Members of Building Healthy Communities/Long Beach are gathering downtown at St. Luke’s Church this morning to eat a continental breakfast and to elect 21 people to their steering committee—that is, to guide the group toward the best ways, places and programs to spend millions of dollars in grants during the next two years.

The Building Healthy Communities is a 10-year, $100-million initiative that is targeting 14 communities throughout California, including areas in Central and West Long Beach, to support systemic changes in policy and the implementation of catalytic programs to boost access to and awareness of healthy foods and physical activity.

The money is coming from the California Endowment, a private, statewide health foundation established in 1996 with the assets from Blue Cross of California’s conversion from a nonprofit to a forprofit company.
Breakfast is served at 8:30 a.m., and the election begins at 9 a.m.

The candidates:

Youth
Camerine Ponn
Chhou Nu Ou
Christopher Covingto Fornid Chann
Genesis Higareda
Jarath Vuthara Sok
Sundance Medina
Trevon Wickliffe
Adult Candidates
Alicia Carrera
Erika Olvera
Ina ParkerHicks
Justina Tausaga
Monique Chhoeun
Raymond Chavarria
Community Organization Candidates
Amelia Niumeitolu, OAU
Annie Greenfeld, Peace Garden and Neighborhood Restoration
Chad Sammeth, United Cambodian Community
Donna Marykwas, Long Beach GROWS
Heather Bowlain, Planned Parenthood
Jeannine Pearce, LAANE
Jennifer Ponce, The Children’s Clinic
Jessica Quintana, Centro CHA
Ladine Chan, Families in Good Health, Educated Men with Meaningful Messages
Martha Cota, Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma
Mike Asfall, 100 Black Men
Nancy Valencia, Urban Community Outreach/ Downtown Associated Youth Services
Susanne Browne, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, Long Beach Office