By Maya Meinert
Cynthia Lemus knows what it’s like to care for an ill, elderly family member. The emotional, physical and financial toll can be nearly unbearable.
“My grandma was really ill, and I didn’t like to see her like that,” said Lemus, an 18-year-old high school senior. “While taking care of her with my mom, I realized that other families [in my community] also go through this, or worse, and I wanted to be someone in their lives to help them out and let them know they’re not alone.”
Stories such as Lemus’ are why educators reached out to the USC School of Social Work to consult on the establishment of a Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) high school focused on providing an understanding of real-life issues and preparing students to become their community’s health care givers.
The result is the Community Health Advocates School (CHAS) at the Augustus Hawkins Schools for Community Action campus in South Los Angeles. Augustus Hawkins also includes schools focused on technology and social entrepreneurship, and together with CHAS, the campus provides educational experiences designed to prepare students for relevant careers in Los Angeles that would benefit the individual student and the greater community.