project and promoted to Managing Director of Community Health and Managed Care. In 2012 she became Vice President of Community Health Services. In 2015 assumed the role of Vice President of Development and Community Relations. In 2018 accepted the additional role of Executive Vice President, launching the Affinia Healthcare Foundation.
Previously, Ms. Buhlinger was Eastern Region Supervisor at First Health, a company contracted by Missouri to implement Medicaid Managed Care. Previously, she was Associate Director for Supported Employment at Life Skills Foundation, winning the four-state regional Project Excel Award, modeled after the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
Board service: Advisor for MOFEAT, 2007-2010; Missouri Blue Ribbon Pannel for Autism 2007-2008; Behavioral Health Network of Greater St. Louis Advisory Board 2012-2015; Chair of the Family Advisory Board of Webster University 2019-2021 and board member 2018-2023. Currently serving on the Disparities Elimination Advisory Committee, Siteman Cancer Center of Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University; Vice-Chair of the Hispanic Leaders Group of Greater St. Louis. Ms. Buhlinger has volunteered in numerous organizations serving vulnerable individuals. In 2020, Ms. Buhlinger received the Unsung Human Rights Hero Award from the United Nations Association of St. Louis.
Ms. Buhlinger holds a B.S. in Psychology and a Masters of Social Work, both from Washington University in St. Louis, and a Fellowship in Community Health Center Executive Management from Kansas University Medical Center.