Building Community Leadership, Power, Influence and Partnerships to Improve Community Mental Health, Physical Health and Well-Being Through a Resident Leadership Academy

Offered in partnership with Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP)

This event is open to the public and free for all to attend. Click here to register and for login instructions.

Series Overview: At our 2020 Un-Summit – Partnering with Communities to Improve Health Outcomes – We learned from initiatives around the country whose collaborations led to real improvements in community relationships, resulting in better health outcomes.  Building a foundation for authentic community partnerships to improve mental health and wellbeing requires establishing a leadership team who is representative of and trusted by the community. 

Through a series of three webinars, CBHL – together with our partners – will explore the importance of engaging, elevating and promoting the voices of 1) black, indigenous and leaders of color representing the diversity of the community, 2) community members as resident leaders of their community, and 3) peer leaders representing the lived experience of the community.

Webinar Description: Resident Leadership Academies (RLAs) are multi-week training programs for residents who want to learn how to improve their local communities. Training sessions focus on topics such as community leadership, social determinants of health, crime prevention and safety, land use and community planning, and healthy food systems. Residents learn skills and best practices to address the issues that most affect their communities, and they work alongside their neighbors to help improve quality of life where they live.  Representatives of Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP) in partnership with the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), and RLA program graduates will share the story about program’s evolution and impacts over the past 11 years in San Diego County.

When: April 30, 2021 at 10:00am – 11:00am PST / 11:00am – 12:00pm MST / 12:00 – 1:00pm CST / 1:00pm – 2:00pm EST

How: Join us via Zoom! Register below for login instructions.

Speaker Info

Dana Richardson, President & CEO, Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP)

Dana Richardson is President & CEO at Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP) – a 25-year, nonprofit organization that works to advance long term, sustainable solutions to priority health needs through collaboration, advocacy and community engagement.   Dana has worked with CHIP for 13 years, and previous Director of Government Affairs and Community Partnerships at Paradise Valley Hospital/Adventist Health. He has worked in community-based public health in San Diego County for 25 years, and has vast experience in community mobilization, hospital community benefit, prevention programming, public health systems change, policy advocacy for substance abuse and obesity prevention, and behavioral health.  Dana oversees the efforts of the San Diego County Suicide Prevention Council, the Independent Living Association (Recovery Housing) programs and is a Co-Founder of the Resident Leadership Academy program – a curriculum-based, public health leadership program, established in 2011.

Alexis Aviña, EdD, MPH, Manager – Live Well San Diego Support Team, County of San Diego Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA) – Office of Strategy and Innovation

With more than 17 years’ experience in public health promotion and disease prevention, Dr. Alexis Aviña found her way into public health after surviving young adult cancer. Her professional experiences have focused on improving access, quality, and equity to health for socioeconomically, ethnically, and geopolitically underserved populations through strategy and evaluation. The populations she is most passionate about serving are people of color, women, disabled — those who are voiceless and at the highest risk of negative outcomes. Dr. Aviña’s public health experiences span non-profit, research, teaching, hospital community and government settings. In her current role as the Live Well San Diego Manager, at the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Dr. Aviña is at the forefront of a social movement for wellness among 3.4M residents and anchored in local government. Dr. Aviña is also an adjunct professor at San Diego State University School of Public Health researching anti-poverty and inclusive strategies for well-being.

Janice Luna Reynoso, Executive Director, Mundo Gardens 501c3 / Resident Leadership Academy Facilitator 

Janice is a single mother of three artists, Zenona, Semilla, and JenMichel, who are amazing young women and leaders.  Her mother Yolanda Luna, the family’s biggest support system, is to credit for family roots in organizing and social justice. Over time, Janice’s experiences with having authentic and meaningful conversations with her community of Southeast San Diego, National City, and Logan Heights, has led her to a deeper understanding of the role we all play as the residents, artists, leaders, and business owners.  Janice serves as Founder/Executive Director of Mundo Gardens – a community garden and social justice organization that works on solutions to issues that impact the social determinants of health – the conditions under which we work, live, play, pray, and age. Janice is a certified trainer of the Resident Leadership Academy, Member of the County of San Diego’s Behavioral Health Advisory Board, and a graduate of the RISE San Diego Urban Leadership Fellows program.

Andrea Nasser, Administrative Analyst II, Youth Development and Community Support Services – County of San Diego Probation Department / Resident Leadership Academy Facilitator 

Andrea is a social impact-public health advocate passionate about working alongside residents in diverse and culturally rich communities, that have historically been underserved, to achieve health, educational and financial equity. She has over eight years of experience developing and implementing tailored community programs locally in San Diego and abroad.  Currently, she works in Probation’s Youth Development and Community Support Services Supervision Division and manages contracts for community-based services that provide youth with positive opportunities for success to prevent juvenile justice system involvement. As a Resident Leadership Academy graduate and facilitator, she co-led the Creative Arts Youth Resident Leadership Academy for 15 youth from throughout Southeast San Diego.