Gender-Affirming Surgery Support
Trans-e-Motion has reopened its Community Care Grants, which fund gender-affirming surgeries for Central Valley residents, thanks to a $5,000 grant from Equality California/Out Against Big Tobacco and $630 of donations from the community. This grant fund will remain open while funds last. To donate to this program or to apply for a grant, contact transemotion@gmail.com.
Border Patrol Activity
Assembly Member Esmeralda Soria (D‒Fresno) has issued the following statement on recent Border Patrol activity in the Central Valley:
“As a daughter of immigrant farmworkers, it is more important than ever that we ensure our farmworker communities are safe, and feel safe.
“These operations by U.S. Border Patrol officials are causing fear and panic in our Central Valley communities among families, workers and individuals who are not criminals.
“I want to be crystal clear: The individuals detained by immigration officials that have committed crimes should be held accountable. Behind every crime there is a victim, and we should do everything we can to protect victims, prevent more victims and take criminals off the street.
“Immigration officials need to take a surgical approach to apprehending criminals to ease community concerns among those who are traveling to work, raising families and contributing to their community every single day. Without this approach, we will see a destabilization in our small towns, communities and our agricultural economy, negatively impacting the entire country’s food supply.”
Soria, along with the California Latino Legislative Caucus, strongly urges the Border Patrol to announce its planned raids and maintain its established protocols of avoiding raids at sensitive locations such as schools, hospitals and places of worship. These venues should remain free from operations; otherwise, a chilling effect could prevent law-abiding residents from visiting these locations and utilizing their vital services.
Soria represents the 27th Assembly District, which includes communities in Fresno, Madera and Merced counties.
Prioritizing Social Activism
The United States has a long history of social movements, from its founding to more modern efforts for racial equality and climate activism. While social activism happens across the country, some states provide better environments for citizens to advocate and make a difference.
To determine where social activism is prioritized the most, SmileHub compared the 50 states across 15 key metrics. The data set ranges from the number of rights/activism charities per capita to civic education engagement to hate crimes per capita.
The results for social activism in California are as follows:
- Overall rank: 12th
- 1st in Rights & Activism Charities per Capita
- 38th in Civic & Social Organizations per Capita
- 48th in Share of Population Belonging to an Organizational Membership
- 9th in Access to Public Transportation
- 1st in Voter Accessibility Policies
- 43rd in Hate Crime Incidents per Capita
- 27th in Share of Residents Living in Poverty
SmileHub is a nonprofit tech company that uses data to rate charities and provides resources that make it easy for donors to find more information and maximize the impact of their donations. Its platform is designed to help users find and donate to causes and charities that align with their values and interests.
Sierra Health Foundation at 40
“At the start of this new year, we recognize that our shared health equity and racial justice aspirations and strategies are once again under attack,” says Chet P. Hewitt, president and CEO of the Sierra Health Foundation.
“As fires continue to rage through Southern California and the incoming federal administration threatens the health and safety of many California communities, the big question for philanthropy is: how will we respond? At Sierra Health Foundation, we plan to move forward unafraid and with an even deeper commitment as we navigate the uncertain environment ahead.
“We take heart in the progress we have made with our many partners and the promise of health equity for all.”
This year, the Sierra Health Foundation celebrates 40 years of grantmaking, partnership and changemaking to improve the social determinants of health for California’s marginalized communities.
“These four decades bear witness to how community-driven investments can transform systems, save lives and help solve our most intractable issues,” notes Hewitt.
“We enter 2025 celebrating our 40-year legacy of impact and resoluteness in pursuit of our North Star goal: a healthful life for all Californians. May this year bring us another step closer to achieving it.”
Community Organization Focus
The Central Valley Empowerment Alliance (CVEA) is a multi-ethnic group with a grassroots community membership stretching across five counties (Madera, Fresno, Tulare, Kings and Kern) in the Central Valley. The CVEA uses the Industrial Areas Foundation organizing model, which builds from hundreds of one-on-one individual house visits and larger broad-based community assembly where specific actions are discussed and developed for mobilization.
The CVEA aims to address economic and educational inequity, advocate for affordable housing and empower underserved communities in the Central Valley.
Its strategies are as follows:
- Empower communities to use their voice to create change.
- Provide free health resources to underserved communities.
- Advocate for housing in low-income communities, keeping families and entire support systems together for the betterment of generations to come.
Current programs include the following:
- LUPE’s Promise Youth Leadership: Promoting youth leadership by developing their skills through community engagement and creating a safe place for the youth to be accepted as they are.
- Larry Itliong Resource Center: Providing a safe space for the community to assemble as needed as well as a place for youth to study for their future, this judgment-free building helps future leaders grow.
- El Mercado: Providing community food banks to help feed local communities as well as health initiatives alongside street medicine. This monthly effort has helped keep communities strong and vitalized.
To learn more, visit cvempowermentalliance.org/.
