Latinos Go from Tough Neighborhoods to Life-Saving Health Careers

Share On Social!

A California program trains Latino young men to become emergency medial technicians (EMTs), creating a path for success in areas where gangs and shoot-outs are all-too common, KALW reports.

The five-month stipend program, EMS Corps, is part of the Alameda County Public Health Department.

EMS Corps participants, who are ages 18-26 and mostly Latino or another minority, are be trained and educated to become EMTs. EMTs work with paramedics to provide medical care in the field during an emergency. They go through daily classes, tutoring, physical fitness, and professional and career development workshops.

They also get life coaching and mentoring.

“It takes them on a journey of discovery of who they are—what their strengths are and what they value most in this life,” life coach Dr. Valerie Street told KALW. “Once that is nailed down, then they don’t have doubts. They’re not in the streets looking for an identity.”

The KALW report describes several EMS Corps success stories, including Philip Jimenez, 21, from San Leandro, Calif.

“I had finished high school and I really didn’t have any direction,” Jimenez told KALW. “But I knew deep down that I wanted to help people. So I feel like this EMS program is definitely a blessing from God. My plan is to get an EMT certification, work as an EMT, eventually progress into being a paramedic and from being a paramedic I plan on becoming a doctor.”

Learn more about the program here.