Simmons School of Social Work Student is 2009-2010 Boston Schweitzer Fellow

Amy Wong, a second year Simmons School of Social Work Student is 2009-2010 Boston Schweitzer Fellow.

The Boston Schweitzer Fellows Program is a one-year interdisciplinary fellowship program focused on community service and leadership development. It is a competitive program open to students obtaining professional degrees in health related fields, including degrees in social work. Fellows meet regularly during the academic year to discuss their health-related leadership projects, which require 200 community-service hours during the project. Fellows also learn how to address the impact of health disparities and health policies on local communities.

For her project Amy developed a meditation program at Maritime Apprentice Program (MAP) and at Street Potential, both of which are life skills/vocational programs for DYS-committed young men . Her project's aim is to help youth in these at-risk communities to develop awareness skills, recognize their strengths, and build their self-esteem. This approach arrives out of current research, which indicates that individuals who meditate can draw on their own mental health resources at difficult times with a regular practice.