One asthma workshop has quickly turned into the possibility of a larger project to improve health and well being at a West Philadelphia high school.
Last year, College juniors Amanda Rubenstein and Rachel Conrad co-founded the Active Asthma Workshop, which sends Penn students to Sayre High School at 58th and Walnut streets to promote awareness about asthma and general health and nutrition.
The Workshop, which started as a by-product of one of the University's Academically Based Community Service Classes Rubenstein and Conrad took last spring, has already combined with other ABCS classes and the Tobacco Awareness Club to evolve into a program devoted to provide comprehensive health support to students at Sayre.
But for Rubenstein, the program's progress is nothing when compared to what Penn students could do if they provide a united front in promoting health awareness.
We want to "hit every single student at Sayre, . spread out to other high schools and create a sustainable model for other universities to use," she said.
Rubenstein added that she wants to accomplish those goals by joining forces with other similar programs at Civic House. "Civic House does a really good job, but . we would have a much stronger impact if we go in together."
Currently, Civic House organizations are split up into six categories, though there is some overlap between.
Civic House officials said they look to integrate programs but would not comment on a comprehensive health program until more details had been discussed.
Rubenstein's mission to create a larger health initiative comes out of the development of the asthma workshop, in which Rubenstein and Conrad teach students about asthma and ways to cope with the medical condition.
"The ABCS class about asthma was really interesting for me because we could have a direct impact on these kids' lives," Rubenstein said. "The didn't realize, 'Oh, wait, this is asthma, maybe I can play sports, maybe I should see a doctor.'"
Rubenstein said they emphasize manageability of the condition and the fact that basic education about asthma could produce profound lifestyle changes.
"This is not cancer - this is something we can treat," she said.
But the high-school students are not the only ones learning in this program.
Pia Ghosh, a College junior involved in the workshop, described the importance of Penn students interacting with the surrounding community as a part of their own educations.
"It's really easy for Penn students to get suck in a bubble," Ghosh said.
For College senior Jenna Gibson, it's that interaction with the students that is the highlight of the program.
"I love the students," she said. "I'm in it for the hugs."
