Empowering A Community Through CPR

Over the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity to put leadership into action through the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) by launching a project that directly impacts my community’s health and safety. My project, called the CPR Empowerment Initiative, was built around one goal: to make life-saving CPR training more accessible to underserved populations in Los Angeles.

As a healthcare professional and American Heart Association BLS instructor, I’ve seen firsthand how critical immediate response can be in a cardiac emergency. But many people never get certified—either due to cost, location, or lack of awareness. That’s where my project stepped in.

I organized and led four day-long CPR marathon events, strategically hosted in different neighborhoods to reduce access barriers. With the help of three fellow instructors, we were able to certify 107 individuals in Hands-Only CPR and basic life-saving techniques—all completely free of charge.

The project wasn’t just about teaching CPR. It was about fostering confidence, encouraging community involvement, and showing people that they have the power to step in and save a life. I used NSLS leadership models like the Johari Window and Kolb’s Learning Cycle to reflect, plan, and grow throughout this experience.

What I learned most from this project is that leadership isn’t always about big speeches or titles. Sometimes, it’s about rolling up your sleeves, rallying your resources, and creating real change—one heartbeat at a time.

This experience helped me grow not only as a leader, but as a human being—and I can’t wait to keep building from here.