New Radio Show Provides Forum for Community Dialogue on Gang Violence
Sunday nights, from midnight to 2 a.m. on FM 100.3, the Bo Taylor Show opens the radio airwaves in Los Angeles to current and former gang members, victims of gang violence and everyone else with something to say about the issue. A former gang member himself, Taylor is the founder of Los Angeles-based Unity One, which works with gangs to negotiate truces and maintain cease-fire agreements, and to offer positive alternatives to gang membership. He is a 2003 recipient of the TCWF California Peace Prize. read more
BIENESTAR Calls for Official Response to Late HIV Testing Among Latinos
According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control, 72 percent of Latinos in Los Angeles County develop AIDS within one year after their HIV-positive diagnosis—a higher percentage than any other ethnic group. Known as late testers, these individuals are likely to have transmitted the disease while unaware they were HIV-positive. Proposed solutions include making sexual barrier protection devices available in state correctional facilities. Oscar de la O, president and CEO of BIENESTAR, recently joined with HIV experts and community activists to deliver a legislative briefing at the State Capitol. BIENESTAR is a TCWF grantee. read more
TCWF Grantee Visits AIDS Officials in Spain
Richard Zaldivar, founder of The Wall-Las Memorias Project and 2006 TCWF Sabbatical Program recipient, recently met with Maria del Val Diez, director of the National AIDS Plan for the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs for the government of Spain and her staff, to compare and contrast the climate of drug usage and HIV in Spain and in Latino communities in the U.S. During his visit, he found that “while there are some cultural differences, there are also many similarities on issues that contribute to HIV/AIDS” as well as areas to further discuss, such as crystal methamphetamine usage and sexual behavior. read more
Report Shows Disparities in Women’s Awareness of Emergency Contraception
According to a report in Women’s Health Issues, the percentage of women in California who are aware of emergency contraception (EC)—also known as the “morning-after pill”—increased from 40 percent to 57 percent between 1999 and 2004. But awareness of EC was significantly lower among women who did not complete high school, women whose income is below the poverty level and foreign-born Latinas. The report, based on a six-year California Women’s Health Survey of nearly 12,000 women aged 18 to 44, was funded by a grant from TCWF. read more (PDF)
Bong Hwan Kim Appointed to L.A. Department of Neighborhood Empowerment
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has appointed Bong Hwan Kim assistant general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE), a citywide system of independent neighborhood councils. A 1993 TCWF California Peace Prize honoree, Kim is executive director of Pasadena Neighborhood Housing Services. He has worked for more than two decades to advance social, political and economic development in communities of color, as a founding board member and former executive director of the Multicultural Collaborative and as a former executive director of the Korean Youth and Community Center. read more
The “Doctor Is In”
On March 7, 2007, the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine hosted high school students from the Doctors Academy, a UCSF Fresno Medical Education Program offering from the Latino Center for Medical Education and Research that seeks to increase the number of students who graduate from high school to apply to health professional schools. Nearly 35 students participated in a day of seminars and recognition by UCSF for their completion of the program. The event was made possible by UCSF and The California Wellness Foundation. read more
National Public Health Week is April 2-8
Organizations across the county are gearing up for the 12th annual National Public Health Week, April 2-8. The American Public Health Association (APHA) leads the weeklong observance to educate the public, policymakers and health care practitioners about issues related to the theme, “Take the First Step! Preparedness and Public Health Threats.” Visit APHA’s website to access resources, tools and information about events in California. Organizations are encouraged to partner with APHA by hosting an event or health fair in their local communities. read more
Winter 2006/07 Portfolio Spotlights Approaches to Health Care in the Inland Empire
The cover story in the latest issue of Portfolio outlines the challenges and accomplishments of TCWF grantees providing health services for underserved populations in the Inland Empire (San Bernardino and Riverside counties). This issue also spotlights the work of grantees in three of our funding priorities: environmental health, mental health, and work and health. read more
SF Bay Area’s Poor and Minorities Face Disproportionate Exposure to Environmental Hazards
The Bay Area has often prided itself on leading the state on environmental issues, yet the region is also characterized by an unequal distribution of environmental burdens. That's the conclusion of a new report, “Still Toxic After All These Years... Air Quality and Environmental Justice in the Bay Area,” issued by the Center for Justice, Tolerance, and Community at UC Santa Cruz. The report, funded by TCWF, found that immigrants living in the Bay Area are nearly twice as likely to live within one mile of a toxic release facility. read more
‘Report Card’ Gives Low Grades to Health Issues Affecting Children in California
Limited health care and chronic poverty threaten the future of California’s 9.7 million children, according to a report issued by Children NOW, an Oakland-based advocacy group and TCWF grantee. "California Report Card 2006-07: The State of the State’s Children" acknowledges progress in decreasing teen pregnancy, limiting drug and alcohol use, insuring children and lowering mortality rates, but assigns low “grades” to other issues, including a D+ for obesity and a C- for dental health. The report also offers four recommendations to improve children's health. read more
