First came two months of training, and then Ashley went to the Spanish-speaking Dominican Republic, where she lived for two years in a tiny mountain village. Living without electricity or running water was challenging, but she was able to fulfill several critical needs of her new neighbors. She'll always remember the boisterous, celebratory culture, and the many other Peace Corps volunteers who she keeps in touch with today. "You make friends for life," she said. After a backpacking trip through Central America, Ashley finished up school in Mississippi, earning her master's degree in medical anthropology – what most folks would call "public health." She found herself in the Mississippi Delta for her first job after school, and seeing the poverty and struggle of people in her own country reminded her of her time in the Peace Corps. She saw things in a way that she couldn't have done before and decided to see what she could accomplish there. "It was an eye-opener," she said. "I realized I had to stay here and do something." She expanded to a state agency, then a nonprofit, and before long, met her soon-to-be-husband, Scott Ashley. They made a big move for his medical residency, landing in Denver, Colo., and she continued in health education and research with Kaiser Permanente once they got there.
Dominican Republic RPCV Christy Ashley watches her vision become reality on the North Coast
Everyday People: Astoria woman watches her vision become reality on the North Coast
DEEDA SCHROEDER - The Daily Astorian Christy Ashley spends her extra time writing grants for several local projects.
Posted: Monday, December 27, 2010 11:26 am
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For Christy Ashley, looking out for others' health and well-being has always been a priority.
She grew up in Vicksburg, Miss., on that other big river – the Mississippi – and a wandering journey brought her to Astoria more than 30 years later.
Ashley started traveling after getting an undergraduate degree at Huntington College in Knoxville, Tenn. She'd began graduate school at Ole Miss, where she studied public health. But after a year in the classroom, study was interrupted by good news – she'd been accepted into the Peace Corps.
First came two months of training, and then Ashley went to the Spanish-speaking Dominican Republic, where she lived for two years in a tiny mountain village. Living without electricity or running water was challenging, but she was able to fulfill several critical needs of her new neighbors.
While they wanted to build a basketball court, all her training and education told her they really needed the basics first – like latrines, a school meal program for the local children and other health needs.
Because the town didn't have money for books, she got creative and orchestrated painting educational murals on the walls instead. By the time she was ready to leave, they'd made progress on a natural filtration system for the town's water – a creek – and begun building an aqueduct to deliver water to individual homes. It was an amazing experience, filled with lasting memories, she said.
She'll always remember the boisterous, celebratory culture, and the many other Peace Corps volunteers who she keeps in touch with today.
"You make friends for life," she said.
After a backpacking trip through Central America, Ashley finished up school in Mississippi, earning her master's degree in medical anthropology – what most folks would call "public health."
She found herself in the Mississippi Delta for her first job after school, and seeing the poverty and struggle of people in her own country reminded her of her time in the Peace Corps. She saw things in a way that she couldn't have done before and decided to see what she could accomplish there.
"It was an eye-opener," she said. "I realized I had to stay here and do something."
She expanded to a state agency, then a nonprofit, and before long, met her soon-to-be-husband, Scott Ashley. They made a big move for his medical residency, landing in Denver, Colo., and she continued in health education and research with Kaiser Permanente once they got there.
They kept very busy when not working, exploring the mountains, rivers and trails that dot the Colorado landscape. Christy Ashley ran her first marathon at 30, tried fly fishing, and was passionate about backpacking, camping and downhill skiing. Both enjoyed eating adventurously and developed a taste for good food, an appetite they continue to indulge.
When it was time for Scott Ashley to look for his first job as a doctor, they scoured the West Coast for family clinics. When they visited Astoria they knew they had found the right place.
"We fell in love," she said.
They arrived in 2003, and soon after Christy Ashley found herself running Clatsop Community Action. It was a challenging and rewarding job for more than a year, but once her daughter Ada was born, she found she wanted to devote more time to being a mom. Ada, now 6, was joined by her brother George three years later.
Since then Christy Ashley has spent her extra time working behind the scenes, helping write grants for several projects that help local children and families. The experience she accumulated over the years, working with state and federally-funded programs, was perfectly timed for projects like the Astor Playground.
"It just ended up all coming full circle," she said.
- Deeda Schroeder
