Community

  • Merced County, rural areas most impacted by Census funding cuts

    September 25, 2017 /

    Above: South Merced residents participate in a recent community assessment for Building Health Communities (BHC), Merced. Similar community assessment methods will soon be used by BHC partner Love, Faith and Hope as the nonprofit seeks to get accurate population data for the county’s residents. Read More

    Census 2020  Census Bureau  funding  Love Faith & Hope  merced  merced county  population  SNAP  spotlight  uc merced  
  • Our Love is not so different

    September 23, 2017 /

    I made this poem because I know people who still struggle with their identity and being accepted.  Too many times, I’ve gotten in arguments to defend my friends and family. This is a very sensitive subject to me, and I feel I must stand up against hate because  LGBTQ+ love is no different from any other love.

    LGBTQ  pride week  pride weekend  pride. lgbtq+  spotlight  
  • Merced in Color: Empowering Her Community

    September 21, 2017 /

    As program manager for the nonprofit, Corchado works to mobilize local parents at Merced County schools. From leadership trainings to holding school boards accountable for student health outcomes, her work is driven by a primary focus to make Merced a better place for the next generation.

    Cultiva La Salud  Hispanic Chamber of Commerce  Merced in Color  Merced leader  spotlight  volunteer of the year  
  • Teenage Farmworker: What it’s like to work the fields as a youth

    September 20, 2017 /

    We wake up really early — 5 a.m. — which is hard for me since I’m used to sleeping in. I put on lots of layers — a long-sleeved sweater, a hat, boots, and a handkerchief. It gets hot, but we need to wear it all in order to protect ourselves from sunburn later in the day. We have to bring our own food and water. In the mornings, mom packs lunch for both us (usually sandwiches and beans) and then we head out together.

    farm work  farmworkers  fields  first job  job  merced  spotlight  youth  
  • “Health for All” campaign sees some movement at county level

    August 24, 2017 /

    Advocates pointed out Merced County’s undocumented population is estimated to pay nearly $9 million in local taxes this year alone. Additionally, the community plays a major role in the local economy as the undocumented labor force supports much of Merced’s agricultural industry--valued at $3.5 billion in 2015.

    BHC  County Board of Supervisors  health  Lee Lor  medi-cal  merced  merced county  Prevention Action Team  Rodrigo Espinoza  spotlight  undocumented  
  • Merced’s youth, still hungry for investment

    August 8, 2017 /

    Above: Members of the Joven Noble youth group during a recent trip to University of California, Merced. The group was founded to help teach Merced youth to embrace and celebrate their cultural heritage. (Photo by Crystal Rivera) By Hannah Esqueda Author’s note: Three years ago We’Ced youth reporter Alyssa Castro dissected the issue of youth funding in the Merced community. Read More

    disconnected youth  disengaged  EMPOWER  Joven Noble  merced county  Merced County Office of Education  spotlight  Workforce Investment Board  Yosemite High School  youth