Obama Foundation Invests in Sacramento
My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, an initiative of the Obama Foundation, selected Sacramento’s My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Collaborative as one of 19 communities across the country to receive grants and access to technical assistance to improve life outcomes for boys and young men of color.
The MBK Community Challenge is providing strategic support and a total of more than $5 million in select communities nationwide. As part of a two-year partnership, the Sacramento MBK Collaborative will receive $425,000 from the MBK Alliance and $75,000 from the California Funders for Boys and Men of Color to help jump-start initiatives, build capacity and attract additional resources and partners. A total of five California communities were awarded grants: Sacramento, Los Angeles and Oakland were selected as National Impact Communities, and Fresno and Richmond were selected as National Seed Communities.
“A successful future for California requires the vision, talent and contributions of all our young people,” said Chet P. Hewitt, President and CEO of Sierra Health Foundation and The Center. “While we are proud of the collective work that is happening in Sacramento and throughout the state to improve opportunities and outcomes for boys and young men of color, there is much more to be done. Building upon our partnerships with community organizations and young men themselves, we can make good on the promise of a more hopeful future for all young people.”
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Partners For Change: Bold Action, Real Impact highlights our work, partnerships
We invite you to read about our journey through the past six years in Partners For Change: Bold Action, Real Impact, which tells the story of our work and the work of our partners through narratives, authentic photos of communities in action and heartfelt quotes.
This new report highlights the unique organizational funding model that Sierra Health Foundation and The Center have implemented. Through this model and with our partners, we are building a movement to advance our shared vision of health equity and racial justice for all.
Copies of the report are available and it is posted on our Publications web page.
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Grants to support nonprofits providing needed resources for Camp Fire
Last week we announced funding for four organizations that are providing critical emergency fire relief services to those affected by the Camp Fire in Butte County. The organizations include California Vocations, Inc., Hmong Cultural Center of Butte County, The Salvation Army and United Way of Northern California. All four organizations are expanding their current services to include emergency or recovery fire relief services in affected communities. Funding from the foundation totals $40,000 to the four organizations.
“These community organizations are supporting families and individuals impacted by one of the most destructive fires in the state’s history, including services for vulnerable populations such as those with special needs or limited English language skills, as well as seniors and young children,” said Chet P. Hewitt, Sierra Health Foundation President and CEO. “They are doing everything possible to improve the emotional and physical well-being of community members during this very difficult time.”
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Guide to Community-First Funder Collaboratives offers an approach to building community-led movements
The Center at Sierra Health Foundation recently released a guide to the community-first model used in the design and implementation of the San Joaquin Valley Health Fund. Guide to Community-First Funder Collaboratives is intended to help foundations and other funders use similar approaches to supporting policy and systems change in under-resourced communities like the San Joaquin Valley.
Community-first funder collaboratives are an innovative model for bringing philanthropic and community partners together to invest in community health and well-being. By recognizing the leadership of community partners, this model strengthens local movements to advocate for policies and systems that are prioritized by the impacted community and address the root causes of inequity. For funders, the model offers strategies and structures that provide critical on-the-ground knowledge and increase the impact of their investments.
Written by Harder+Company Community Research and funded by Sierra Health Foundation and W.K. Kellogg Foundation, this guide is intended to help others understand the value of community-led funder collaboratives and take the steps needed to build and implement them.
Access the guide on the San Joaquin Valley Health Fund Publications web page.
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Chet P. Hewitt receives Champions of Change Award
Saint John’s Program for Real Change honored Sierra Health Foundation President and CEO Chet P. Hewitt and Sacramento Councilmember Angelique Ashby as 2018 Champions of Change. Presented on Nov. 3 at the annual Party for Change in Sacramento, the award recognizes those who exemplify Saint John’s core values. The event raised more than $500,000 in support of the organization, which has helped more than 30,000 women and children move from poverty to confidence and self-sufficiency since its inception in 1985.
A Saint John’s board member for nine years, Mr. Hewitt soon will be stepping down from the board. According to Saint John’s CEO Michele Steeb, he was instrumental in orchestrating a significant expansion of the organization’s capacity, growing from serving 100 women and children per day to a current capacity of 270 women and children per day.
“There is no one who has embodied what it means to be a champion for the mission of Saint John’s more than Chet Hewitt has,” said Ms. Steeb. “In his nine-year tenure on our board, six of those serving as our board chair, Chet unflinchingly and expertly oversaw our efforts to open and operate three social enterprises. From conception to completion, Plates Café, Plates Midtown and First Steps Childcare have provided our women with the opportunity to learn work ethic and what it takes to be successful in the workplace.
“With his undying courage to fight for the safety, security and potential of the women and children we serve, we honor Chet as a 2018 Champion of Change.”
Photo: Saint John’s Program for Real Change CEO Michele Steeb with Chet Hewitt.
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Oak Park Project to make positive neighborhood change with resident leaders
The Oak Park Project is a new effort bringing together new development opportunities, a strong interest in health careers for residents, and the desire for all Oak Park residents to benefit from positive neighborhood changes.
In February 2018, the Sacramento City Council made a $5 million investment to purchase, rehabilitate and lease two buildings in Oak Park. The City Council designated Sierra Health Foundation as the lead for the Oak Park Project because of our long history of promoting health and racial equity in partnership with communities. With our nonprofit partner, The Center, we will own and manage the project properties in trust for the benefit of Oak Park community residents.
Project leaders are recruiting residents to serve on the Oak Park Trust Advisory Committee to give advice and make recommendations about the operation of the Oak Park Project, and help guide decisions about funds it raises and how they are used. The advisory committee will be made up of community members, organizational and business leaders, and staff from the City of Sacramento and the Foundation/Center — all working toward a common goal of using these new resources to provide the most benefit to the Oak Park Community.
Learn more and find out how to apply for membership on the Trust Advisory Committee on the Oak Park Project web page.
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#PeoplePursuing
Throughout 2018, we’re continuing to highlight the work of our partners through the #PeoplePursuing campaign. We invite you to visit our Facebook and Instagram pages for new inspiring posts!
Learn about Angela Jemmott, Executive Director for the California Commission on Disability Access, which has a mission to promote disability access in California through dialogue and collaboration with stakeholders and all levels of government.
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