How We Got Here

About seven months ago, we started a program planning and evaluation course series in our public health program at UCLA. The courses require that students - in groups of four - create a hypothetical community health program and evaluation. It was during these two quarters that we developed the concept behind the STRIDES curriculum with two other colleagues.

Several weeks into this process, we came across an opportunity to implement our hypothetical program through the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship - named in honor of the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize winner. The U.S. Schweitzer Fellowship was launched in 1992 with four goals in mind:

• To provide direct services that address health-related needs of underserved communities;
• To influence the professional development of students in health-related fields in ways that strengthen their commitment to public service;
• To alter the culture of professional schools to more effectively address the needs of their surrounding communities; and
• To support program alumni who continue in lifelong community service.
  

So over the next year, we will implement and evaluate STRIDES at a continuation high school in Santa Monica. We are joined by 13 other Schweitzer colleagues in Los Angeles who are implementing programs that range from opening a community garden to starting an outdoor adventure program for youth at risk for diabetes.

We are excited about the opportunities for collaboration with our fellowship colleagues and for guidance from an academic and site mentor and our LA fellowship directors.