Superintendent’s Superstars: Students provide COVID-19 education to immigrant, refugee communities

The Medical Education & Research Academy is a CTE Health Sciences and Medical Technology pathway at McLane High School. Students from MERA were accepted as Junior Community Health Workers for the Immigrant Refugee Coalition in the COVID-19 Equity Project to assist in meeting the needs of immigrant and refugee communities during pandemic through a variety of activities working directly with Asian, Middle Eastern and Latinx communities. The Coalition is a partnership of six community-based organizations that work together addressing social determinants of health in Fresno County. Students provide education on COVID-19 prevention, testing and vaccination in person, via telephone, virtual platforms and social media outlets. Their dedication to sharing information has been vital to helping at-risk communities safely navigate this challenging time. Accepting on MERA’s behalf were students Santiago Ocegueda, Andrea Gracidam Gisel Gonzalez Villa and Nereida Galvaz Penaloza.