In June, Community Health Councils’ (CHC) Community Liaison Raymond Diaz organized and facilitated his first training session at John C. Fremont High School. The training was to introduce the next phase of the Healthy Kids Zone (HKZ) project and discuss the issues affecting the Fremont HS community. In the past few months, Raymond has also been collaborating and partnering with local community members, businesses, churches, nonprofit organizations, and public agencies. He also outreached at local events, including UMMA’s 7th Annual Walk 4 Wellness, and presented the HKZ project at the CANNDU Neighborhood Council Community Meeting.
The HKZ team’s active outreach efforts led to a new group of 14 trained HKZ Ambassadors who joined the team in August to support the HKZ project. Held in Fremont High School’s Parent Center, the new HKZ Ambassadors received training on community engagement and healthcare advocacy. During the training, HKZ Ambassadors learned various advocacy strategies, including how to mobilize their neighbors and how to effectively share stories that influence policymaking decisions. For their training time, each HKZ Ambassador was gifted a certificate to honor their volunteer commitment.
HKZ Ambassadors were enthusiastic in drafting outreach plans and will begin outreaching during upcoming community events. Their outreach will consist of recruiting and hosting community meetings with stakeholders connected to the Florence neighborhood. At the community meeting, Stakeholders will share how they have been affected by the community issues identified through the data gathering process and changes they would like to see. The responses will inform the prioritization phase of the HKZ project.
There are many ways to get involved to get involved with the HKZ project. CHC facilitates monthly HKZ Workgroup meetings at Fremont HS. The Workgroup consists of stakeholders, community-based organizations, city and county departments, Fremont staff, and anyone interested in improving the community. The Workgroup provides input into the design of the HKZ project. Another way to get involved is to become an HKZ Ambassadors. Ambassadors are leaders in the community who assist with collecting data, talking with residents, as well as providing input on the project. You can also attend the various HKZ events occurring in the community. If you are interested in joining the HKZ Workgroup, becoming an Ambassador, attending a HKZ event, or learning about the issues identified through the data collecting phase, please contact Raymond Diaz at rdiaz@risingcommunities.org or visit healthykidszone.org.
This activity is funded by UCLA Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity.
Healthy Kids Zone is a project of Community Health Councils.
This project is funded in part by L.A. Care Health Plan and will benefit low-income and uninsured residents of Los Angeles County.