CPCA Staff Highlights:
Growing, Serving and Building Community
Welcome to our New Staff!
Carlos Aguilera, Associate Director of Civic Engagement
Carlos Aguilera comes to CPCA with a wealth of experience, having worked for a decade in the public sector across federal, state, and local levels. His robust background positions him perfectly to handle the day-to-day operations of CPCA’s civic engagement grant. In his new role, Carlos will provide strategic direction to our subgrantees and civic engagement coordinators. He will work closely with our Vice President of Civic Engagement and Community Affairs to seamlessly integrate grant deliverables into the overall goals and mission of the organization.
Denise Chavez, Civic Engagement Coordinator (Fresno)
As a recent graduate from California State University, Fresno, and a first-generation immigrant, Denise's lived experiences fuel her passion for equitable healthcare and community empowerment. In her new role, Denise will be the bridge between local health centers, consortia, community-based organizations, and the community at large in Fresno. She will focus on engaging and empowering health center patients and staff to vote.
Catrina Reyes, Deputy General Counsel
Catrina most recently served as the Vice President of Advocacy and Policy at the California Academy of Family Physicians and before that, an Associate Director for Health Policy at the California Medical Association. Catrina will be partnering with our General Counsel, Joey Cachuela, on our regulatory and advocacy work and will provide support on contracts, governance, and HR/employment matters. Her content areas will also include billing, managed care, compliance TTA, reproductive health, and workforce employment law issues.
Joanna Valdez Castro, Civic Engagement Coordinator (San Diego)
Joanna Valdez Castro is a first-generation Latina who recently graduated from California State University San Marcos, where she majored in Political Science and minored in Spanish. As the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants, Joanna became aware of the inequalities and injustices impacting communities of color at a very young age. Throughout her undergraduate journey, Joanna became an advocate for her community in educational and political spaces. In her new role as Civic Engagement Coordinator for the San Diego area, Joanna will be working closely with local health centers, the local consortia, local community-based organizations, and the community to engage and empower clinic patients and staff to vote.
School Supplies Drive
In a heartwarming display of community spirit, CPCA, our member Sacramento Native American Health Center, Inc. and State Farm Agent - Robert Cooper, teamed up to gather backpacks and school supplies for our local youth in honor of Children’s Health Day, the final day of National Health Center Week. The following week, we made a special delivery to La Familia Counseling Center, who distributed the supplies during their back-to-school event! This was a wonderful opportunity to come together to support our youth ahead of a new school year.
Clothing Swap
CPCA recently hosted a clothing swap at our offices. Staff brought in their lightly used clothing, handbags, jewelry, and other items and were able to browse their colleagues’ clothes and take home new items for themselves. Once the swap ended, CPCA’s Charlotte Labbe and Elle Grant took the remaining items to the Elica Resource Center in North Highlands, CA where they helped restock the facility. Elica Health Center staff and patients were extremely grateful.
Fun in the Sun: CPCA's Summer All-Staff Outing
CPCA staff, along with our families and friends, headed to the California State Fair for a day full of fun in the sun. The day started off with a group luncheon, where we enjoyed delicious food and shared stories. Laughter echoed through the room as we engaged in friendly competition with bingo and a lively "Guess That Song" contest. The contest reached a fever pitch, ultimately leading to a tiebreaker that crowned our Controller, Steve Robinson, and his family as the deserving winners.
Later, CPCA staff seized the opportunity to fully explore the park, its exhibits, rides, booths, and variety of food options. To add an extra layer of excitement, staff and their loved ones embarked on a scavenger hunt challenge, scouring the fair for hidden treasures and snapping pictures to commemorate the adventure. In the end, Eva Avila, one of our finance coordinators, won our summer-themed grand prize. It was a day filled with joy, camaraderie, and cherished memories that will remain etched in the hearts of the CPCA family for years to come.