The California Wellness Foundation

We’re excited to introduce you to Richard Tate, our new president and CEO as of September 1, 2023. For the past seven years, Richard has been part of the Cal Wellness leadership team. He’s worked closely with staff, board and community partners across the state. Take a peek at this short video to hear from Richard about who he is, how he works and what you can expect as he steps into his new job. https://lnkd.in/gDMYUAcr

At Cal Wellness, we're committed to fostering a just and equitable California for all. Last week, we celebrated a significant step towards acknowledging our state's history and building a more inclusive future. We envision a California where every resident can thrive, regardless of their racial background. We recognize that healing and transformation for Black Californians is an ongoing journey. Repairing historical harms can take many forms, and it's crucial to address the long-standing impacts of systemic exclusion on Black communities. Learn more at caslave.com.

Be sure to register for this #ImpactInvesting discussion from Mission Investors Exchange on July 9, with speakers including Rochelle Witharana, CPA, Cal Wellness CFO!

Many thanks to the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP) and Office of Public Engagement (OPE) for hosting an in-person roundtable yesterday with gun violence survivors, research experts, and community leaders from across the country to assess and address the impact of firearm violence and suicide in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. Hope and Heal Fund was honored to be a part of the meeting and is proud to stand with our AAPI brothers and sisters.

Be sure to read this Los Angeles Times piece profiling Odilia Romero, executive director at Comunidades Indigenas en Liderazgo (CIELO). https://lnkd.in/gsYun9-e

Cal Wellness recognizes the profound importance of the Surgeon General Vivek Murthy's decision to take a #publichealth approach to #gunviolence prevention and call for increased #research funding to help us better understand and prevent gun violence in communities across California and the U.S., including community violence interventions that use evidence-informed strategies to reduce violence. We applaud this progress and urge decisionmakers to partner with people whose lives are affected by gun violence — and to surface solutions and support policies that will save lives. During this Gun Violence Prevention Month, we celebrate this especially momentous decision. Cal Wellness will continue to work with innovative organizations such as Hope and Heal Fund, The Health Alliance for Violence Intervention, Urban Peace Institute, YouthAlive!, Black and Brown Collective, Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Advance Peace, Brotherhood Unified for Independent Leadership Through Discipline (BUILD) Program, and others to get closer to making it possible for everyone to live in safe, healthy communities free from gun violence. https://lnkd.in/gy8wQb-u

So cool to see yourself on a banner at Jack London Square! Thank you Alameda Health System for inviting me to participate in this media campaign.

June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month. This month of awareness began in honor of Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old who was tragically shot and killed in Chicago in 2013, just one week after performing at President Obama’s second inaugural parade. In response, Hadiya's friends wore orange to raise awareness, and today, orange has become the color symbolizing Gun Violence Awareness nationwide. At Hope and Heal Fund, we are dedicated to reducing firearm injuries and trauma through a public health and race equity lens. Our efforts focus on community-driven solutions and comprehensive support for those affected by firearm violence and suicide. This month, we emphasize the importance of creating safe, healthy communities where every individual can thrive. Join us in honoring Hadiya’s memory and all those impacted by wearing orange, advocating for change, and supporting efforts to prevent future tragedies.