This summer, we invited NM Scholars to participate in the annual Chicago Cares Serve-a-Thon; the largest single day of community service in Chicago. More than 5,000 people volunteer to transform the Chicago’s neighborhoods. This year, 600 Northwestern Medicine volunteers, including NM Scholars, participated. Volunteer projects included beautifying classrooms, libraries, playgrounds, parks and more. Fostering teamwork, the NM Scholars project for the day was to re-paint the worn walls of Chopin Elementary in Humboldt Park. This small yet mighty act gave them the opportunity to serve as a catalyst for change in underserved communities.