As the president and founder of the Montebello Youth Leadership Club (MYLC), Oliver Jimenez has been leading the Christmas Toy drive in Montebello for the past 10 years. In partnership with Montebello’s YMCA, the organization has distributed 10,000 toys every year to kids and families in need. In addition to toys, food baskets are also distributed.
Author Archives: Amairani Hernandez
Amairani Hernandez is a native of Los Angeles and a graduate of the California State University of Los Angeles with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. She is a staff multimedia journalist, who focuses on stories about Latinos, including social justice, art, and, culture. Recently, she became a columnist, and writes about her first time mom experiences.
JESSE MELGAR and CIELO FUND, serving Latinos in the Inland Empire
The Cultivating Inland Empire Latino Opportunity Fund was launched last weekend at the Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF). The CIELO Fund is dedicated to empowering the lives of Latinos by elevating and investing in organizations that are led and served by Latinos in their region and was founded by Melgar.
VERONIQUE DIAZ, Latina healthcare worker shares pandemic experience
Diaz is a mother of three children; two boys and a girl. She started as a volunteer at Clinica Romero when one of her children was in high school. “Someone from Clinica Romero gave us a workshop one day and I raised my hand and participated,” Diaz said. Around that time, a promotora from Clinica Romero mentioned to Diaz that she would be a good candidate as a community health worker. “I told the promotora I was too shy for that and that I couldn’t do that, but she convinced me and here I am, six years later.
Community health workers are vital links in Latino communities
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, in partnership with Community Health Councils and Team Friday, released a new video series called “COVID-19 Diaries – A Day in the Life of a Community Health Worker.” The nine-part video series highlights the personal stories of community health workers in LA County who have serviced nearly 6 million residents since the pandemic began. In the series, the community health workers share their personal experiences of being front-line workers in a worldwide pandemic.
LINDA LOERA brings awareness to how Alzheimer’s impacts Latinos
Alzheimer’s Disease remains an Alzheimer’s Disease remains front-and-center for many Latinos and family members. There is a high chance that most of us are aware of someone whose life has been affected by Alzheimer’s disease, whether it is family or a friend. Approximately 13% of Latinos who are 65 or older have Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. Loera is a community outreach specialist with the Alzheimer’s Association, in Southern California. In addition to educating the community about Alzheimer’s disease and participating in community events to bring awareness, she provides information and support to families and caregivers.
TIFFANY ROMO, health manager for LA County helps Latinos fight COVID-19
At the height of the pandemic, there were nearly 900 workers across LA County; the number now is around 400, said Tiffany Romo, health program manager at the Los Angeles Department of Public Health. As a health program manager at the Los Angeles Department of Public Health, Romo manages projects and implements community outreach planning as well as writing grants. “I love my job because I get to serve my community and help people improve their health and well-being,” Romo said.
DR. SUSANA MARQUEZ, tackling Latina perinatal mental health
Dr. Susana Marquez is a specialized maternal mental health clinician. She educates mothers on what maternal mental health is and helps their family’s understand what these mothers are experiencing during their pregnancy. She educates on the importance of the mother’s mental and emotional well-being by connecting them with the proper resources in the community. Dr. Marquez is also a health advocate, speaker, and educator in the Latino community, with services in both English and Spanish.
FRED SANDOVAL, of NLBHA, talks about mental health and Latinos
While Mental Health Awareness Day was observed earlier this month on October 10, the issue is often front-and-center for many Latinos and family members who support them. Sandoval, president of the National Latino Behavioral Health Association (NLBHA), spoke with CALÓ NEWS on the importance of educating and spreading awareness about mental health to the Latino community.
CALÓ ON THE STREET: What should happen in wake of LA City Hall scandal?
CALÓ NEWS spoke with Latinos on the street to get their unfiltered reactions and demands in the wake of the Nury Martinez, Gil Cedillo and Kevin de León scandal surrounding racial epithets and hate speech. Latinos are, indeed, upset and ready for big changes.
Latino Equality Alliance provides mental health, Covid-19, HIV help
Latino Equality Alliance (LEA) is a Latinx LGBTQ+ nonprofit located in Boyle Heights. The organization was founded in Los Angeles around 2009 as a direct response to the passing of Proposition 8, an initiative that defined marriage as legitimate solely between a man and a woman. CALÓ NEWS interviewed Eloy Armendariz, the alliance’s development assistant to discuss issues involving the Latinx generation and healthcare.
DR. EDWARD MENA, health savior helps Latinos fight off liver cancer
October is Liver Cancer Awareness Month and Dr. Edward Mena wants to educate the Latino community on the importance of this health topic and its risk factors. Dr. Mena is a practicing hepatologist and currently serves as the Medical Director of the Pasadena Liver Center in California.
INCLUSIVE ACTION FOR THE CITY, LA non-profit fights for street vendors
At Inclusive Action for the City, Rudy Espinoza serves as the Executive Director and advocates for neighborhoods, entrepreneurship, and financial empowerment. The majority of Espinoza’s work involves identifying profitable investment opportunities within low-income communities, building private/nonprofit partnerships, and training working-class communities to participate in neighborhood revitalization. It is among the groups that took the lead in supporting and promoting the Los Angeles Street Vendor Campaign. The organization also sponsors a bill regulating street vendors throughout California.