Reach Out – Strengthening California's Inland Empire

Torie Weiston-Serdan of the Youth Action Mentoring Network spent some time with us at our annual NIC Conference this year. Her message to everyone was to dream big and not to limit your dreams based on what you're told is possible. It's a great message for youth, but it applies to everyone, and her example of not limiting her own organization's reach by following all the rules is a great one. We'd love to hear how you're dreaming - either personally or within your organization! #DreamBig #YouthEmpowerment #InspireChange

We discuss health pathways often as a way to help overcome the healthcare workforce shortage we have in the Inland Empire (and beyond). One of the impediments to progress in perpetuating these critical programs for our high school students is simple: a lack of industry partners to help build these opportunities. Does your hospital, office, or program have an opportunity for work-based learning? We'd love to help you partner with these incredible programs! Please get in touch! #HealthPathways #HealthcareWorkforce #InlandEmpire

A study published in the American Journal of Public Health illustrates how investment in healthy cities efforts is good for business, something we discuss often with city managers and business leaders interested in the Inland Healthy Cities Institute. #HealthyCities #PublicHealth #BusinessInvestment

Dr. Salaam left us with a lot of great messages at this year's Innovative Communities conference. One of them was about the role of people who serve in government, a timely observation since we're in the midst of the election ramp-up here in the US. He pointed out that service isn't about making personally beneficial back-room deals that are good for you or the small groups you represent. Service in government is about solving problems and breaking curses for future generations. It's about making the future better. If all politicians thought that way, we have no doubt that few problems would arise that couldn't be solved! #InnovativeCommunities #DrSalaam #PublicService

"If we aren't there as a strong community to teach our children better, other people will teach them worse." Where can you find ways to offer mentorship and support to the youth struggling in your community? We'd love to hear your ideas or learn about things you're doing! #MentorshipMatters #SupportOurYouth #CommunityConnection

Dr. Salaam talks about the politics of protest, and it's a message worth spreading. People care more when there are 100 voices crying than when there is just one, or ten. This is true in times of protest and times of progress. When we - as a community - are trying to make changes to benefit ourselves and our environment, it pays to organize. Coming together as one amplifies the message we are seeking to share. #PoliticsOfProtest #VoicesTogether #UnityInAction

Rod Butler, the city manager of Jurupa Valley points out that most cities don't have the staff or bandwidth to oversee and administrate all the aspects of a successful healthy city program. Rod notes that Reach Out is a fundamental force in both launching and perpetuating the Healthy Jurupa Valley program. Reach Out's success with Jurupa Valley is what has lead to formation of the Inland Healthy Cities Initiative, which Reach Out hopes can support other IE cities in a similar manner. Get in touch today to learn more. #HealthyJurupaValley #ReachOut #InlandHealthyCities

Changing lives means listening to the voices and stories of people and helping them translate their stories and ideas into sound policy and recommendations. Dr. Victor Rios reminds us that we don't help people in a vacuum. They have to be part of the process, and hearing them is the first step to helping create real change and innovation. #ChangeMakers #VoicesOfChange #StorytellingForImpact

Dr. Victor Rios offers a message that applies broadly, beyond the confines of the National Innovative Communities Conference where he spoke the words: Judge the behavior, not the individual. We tend to label people based on poor choices, creating a stereotype that becomes hard for them to break away from. Instead, let's look at people as individuals and ask ourselves how we can help guide better choices - especially when those individuals are our young people. #JudgeBehaviorNotPeople #EmpowerYouth #BreakTheStereotype

Alison Elsner, CEO of the San Bernardino County Medical Society is a partner of Reach Out's White Coat program, which helps kids learn more about potential health care careers through job shadowing while they're still in high school. The White Coat program is one of many of Reach Out's healthcare workforce initiatives geared toward helping to offset the healthcare workforce shortage we are facing now, and which will continue as our population grows. To learn more or offer support or funding, please visit our website! #HealthcareCareers #WhiteCoatProgram #JobShadowing