Damaris Townes

Damaris came to NLU not long after finishing high school, graduating from North Lawndale College Prep (NLCP) in 2018. She had long aspired to be in the medical field as her mom used to work at Lawndale Christian Community Center. During the pandemic, she initially got an offer from another medical program. She started to reflect on her dreams, how they felt more accessible, but she wanted to make sure she made the best decision for her next step.

Damaris lives by the motto, “We don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are.” If we are negative and look down on ourselves, that is how our experience will be. On the other hand, if you remain positive and build yourself up, things will get better. “Self-doubt holds us back. So when I feel like those thoughts are creeping in, I remind myself where I was a year ago,” she said. “I thought my plans of working in the medical field were not going to happen. Now look at me! Working in a dream job and doing exactly what I want to do. I feel good at the end of the day that I helped various people that came into the clinic. That is exactly what I wanted.”

While Damaris was the first, many more students have since been completing the program and being hired at hospitals and health centers all over the country. In Chicago, Accelerate U graduates are working at Lurie Children’s, Northwestern Memorial, Access Health Centers and Lawndale Christian Community Center. Some are focusing on work for now and others are exploring how to continue their degrees in nursing and other fields. Their certification gave them access to secure jobs with benefits so they can support themselves and their families (when applicable), as well as getting experience in health care. This foundation gives stability and helps propel them into their future dreams.