Mi Vida Cuenta / My Life Matters

Mi Vida Cuenta / My Life Matters COVID-19 Latinx Health Initative

Mi Vida Cuenta / My Life Matters
The Mi Vida Cuenta (My Life Matters) COVID-19 Latinx Health Initiative originated through Long Beach City Council action to allocate sufficient resources to provide ongoing health education, equitable vaccine distribution, appropriate food distribution, rental assistance, employment support, mental health, and other supportive services for the Latinx community, including undocumented residents, in the City of Long Beach. To guide City efforts to leverage the Long Beach Recovery Act resources, the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services contracted the Center for Latino Community Health, Evaluation, and Leadership Training to develop a data-driven work plan outlining short-, mid-, and long-term recommendations.

Funder and Project Dates

This project was possible through funding from the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services. August 2021 – October 2021.

Population of Interest

Long Beach residents who identified as Latinx/Hispanic.

Core Activities

Develop a work plan that reflects actions specific to the Latinx community in Long Beach.

  • Review existing health, housing, and economic data;
  • Conduct listening sessions with community members and stakeholders;
  • Develop and administer survey data collection; and
  • Identify cross-sector strategies and best practices that are culturally and linguistically appropriate to address the health and wellness needs of Latinx community members.

Primary Results

Project Primary Results

Dr. Melawhy Garcia

Melawhy Garcia, PhD, MPH

Natalia Gatdula

Natalia Gatdula, MPH

 

Diana Aguirre

Diana Aguirre, MPH

Jacqueline Garay

Jacqueline Garay, MPH

Daisy Dueñas

Daisy Dueñas

Alex Garbanati

Alex Garbanati

 

 

  • Adeline Rosales
  • Andrea Luna
  • Gabriel Velazquez
  • Gerson Leon Cruz
  • Janet Ortiz
  • Isabel Rojas
  • Megan Alfajora
  • Yesenia Sifuentes

City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services

Contribution to initiative focus, survey development, recruitment, and data collection.

  • Ana Carricchi Lopez | Community Impact Division Officer
  • Connie Rivera | Program Specialist 
  • Adrian Toledo | Violence Prevention Initiative Coordinator
  • Rodé Cramer

Centro CHA, Inc.

Contribution to the initiative focus, survey development, and recruitment efforts with the Latino community in Long Beach.

  • Jessica Quintana | Executive Director
  • Megan Anaya | Economic Research and Analytic Consultant

California State University Long Beach Office of Economic Research

Contribution to the initiative focus and survey development.

  • Seiji Steimetz, PhD | Professor & Chair of Economics

California State University Long Beach (CSULB) Center for Community Engagement

Contribution to the initiative focus and survey development.

  • Juan M. Benitez, PhD | Executive Director and Professor of Chicano Latino Studies

Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition

Contribution to recruitment and space for survey data collection.

  • Gaby Hernandez | Executive Director

TCC Families in Good Health

Contribution to listening session discussions and assistance with participant recruitment.

  • Elisa Nicholas, MD
  • Jennifer Ponce | Chief Health Education & Promotion Officer
  • Liliana Martinez | Director Health Education and Outreach 

YMCA of Greater Long Beach

Contribution to recruitment and space for listening sessions.

  • Alma Orozco | Program Director
  • Les G. Peters | Executive Director