Pictured above: Dr. Maurice Samuels from The Center at Sierra Health Foundation shares takeaways from The Center's Community Economic Mobilization Initiative's year one report.

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Community Economic Mobilization Initiative releases evaluation report

The Community Economic Mobilization Initiative (CEMI) has released its year one report, offering insights that will help guide ongoing improvements and ensure accountability. Developed in partnership with third-party evaluator Informing Change, the report draws on feedback from funded partners through surveys, focus groups, grant data analysis and interviews. Key findings highlight strong alignment with The Center’s values, with the majority of partners expressing trust in CEMI’s support and flexibility. Notably, nearly half of funded partners are actively participating in California Jobs First Collaboratives, showcasing the program’s role in driving collaborative economic efforts. Read the full report findings to learn more.

Read our report now

Community Wellness Hubs team and partners pictured at the South Sacramento Hub launch at La Familia Counseling Center.

Community Wellness Hubs launch in Sacramento

As a partnership with Sacramento County Public Health, Health Education Council and The Center at Sierra Health Foundation, Community Wellness Hubs program was recently launched to aim to address health disparities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and support communities in becoming more resilient. Community Wellness Hubs are community-centered systems that connect County agencies, schools, libraries, hospitals and other essential partners in an effort to empower underserved populations to access information and care. Visit our new program webpage to learn more.

Learn more about Community Wellness Hubs

Black Child Legacy Campaign team and partners pictured with Sacramento County supervisors.

Black Child Legacy Campaign Board of Supervisors Presentation

Last month, The Center's Black Child Legacy Campaign (BCLC) presented to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors on BCLC's past, present and future. The Center staff, BCLC partners and community members shared the significant progress made over the last nine years, including a historic 27% reduction in overall African American child deaths across Sacramento County. With evidence-based, community-led interventions, BCLC has proven to be radically successful in changing health outcomes for Black children and families. At the presentation, County Supervisors and program partners reaffirmed their commitment to continuing this invaluable work into a 10th year—and beyond. Learn more at BlackChildLegacy.org.

Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum receives $25,000 to continue its mission celebrating and preserving Black history

Sierra Health Foundation has granted $25,000 to support the Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum, the only museum in Sacramento dedicated to Black history and achievement. The investment enables critical museum operations after the Museum announced in October it risked closure without sustained funding. Since 1996, the Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum has provided the region with cultural programming that preserves and educates the public on the history and contributions of African Americans, and Sierra Health Foundation and The Center have long partnered through programming such as Youth and Community PopUps and the Black Child Legacy Campaign. The Museum welcomes donations and community support to ensure its continuation. Learn more at SojoArtsMuseum.org.

Transform Youth Justice's Community-Based Organization Capacity Building Initiative announces funded partners

Alongside the State of California’s Office of Youth and Community Restoration, we are thrilled to announce that eight partners will be awarded $500,000 each to engage in Transform Youth Justice’s Community-Based Organization (CBO) Capacity Building Initiative. These eight funded partners will work to improve the health, social and intergenerational life course outcomes of youth who are involved in punitive legal systems. Their work will span 26 months and will expand their organizational capacity to meet the social determinants of health needs. Learn more about the CBO Capacity Building Initiative and our eight new partners.

Convening, connecting and gathering

Between Elevate Youth California, Behavioral Health Recovery Services Program, California Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction Initiative, and Stop the Hate, The Center's programs have brought together hundreds of community-based organizations over the past two months

Elevate Youth California has been bringing together its more than 280 grantee partners for networking and logic model, youth-led storytelling and civic engagement trainings across the state. Regional convenings have been held in Sacramento September 20, Fresno October 16 and Humboldt October 29. Additional events will convene partners in the Bay Area November 19, Los Angeles December 3 and the Inland Empire January 22, 2025. Learn more about Elevate Youth California.

Nearly 300 Behavioral Health Recovery Services Program grantee partners came together October 23 and 24 in Sacramento for the HEAR US partner convening on Driving Change to Improve Access and Equity. The event provided partners with project implementation inspiration, community support and media training. Learn more about Behavioral Health Recovery Services Program.

California Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction Initiative co-hosted with National Harm Reduction Coalition the 2024 California Harm Reduction Exchange Summit November 13 and 14 in Monterey. Initiative partners engaged in peer learning, affinity and regional networking, and policy and capacity building trainings. Learn more about California Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction Initiative.

Stop the Hate partners gathered in downtown Sacramento on October 29 to connect, convene and engage in trainings focused on responding to harassment, building relationships with their local media and engaging with their legislators. Learn more about Stop the Hate.

Elevate Youth California partners met at Sierra Health Foundation for their second session this past October.

Elevate Youth California joins Emergent Learning Pilot Cohort

The Emergent Learning Nonprofit Pilot cohort launched in late September in collaboration with Elevate Youth California. The cohort consists of six Elevate Youth California funded partners who will be learning more about Emergent Learning at the individual and organizational level.

The cohort met in-person in Sacramento for their second session in late October and will continue over the next several months with sessions dedicated to training and coaching. The program will conclude with a second in-person gathering in February 2025. Participating Elevate Youth organizations include Passion and Purpose Ministries, The Exception, Concrete Development Inc, City of Dreams, California Coalition for Youth and The LOVE Program. Thank you to The California Endowment, Sierra Health Foundation, and the Emergent Learning Community Project for their support in developing organizational resilience. Learn more about Emergent Learning.

Investing in clean energy transportation and community action

It's not too late to register for the Foundation's Speaker Series on Dec 3

Join us for our final Sierra Health Foundation Speaker Series event of the year on Tuesday, December 3, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

As we conclude our 2024 Speaker Series, we will discuss how to instigate and support the crucial shift from building roads and highways to investing in health-focused, climate-resilient transportation infrastructure – especially in under-resourced communities. Join panelists Hana Creger, Associate Director of Climate Equity at The Greenlining Institute; Mayor Rey Leon, Executive Director of the Latino Equity Advocacy and Policy Institute (LEAP); Jeanie Ward-Waller, Director of Transportation Advocacy at Fearless Advocacy; and Simeon Gant, Founder and Executive Board Member of Green Technical Education and Employment (Green Tech), for this timely discussion. Register today for this virtual event at Eventbrite.

RSVP now

Team updates and job openings

We've grown by an additional teammate at The Center. We're thrilled to welcome Walter Cornethan, General Accountant, to our team.

We can't wait to see how he will help carry out our powerful mission and equity centered values.

Follow us Sierra Health Foundation on LinkedIn. We share what our team has been up to in the field, funding opportunities and job openings. Speaking of jobs, we're currently on the lookout for a Compliance Manager and Salesforce Administrator.