Resident Leadership Academy
The Resident Leadership Academy empowers residents in San Diego
County communities. This empowerment leads to improved quality of
life in neighborhoods; with changes promoting physical activity and
healthy food choices. Have you ever wondered what you could do to
improve the health of not only your family - but your entire
community?
The Resident Leadership Academy empowers people with the
knowledge, tools, strategies and commitment to make positive
changes at the neighborhood level, increasing the quality of life
for all residents in these initial pilot communities:
Lemon Grove,
National City,
Southeastern San Diego and
Oceanside.
View Health Equity Resources here >
The long-term plan involves empowerment of community members
throughout San Diego County, the state and the nation, using a
community-training curriculum, training manual and broad public
outreach. The Resident Leadership Academy is a true investment in
human capital within commonly overlooked neighborhoods that in the
past have not been viewed as government priorities. These
communities are now provided the opportunity to build leadership
capacity and create positive changes in their neighborhoods.
Several San Diego County residents recently celebrated the
completion of the Resident Leadership Academy (RLA).
Fifty-one residents successfully graduated from the 10-14 weeks
specialized, comprehensive RLA curriculum, empowering community
residents to make improvements to their communities that will
encourage healthy eating, physical activity and safety.
These leaders unveiled and shared plans for implementation of
community improvement projects in National City, Oceanside, Lemon
Grove and Southeastern San Diego communities with their local city
officials, staff, CBO's, friends and family and other interested
stakeholders. The RLA brings cutting-edge knowledge about how to
create healthier neighborhood environments to local grassroots
networks, where residents can decide for themselves how they would
like to see their neighborhoods improved.
RLA graduates will continue working with public and private
institutions in their respective communities to accomplish the
goals within their action plans, which aim to reduce the prevalence
of chronic disease in their neighborhoods by improving public
safety, healthy food access and physical activity
opportunities.
In Partnership With
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Made possible
by funding from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
through the County of San Diego |
The RLA Facilitators/Trainers
Dana Richardson
Has 15 years' experience in community-based public health;
former director of government affairs and community partnerships
for local, non-profit hospital.
Successes: Increasing civic engagement in South Region;
San Diego cities, limiting alcohol availability & improving
Physical Activity opportunities in high need communities.
Yeni Linqui Palomino
Has 7 years' experience in community-based public health; strong
environmental justice background.
Successes: Influenced the separation of industrial and
residential land uses in National City; mobilized local voices to
influence policy makers to implement strategies to reduce pollution
in underserved neighborhoods. Reduced impacts of Lead Hazards and
coordinated Healthy Homes through HUD grants in the City of
National City.
For information about the Resident Leadership Academy, contact
Yeni Linqui Palomino at ypalomino@sdchip.org.