Events continue all week across the San Joaquin Valley from Bakersfield, Madera to Stockton,
CA.
FRESNO, Calif., April 18,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On Wednesday, April 17, the San Joaquin Valley
Health Fund (SJVHF) launched "Equity on the Road" a multi-city
series of community town halls to deepen local understanding of
state issues and to advocate for more resources in the San Joaquin Valley. The community town halls
began in Bakersfield and will
continue onto Madera and will
conclude in Stockton, CA.
During the townhall, we witnessed powerful testimonies from
community members, elected officials and organizations that address
local problems.
"I came here to share with you what happened to us during COVID,
because at this time we saw how unstable our system and laws are
for our community," said Yuriria
Lopez, a Bakersfield
resident. "For farmworkers and those of us considered essential who
couldn't stay home but had to keep working and had many
losses."
Lopez described her role as a community leader and
promotora, her work to ensure proper vaccine and resource
access and the imbalance of power when it comes to laws and
policies that did not allow the most essential workers basic rights
and support to stay home to care for their children. "Equity means
we give those who need, whatever it is that they need. It does not
mean everyone gets the same thing. Collectively, we can work
together to ensure our community has a right to fight for what it
needs," Lopez concluded.
Equity on the Road grows out of the legacy for Equity on the
Mall, the annual advocacy event that for almost a decade has
focused attention on health and racial equity in the San Joaquin Valley by bringing hundreds of
residents to Sacramento to share
their policy priorities with state decision-makers. Equity on the
Road continues this mission by bringing lawmakers to communities on
the ground to foster dialogue about the intersecting issues
affecting the people of the San Joaquin
Valley. The town hall series serves as a platform for
community engagement and collaboration, bringing together
residents, community organizations and elected officials to
advocate for meaningful change.
Notable elected officials such as Manpreet Kaur, Bakersfield City Council Member,
Chris Cruz Boone, President of
Bakersfield City School Board and representatives from
Assemblymember Jasmeet Baines were
present in the inaugural townhall.
Dr. Chris Cruz Boone,
School Board President of the Bakersfield City School district said
"In Bakersfield City School District, we recently did an audit of
our services and found that only 1 in 4 families actually utilize
the services that they are offered. There is a lot of distrust and
trauma." She spoke eloquently about breaking generational curses
and addressing trauma in communities dealing with incarceration and
drug addiction. She shared her personal story dealing with these
issues and how she is helping other students navigate through these
barriers. "I am not ashamed" she said, and invites others to share
their stories to continue actively finding ways to work together to
understand and overcome personal challenges.
The Madera town hall
scheduled for April 18 from
4:00pm - 7:00pm will center on
residents' access to healthcare and immigration
services. Attendees will engage in discussions with experts,
community leaders and policymakers, sharing their insights and
experiences and proposing solutions to foster understanding to
improve equitable access to healthcare and support for immigrant
communities in the San Joaquin
Valley. Assemblymembers Esmeralda
Soria and Joaquin Arambula
will be present to listen and discuss community priorities in
Madera's town hall. The event will
be held at Matilda Torres High School Cafeteria, 16645 Road 26
Madera, CA 93638.
The Stockton town hall is
scheduled for April 19 4:00pm - 7:00pm and will center on land use,
housing and climate change, exploring their profound implications
for residents across the region. Attendees will engage with
experts, community leaders and policymakers, sharing their insights
and experiences to amplify voices, spark meaningful discussions and
drive collective action to create more sustainable and equitable
communities in the San Joaquin
Valley. The event will be held at University of the Pacific, Raymond Great Hall,
Rudkin Way, Stockton, CA
95204.
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SOURCE San Joaquin Valley Health Fund