THE-TREE Institute

CHARLA community members from Salem and Woodburn, together with partners organizations – LUS/Mano a Mano Family Center, Mujeres Luchadoras Progresistas, THE-TREE Institute, Sisters of the Road, Oregon Latino Health Coalition – met with the Senate President Peter Courtney to educate and advocate about the importance of Cultural Competence for Health Care Providers. The meeting was one of the CHARLA members’ strategy to assure that the senate members would better understand that SB 97 is just one step towards several initiatives to reduce health disparities in Oregon state. The Senate president Peter Courtney assisted by his wife Marjory were sensitive to the stories brought the community members. The bill was sent to the Senate Floor for their analysis.

MATCH, Mother of American Teenagers & Children Health is the new CHARLA iniative to sensibilize health experts and legislators about Oregonian mothers who have no health care at all. Based on evidences that a healthy mother can grow healthy kids, CHARLA members are advocating that for 1 Healthy Mother they MATCH with 3 Healthy Kids! The paradox of being a mother of a American born children without some health care – many because they do not have yet their immigrantion documentation – is noticed and highly questioned about American current immigration laws. The CHARLA performance that took place in Salem, at the Capitol Building, on March 8, were supported by Senator Laurie Monnes-Anderson (Gresham), and staff of Representive Tina Kotek (NE/N Portland). They have joined the community mothers from Hood River, Salem, Portland, and Woodburn to better understand their children and mother health needs. As Monnes-Anderson stated “this is  matter of high importance for our state and should be supported by everyone who cares about the health of our communities, and that is why I am here today. Thank you for have invited me!”

On February 21, 2011 CHARLA joined Office of Multicultural Health and Services and other partner organizations of POCHEC, People of Color Health Equity Collaborative for an amazing collective public testimony before the Senate Health Care Rural Committee. The hearing room at the Capitol was packed with over 50 presents among of them  27 were persons representing ALL COLLORS of immigrants and refugees, Latinos, Africans, Asians, low income, LGBT, and disable communities.  CHARLA members who told their personal stories that truly impressed legislators about the importance of Senate Bill 97 came from Hood River, Portland, Salem, and Woodburn. !Si se puede! Yes we can!