And we’ve had a landmark 20th year!

We started the year with the release of our study, Achieving Equity by Building a Bridge from Eligible to Enrolled, which put numbers to the importance of cultural and linguistic appropriate outreach by the newly established Health Benefit Exchange. We’re happy to report that the study has been used by the Exchange to inform their marketing and outreach plans. We also updated the Landscape of Opportunity: Cultivating Health Equity in California. This report paints a picture of how the environments where we live and work impact our health, with maps, charts, and lots of data – we hope you find it useful.

We are especially excited that our co-sponsored bill, AB 441, is on the Governor’s desk awaiting his signature (hopefully). If signed, it would require the state’s Regional Transportation Planning Guidance to include a compilation of best practices implemented by regional transportation planning agencies that promote health and equity.

Throughout the year we have celebrated our 20th anniversary around the state with a legislative briefing in Sacramento, a conference in Los Angeles, and a dinner party in Oakland.

Two decades ago, we were a small organization that emerged when health advocates from four ethnic communities came together to share common goals. In the years since, we’ve had a number of great achievements as we’ve worked to ensure access to quality care, promote healthy communities, and cultivate a movement for health equity.

Here is a video celebrating our first 20 years. Please take a look!

Ellen Wu is Executive Director of the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network. In 2012, CPEHN is celebrating 20 years as a champion for health equity.