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Californians Speak Out at Health Care Reform Event
On August 11, nearly 3,500 Californians in eight cities linked by satellite discussed proposals for reforming the state health care system at CaliforniaSpeaks, a nonpartisan project of AmericaSpeaks. Top priorities of participants in the event – determined by an electronic vote – were making health care affordable and accessible to all and “putting people before profits.” Participating policymakers included Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, and Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines. The event was funded by grants from TCWF, The California Endowment and the Blue Shield of California Foundation.
California Voters Support Greater Diversity of Health Professionals
A new poll, funded by a grant from TCWF to Field Research Corporation, found that most California voters believe there are not enough health professionals, especially in predominantly ethnic communities. According to the survey, 60 percent of voters believe it is important for California to have enough health professionals who reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the patients they serve. To achieve this goal, two of every three voters support increased state government funding of public medical schools, universities and community colleges. For more information, visit www.tcwf.org.
TCWF Sponsors Forum at San Francisco’s Commonwealth Club
“The Struggle for Water Justice” was the topic of a panel discussion on August 30 at the Commonwealth Club of California. Panelists – Whitney Dotson, a community activist in North Richmond; Mark Franco, headman of the Winnemem Wintu tribe; and Laurel Firestone, co-director of Community Water Center, a TCWF grantee – discussed challenges faced by low-income California communities in accessing affordable supplies of clean, safe water.
New Book Chronicles History of Barrios Unidos
 Barrios Unidos, a Santa Cruz-based organization founded to prevent gang violence among inner-city youth, is the subject of a new book that chronicles the organization’s history from its beginnings in the Mexican-American civil rights and antiwar movements of the 1960s and 1970s. Through interviews, written testimonies and documents, author Frank De Jesús Acosta – a former TCWF program director – shows how the organization created community-based violence prevention programs and after-school programs to help at-risk young people reduce gang warfare and build healthy communities.
TCWF Holds Two New Conferences for Grantees and Other Stakeholders
 TCWF’s conference on border health, held September 18 in San Diego, brought together local and regional policymakers, advocates and practitioners and featured panels and workshops with experts on the issue from both the United States and Mexico. The Foundation’s conference on women’s health, held September 26 in San Francisco, gave TCWF grantees the opportunity to network with colleagues and address critical policy and practice issues in the field.
Kudos
 Cristina M. Regalado, vice president of programs, has been named to the board of directors of the Women’s Funding Network and to the board of advisors of the Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Institute.
Staff Updates
TCWF recognizes Joan C. Hurley, director of grants management, for 15 years of service to the Foundation; and Joanne Williams, accounting manager, for 10 years of service.
Adriana Godoy Leiss has been named communications officer, Julio Marcial program director, and Amy Poppers assistant to the director of evaluation and organizational learning.
TCWF welcomes new staff: Amber Lopez Gamble, program assistant; and Alexandra Wong, office services coordinator.
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