ACHIEVE teaches students about health and education disparities and trains them to work alongside local organizations to address issues within Chicago communities.
The ACHIEVE program started in spring 2020 through a partnership between University of Chicago Medicine and Urban Education Institute / University of Chicago Charter School. ACHIEVE is co-led by Anna Volerman and Todd Barnett. The program uniquely brings together high school students throughout Chicago and UChicago undergraduate students in civic engagement and leadership around topics at the intersection of health and education. Scholars learn about local health and education disparities and make meaningful community impact through classroom-based learning and hands-on experiences.
Thus far, the ACHIEVE program has had four cohorts and three summer internships. Scholars in the program participate in seminars presented by experts on various health and education topics. In addition, they work in teams to complete community-based projects in partnership with local organizations. Through these experiences, they build knowledge about relevant health and education topics and develop non-cognitive skills. Additionally, the ACHIEVE program provides health career exposure and mentorship to the high school students.
About seminars
ACHIEVE scholars participate in seminars on about disparities, health communication, and professional skills presented by experts in the fields of health and education. Throughout the implementation of ACHIEVE, the program underwent various changes due to the trends of the COVID-19 pandemic and feedback from students, including location of the program and shifts in seminar topics to focus on science communication. Our most recent session in the spring 2022 was piloted in two chemistry classes at UChicago Charter School – Woodlawn. Undergraduate students enrolled in ACHIEVE had a separate seminar that provided knowledge and skills to support high school chemistry students participating in the program. In the pilot, ACHIEVE leaders lectured high school students on local health disparities, community needs assessment, respiratory health, and health communication for high school students to produce infographics related to respiratory health conditions to be shared within the school community with the support from undergraduate students.
About projects
The ACHIEVE program provides students an opportunity to engage directly within the community and build leadership and professional skills by partnering with community-based organizations on projects that advance the organization’s mission. The ACHIEVE program has developed partnerships with seven community organizations across Chicago. Projects have focused on a variety of health and education related topics, including nutrition, lung health, digital divide, community violence, early literacy, oral health, community gardens, and vaccine awareness. Students have created various products for the projects including survey tools, issue briefs, infographics, and handouts to support education and resource access in local communities.