BIG NEWS: We’re thrilled to welcome Brenda Solórzano as President and CEO of The California Endowment! Brenda's visionary leadership began at The Endowment, and today she continues to advance our commitment to improving the health and well-being of all Californians.

Today we uplift and honor those who have lived in and tended to so-called California since time immemorial. We are still here.

Our communities can't afford to stay home this election. When we vote, we're speaking up for those who can't. Vote. Your health depends on it. 🎨 Commissioned by @/mrinaalika on IG

Californians! Use your voice to build healthier communities. Too often, decisions about the health of California’s communities are made without the input of the people these decisions affect most. From community clinic closures to attacks on healthcare coverage, health inequality is on the rise. Visit our toolkit [app.sosha.ai/toolkit/TCEGOTV…] to activate your community.

Politics feels like someone else’s problem. Until your appointment gets canceled. Until the clinic cuts its hours. Until your mom’s coverage changes and nobody can tell you why. Voting is how our communities have a voice. How we show up. How we make it our problem. Vote. Our health depends on it.

Today, we honor the life and legacy of Gloria Steinem. 🕯️ We were lucky enough to speak with Gloria two years ago for a #CalEndowLive, where she detailed her lifelong pursuit for equality. A prolific feminist, activist, and organizer, she was and IS an inspiration to so many. Rest in Power, Gloria.

When money is taken out of our bank accounts, it's easy to concern yourself with where it's going. These taxes don't just pay for the social net, they pay for you too. 🏥 Access to healthcare through programs like Medi-Cal leads to better OVERALL community health. 🏬 Access to safe, affordable care makes for a stronger workforce, benefitting employers and small businesses. 💵 Communities that are more well-resourced and have access to necessities are healthier and stronger. It's not just for the vulnerable. It's for you.

When people think of Medi-Cal, most people only think about healthcare access... But it impacts so much more. In California, where 1/3 of our population depends on Medi-Cal, the impacts are felt by everyone—including small businesses: 🏬 Many employees who work at small businesses rely on Medi-Cal for their healthcare. 🏬 The inability to see a primary care provider means more emergency room visits—putting strain on patients and healthcare workers. 🏬 When people are healthier, they miss less work days and perform better on the job—cutting healthcare puts this at risk. Source: @LAPublicPress

Happy Heavenly Birthday to Marsha P. Johnson—a revolutionary, an icon, and most of all, someone who never backed down. Today we honor her legacy by living our fullest and truest selves. Today, we uplift her memory. Today, we commit ourselves to fighting for trans folks just like she did. 🕯️

Los Angeles is home to millions of immigrants who weave the diverse cultural fabric of the city. ICE raids are ripping it apart—but we can be the change that stops it.

Two powerhouse women leaders are here not only to talk and strategize, but to listen. Our Chief Strategy Officer, Carolyn Wang Kong, was joined by Kim Johnson, California Secretary of Health and Human Services to discuss the importance of today's convening. Thank you to the @inlandempirecf for gathering so many changemakers in one room. Thank you to attendees for listening. Thank you to the communities on the ground doing the work—we're here to support you in your work to build a healthier California.

Our communities continue to be failed in ICE detention centers, losing their access to healthcare and ultimately lacking the proper resources needed simply to survive. Missing medication and delays for cancer treatment aren't just oversights—they can be deadly.

Millions of people across California depend on federal funding to put food on the table or to see a doctor in a time of need. This doesn't just impact the people who depend on the programs—it impacts the health of entire communities.

For many disabled activists, fighting for agency and accessibility is paramount, and the fight for health equity shares those values. When disabled people call for access to affordable, quality healthcare—they're fighting for health equity. When disabled people call out the disproportionate amount of people of color and low-income folks that are disabled—they're fighting for health equity. Disability rights are a health equity issue!

Where we live, work, and play dictates our health and well-being. In California, where blue skies and beaches might come to mind, low-income communities of color suffer from some of the worst pollution and air quality in the entire country. It's by design—with trucking, agriculture, and oil drilling taking place primarily in low-income communities of color. This leads to worsened health not only for those living there, but for the generations to come after.

Access to green space (parks, hiking trails, and outdoor space) isn't just our right as humans—it's critical to living a healthy life. 🌱 Access to green spaces lower stress, reduce likelihood of cardiovascular disease, and foster social connections among community. 🌱 Low-income communities (which are predominantly communities of color) are less likely to have access to green space, with over 75% being "nature deprived." ICE raids are preventing community members from accessing green spaces out of fear of detention or deportation, and are worsening already-existing health inequities. This is a public health crisis.

Immigration status has long been a determinant of health for our communities. With ongoing immigration raids, this health inequity only grows. Chronic stress can cause long-term health conditions for immigrants, and a lack of access to affordable, quality care only compounds this issue. No more terror in our communities.

Had a great meeting this week with the @CalEndow team on the work they are doing to uplift communities throughout our state.

Democracy makes our communities healthier. Baseless lies only harm our communities. We will continue to stand with our communities as they fight for dignity and healthier lives.