“We were never just building houses; we were building futures. I will be forever grateful for the countless lessons I learned.”
Construction isn’t a typical stepping stone into pediatrics or public health. Yet, the skills and values Logan Beyer developed during her AmeriCorps service with Habitat for Humanity – communication, problem-solving, and a commitment to tangible impact – are the tools she relies on most today in caring for patients as a student at Harvard Medical School and a future pediatrician.
Completing a service year through AmeriCorps was not initially part of Logan’s plan to achieve her life-long dream of becoming a pediatrician. A cancer diagnosis within her family, however, prompted her to change her course.
“On a visceral level, I wanted to hit things (hard). On an existential level, I wanted to make meaning of my heartbreak. And on a subconscious level, I needed to prove to myself I was strong enough to handle the loss to come.”
AmeriCorps provided Logan with the right opportunity at the most challenging moment of her life. In her two years of service, Logan progressed from a novice to a skilled tradeswoman capable of guiding teams of up to 100 volunteers. Over time, she took on greater responsibility for planning, coordinating, and ensuring the continuity of their construction efforts.
In total, Logan helped build 38 homes as an AmeriCorps member, each one representing a family whose lives were fundamentally changed for the better through her service. The result was transformative not just for the community where they worked, but for her sense of self and the entire trajectory of her career.
While serving, she met parents stuck in high-crime neighborhoods too afraid to let their children play outside; an eight-year-old boy with asthma constantly struggling to breathe thanks to moldy carpets in his apartment; and a high school senior contemplating life after graduation, wondering if his mom would remain stably housed if he moved out.
“Their stories taught me the visceral truth: a child's future is inextricably linked to the neighborhood they call home. Then, each of these families secured safe, stable housing through Habitat. I saw firsthand how this single change mitigated risks and fostered opportunities. I became convinced that investments in housing and neighborhoods could improve health equity. And I realized there must be a way to prove it.”
Logan matriculated to Harvard Medical School at the conclusion of her service years and immediately sought research opportunities to study the effects of neighborhoods on health. Today, six years after taking off her hardhat for the last time, Logan’s doctoral work specifically examines how, when, and where neighborhoods impact children.
“By the end of my training, I aim to become a pediatrician who understands the social realities of her patients, a researcher who rigorously investigates the root causes of health inequities, and an advocate who champions policies to create healthier neighborhoods for all. AmeriCorps ignited my path, providing the crucial link between theory and action in pursuit of a more just world.”
In addition to her MD/PhD candidacy at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, she serves as the Executive Chair of Advocacy for the AAP Section on Pediatric Trainees; a Resident Tutor at Harvard College’s Mather House; a running coach for high school students with and without disabilities; and a play space leader for unhoused children living in shelters. Through it all, service is at the heart of how Logan cares for each child, parent, and community member that she encounters.
“A heart for service led me to AmeriCorps. Through AmeriCorps, I gained the skills required to become a forceful advocate for children. My service years have evolved into a lifelong commitment.”
About the Service Year Alums Awards
The Service Year Alums Awards recognize outstanding alums across the national service community for their contributions during their service years and beyond. This diverse network is composed of AmeriCorps Alums, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and alums from various service year programs across the country.
In 2025, the Service Year Alums Awards are all about celebrating this life-changing experience, recognizing alums who embraced the lessons, skills, and connections gained during their service year to pursue meaningful careers and positively impact their communities.
