L.A Care Health Plan is the nation’s largest publicly operated health plan available for low-income individuals, and is working to boost the number of physicians in Los Angeles County who are people of color. Today, L.A. Care serves more than 200,000 Medi-Cal recipients.
Author Archives: Brenda Fernanda Verano
Brenda Fernanda Verano is a journalist born in Mexico and raised in South Central, LA. Verano is a two-time award winner in the California College Media Association Awards. At CALÓ News, she covers social justice, health care, and education. She is alumni from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and former Editor in Chief of the campus newspaper, the Bulletin. Outside of journalism, she enjoys gardening and poetry. If you have questions, concerns or corrections related to this story, please contact brenda@latinomedia.org.
Posted inHealth
CALÓ HEALTH: The Sodium Icon Campaign, looking to reduce salt-intake among Latino, low-income communities
In general, Hispanics/Latinos have higher dietary sodium intake, lower dietary potassium intake, and higher rates of obesity compared with non-Hispanic whites. “When we eat meals, we don’t really think about sodium or salt, it’s such a small part of how we plan our meals, but in the long term we can see how this very small thing can have a huge effect on our health, said Mónica Acevedo, Program Manager of Public Health Advocates (PHA), a social justice nonprofit organization in LA.
Posted inHealth
The Sodium Icon Campaign, looking to reduce salt-intake among Latino, low-income communities
In general, Hispanics/Latinos have higher dietary sodium intake, lower dietary potassium intake, and higher rates of obesity compared with non-Hispanic whites. “When we eat meals, we don’t really think about sodium or salt, it’s such a small part of how we plan our meals, but in the long term we can see how this very small thing can have a huge effect on our health, said Mónica Acevedo, Program Manager of Public Health Advocates (PHA), a social justice nonprofit organization in LA.
Posted inElections
CALÓ Q&A: CAROLINE MENJIVAR, who grew up in the San Fernando Valley as the daughter of Salvadorian parents, is a top candidate in State Senate District 20 race
Menjivar grew up in San Fernanco Valley, where her mother cleaned private homes and her father worked as a waiter at a Studio City country club. Menjivar recalled attending Encino Charter Elementary School, a public school in the high-priced suburb of Encino, CA. She immediately felt out of place, she said. “I was going to an affluent school where my classmate’s homes were big and they had big screen TVs,” Menjivar said. “That’s when I started [wondering] why my classmates had so many cool things, big houses, expensive things and we didn’t? As a kid, you don’t know what all that means. You just know that the inequity doesn’t feel right.”
Posted inPolitics
CAROLINE MENJIVAR, daughter of Salvadorian parents, now a top candidate in State Senate District 20
Menjivar grew up in San Fernanco Valley, where her mother cleaned private homes and her father worked as a waiter at a Studio City country club. Menjivar recalled attending Encino Charter Elementary School, a public school in the high-priced suburb of Encino, CA. She immediately felt out of place, she said. “I was going to an affluent school where my classmate’s homes were big and they had big screen TVs,” Menjivar said. “That’s when I started [wondering] why my classmates had so many cool things, big houses, expensive things and we didn’t? As a kid, you don’t know what all that means. You just know that the inequity doesn’t feel right.”
Posted inHealth
CALÓ HERO: MIRNA MARTINEZ, proud queer bilingual Oaxacan therapist in CA
Martinez likes to refer to herself as a queer Oaxacan, first-generation American, bilingual therapist. At 27, she is also proudly among the approximately 6 percent of Latinos who serve as therapists in the U.S. Martinez credits her Oaxacan culture and the values instilled in her as a driving force for her current career and future goals.
Posted inEquity
MIRNA MARTINEZ, proud queer bilingual Oaxacan therapist in CA
Martinez likes to refer to herself as a queer Oaxacan, first-generation American, bilingual therapist. At 27, she is also proudly among the approximately 6 percent of Latinos who serve as therapists in the U.S. Martinez credits her Oaxacan culture and the values instilled in her as a driving force for her current career and future goals.
Posted inGovernment
CALÓ Q&A: EUNISSES HERNANDEZ, lifelong District 1 resident will be sworn onto LA City Council in December
Hernandez will be the next representative for District 1 on the Los Angeles City Council and will be one of the women representatives in what is now a male-dominated council. “I look forward to working with my colleagues in City Hall to make Los Angeles a city where all community members can thrive,” she told CALÓ NEWS.
Posted inElections
EUNISSES HERNANDEZ, lifelong District 1 resident will be sworn onto LA City Council in December
Hernandez will be the next representative for District 1 on the Los Angeles City Council and will be one of the women representatives in what is now a male-dominated council. “I look forward to working with my colleagues in City Hall to make Los Angeles a city where all community members can thrive,” she told CALÓ NEWS.
Posted inCulture
CAFECITO CON CONCIENCIA: Merging social justice, critical thinking and café
David Solis, Suzy Amezcua and Leonardo Rodriguez attended California State University, Northridge, became friends and later created the podcast Cafecito con Conciencia, which translates to Coffee with Conscience.
Posted inHealthcare
CALÓ ON THE STREETS: Latinas, Latinx and health experts spell out what Roe v. Wade reversal means for us
Nearly 8 out of 10 Latina voters agree that pregnant people should be able to have an abortion without fear of arrest or investigation, according to a 2020 nationwide poll sponsored by reproductive justice groups, including The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice. CALÓ NEWS interviewed women in LA, health experts and advocates about their thoughts and reactions in light of the reversal of Roe V. Wade.
Posted inHealth, Healthcare, Justice, Reproductive Rights
Latinas/x, and health experts spell out what Roe v. Wade reversal means for us
Nearly 8 out of 10 Latina voters agree that pregnant people should be able to have an abortion without fear of arrest or investigation, according to a 2020 nationwide poll sponsored by reproductive justice groups, including The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice. CALÓ NEWS interviewed women in LA, health experts and advocates about their thoughts and reactions in light of the reversal of Roe V. Wade.