Sirene Helwani, a Rush University nursing student, will be leading a new adolescent program in partnership with the Rush Sue Gin Health Clinic at Oakley Square on the Near West Side of Chicago, an area with unmet needs for resources and support.  Sirene plans to share her passion for health and education among the adolescents to support and empower them to be leaders in their health, their community through sharing information, and to pursue higher levels of education. She seeks to raise $900 to cover costs for weekly healthy snacks and food items for the year, resource materials including, but not limited to, handouts, project activities, basic office supplies (i.e. 16 GB USB drives) and for transportation to outside community service learning events and/or health/educational conferences.

The Schweitzer Fellowship is a year-long service learning program for graduate students in health-related professions who will design and implement innovative direct service projects aimed at improving the health and well-being of underserved Chicago area communities. Through their community projects and participation in a year-long program that includes mentoring support, monthly meetings, written reflection, and interprofessional collaboration, Schweitzer Fellows are developing the skills and confidence needed to become Leaders in Service—professionals who will remain dedicated to public service and to creating change.

In the summer of 2016, the Schweitzer Fellows for Life network launched FellowsFest 2016 (formerly Summer Fest), a campaign to help support our current Fellows' projects. Each of the Fellows has created a "wish list" of supplies and resources that will help them realize their service project goals.

The Chicago Areas Schweitzer Fellowship is a program of Health & Medicine Policy Research Group. Your Summer Fest donation will appear on your credit card statement at "Health & Medicine."