Karen Aguirre is a second year MPH student in Health Policy at the University of Illinois at Chicago. As a native of the Back of the Yards neighborhood, Karen acknowledges the need for college oriented health programs for Latinx and Black high school students who seek to offer their care to their communities of color in Chicago. Her health career pathways program called L.U.C.H.A (Latinxs Unidos para Cambiar Healthcare Access) will be empowering 15 high school students to pursue health careers via access to university visits, education on social determinants of health, and providing professional development. Karen seeks $500 that will go towards transportation to college visits, $300 for supplies for a student-led health fair at Back of the Yards High School, and $300 for student white lab coats.

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."