Hola team!

My name is Lauren Reyes, one of your two proud co-leaders (check our Charles’ post below!). I currently work at Lowell High School in San Francisco’s Sunset District as a Community Health Outreach Worker aka CHOW (don’t you love the acronym? I do :). My position falls under San Francisco Unified School District’s Wellness Program, which specializes in providing free onsite mental and clinical health services for every public high school student in San Francisco. As a CHOW, I help promote healthy lifestyles and decision-making, particularly among young adults like yourselves. The Wellness Center can be seen as a one-stop shop where students can kick back with a cup of hot tea during a busy school day, talk openly about what’s going on in their lives, and/or learn about heath topics relevant to you and your peers, such as stress management and substance abuse prevention. To learn more about Wellness, visit:

https://lhs-sfusd-ca.schoolloop.com/wellness?no_controls=t

Crawfish galore in New Orleans, Lousiana

Crawfish tubbin’ in New Orleans, Lousiana

I received my BA in Psychology and Social Behavior from the University of California, Irvine. Between completing my undergrad and my most recent position as CHOW, I’ve worked at the San Mateo Crisis Center through AmeriCorps and the ExCel after-school program at Starr King Elementary School in San Francisco’s Potrero Hill neighborhood.

When I’m not at work, I’m a huge fan of exploring/immersing myself in places I’ve never been, dancing anywhere and anytime (salsa is one of my faves), music of all genres (I’ve had Erykah Badu’s “Time’s A Wastin'” stuck in my head for the last two days), and meeting people, as well as hearing their stories.

This will be my first time in Nicaragua and I’m counting down the days until we experience this all together! I’m excited to connect with the people, culture, and history of this beautiful country. It’s guaranteed that every one of us will be learning new things about the world, each other, and ourselves.

Share your story! Post a pic and some fun facts about yourself! Looking forward to meeting each and every one of you!

Get pumped!
Lauren

P.S. You will be getting a personal phone call from either Charles or me in the very near future. Stay tuned!