Health Improvement Partnership: 20 Years

On Sept.12, about 200 people gathered at Seascape Golf Club in Aptos to celebrate the Health Improvement Partnership of Santa Cruz County’s 20 years of working to increase access to care and build stronger leaders.

That work is not over.

To get inspiration, attendees heard from founding members Eleanor Littman, Alan McKay, and Donna Ramos, in a conversation with Keisha Browder, CEO of United Way Santa Cruz and Maritza Lara, executive director of HIP.

Michelle Arevalo-Carpenter, a social impact investor, came from Ecuador, and shared a framework to strengthen the health of a community.

The Fire — the possibility that brings us together
The Web — the relationships that hold us together
The Rhythm — the rituals that connect us
The Circles — the roles we can play
The Spiral — our individual and collective journeys

Attendees were invited to share what they are passionate about relating to healthcare and write it down on a Post-it, which Allison Guevara posted on the window, to be collected and reviewed.

A few examples: Mental health and trauma, diabetes in the Latinx community, and Vitamin D.

At the close, Browder led a toast to celebrate the HIP anniversary.

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Learn more at www.hipscc.org/

Photos: HIP attendees at For the Gram popup booth to commemorate the 20th anniversary.