Javier Rincon is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine.
In the following blog post, he reflects on his experiences since helping to establish the Youth Academy for Latinx Leaders (YALL) in Danbury, Connecticut, last year.
“YALL has quickly become a cornerstone of support, education, and empowerment for high school students in the Danbury community.”
YALL Conception and Growth
The Youth Academy for Latino Leaders, or Academia Juvenil De Lideres Latinos, was born from a conversation in a local restaurant between a former UVM Larner medical student, Jett Choquette, M.D. ’23, community activist Elvis Novas, president of the Dominican Community Center (DCC), and Majid Sadigh, M.D., director of the Nuvance Global Health Academy (NGHA) and a physician who is dedicated to global health. YALL has quickly become a cornerstone of support, education, and empowerment for high school students in the Danbury community. Today,18 Larner medical students aim to improve overall community health by equipping young students with the knowledge and tools they need to make healthier choices and improve the quality of life for themselves and their families.These students include: Daniel Mitchell ’25, Elle Cunningham ’26, Jack Braidt ’25, Jharna Jahvani ’25, Jennifer Toner ’2, Kadi Nguyen ’25, Kathleen Waeldner ’26, Katina Messier ’26, Kristin Karpowicz ’26, Matthew Lippel ’25, Molly Hurd ’26, Nicole Salib ’26, Rachel Thompson ’25, Shruthi Santhanakrishnan ’26, Shrey Patel ’26, Surya Radhanakrishnan ’26, Tom Notcovich ’25, and Virginia Ramirez ’25.
Health Care Starts Well Before the Clinic
YALL was founded to address the unique challenges faced by disadvantaged students, particularly in life skills education and leadership. Recognizing the underrepresentation of minority leaders in a community with a significant minority population, YALL aims to bridge this gap by offering students tailored support, mentorship, and opportunities for personal and academic growth. By empowering students with more life options, YALL hopes to enhance health at the community level.
In its second year, YALL has expanded significantly, building on the successes of its inaugural year. The program began with a group of six high school students, focusing on establishing trust, strong mentor-mentee relationships, and a solid curriculum. Today, YALL serves a larger cohort, offering an enriched curriculum and engaging more community partners. The growth and progress seen in just two years underscore the program’s importance in empowering youth.
Curriculum in Life Skills and Career Preparation
At the core of YALL is a curriculum designed by Larner medical students, inspired by their own medical school experience, to equip high school students with essential life skills and career preparation. The curriculum covers financial literacy, leadership training, community engagement, health education, and career and college readiness, all tailored to address the specific needs of disadvantaged students.
Financial literacy is a key component: budgeting, saving, investing, and managing debt. Field trips to financial institutions and workshops with experts provide practical knowledge, while a $400 scholarship allows students to build self-worth and apply their skills in real-world scenarios.
Leadership training exposes students to insights from local business owners, activists, and political leaders. Visits to places like Danbury City Hall enable students to learn directly from influential figures from minority backgrounds, inspiring them to become leaders in their communities.
Larner medical students at the Connecticut campus volunteer their time to mentor students, particularly during the health-related and research components of the curriculum. These mentors, who are paired one-on-one with high school students, offer valuable insights into the medical field, guiding students through activities like clinical simulations, CPR certification, and research projects. The involvement of medical students enhances the students’ learning experience and inspires those interested in pursuing careers in health care.
Career and college readiness is woven throughout the curriculum. High school freshmen undertake a year-long research project on community health, guided by mentors, and present their findings in a poster display at the Nuvance Global Health Conference. In their sophomore year, students transform their research into community service projects, gaining essential research skills and career exploration opportunities. During their junior year, students take on the role of teachers by leading classes for younger students, further strengthening their leadership skills.
Support from Volunteers, Community Leaders, and Partners
YALL’s success is due to the support of Larner medical students and UVM, Danbury community leaders, parents, Sadigh, the NGHA, and political figures. Medical students volunteer as mentors, guiding participants through health-related activities and providing insights into the healthcare field. During my time with YALL as a medical student, I’ve gained invaluable skills and experiences that extend well beyond the traditional medical curriculum. Collaborating with the community has deepened my understanding of the local population’s specific health care needs and shown me that health care is a complex system requiring considerations that go beyond medical exams and treatments. These interactions have taught me how to address health disparities, connect with individuals on a more human level, and appreciate the role of social determinants in shaping health. This experience reinforces the lessons in humanism we’re taught at Larner, reminding us that health care is about understanding the whole person and the broader community, not just treating the disease.
Community leaders and activists contribute by leading workshops and offering guidance on leadership and civic engagement. Providing high school students with direct examples of people who look like them and come from similar backgrounds in leadership positions motivates youth to take active roles in their communities.
Parental involvement is crucial, with YALL actively engaging parents in their children’s progress. This partnership between the program and families creates a supportive environment that fosters student success and helps identify student needs both inside and outside of school. The Global Health Academy of Nuvance and UVM, led by Sadigh, is a key partner, providing not only financial and logistical support but also unique opportunities for students to engage in meaningful work with real-world impact. Political leaders, including the mayor of Danbury, state senators, and representatives, further validate the program’s importance by participating in events and workshops.
Expanding Opportunities and Impact
Looking ahead, YALL plans to expand its reach and impact by continuing student research and community engagement projects. Each year, students will build on their previous work, tackling more complex projects that address critical community issues.
YALL is committed to providing ongoing academic and career support throughout students’ high school careers, ensuring they receive the guidance needed to succeed academically and professionally. We aim to extend this support beyond high school, helping students navigate the transition to college or alternative career paths. The academy also seeks to deepen community engagement by expanding partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and government agencies to create more opportunities for students, including internships, field trips, and volunteer experiences.
The future of YALL is bright. With a solid foundation, dedicated volunteers, and growing community support, the academy is poised to continue making a difference in the lives of Latinx youth. By equipping them with the skills, support, and opportunities they need, YALL is helping shape a new generation of leaders who will make lasting impacts on their communities and beyond.
