South Kern Sol, News Report, Staff
Photo above: Beatriz Basulto talks to residents
Beatriz Basulto and Marisela Sanchez joined Dignity Health in June as community health educators to work on helping residents get access to healthcare.
As trusted members of their community, Basulto and Sanchez serve as community advocates, educators, mentors, and outreach workers.
Basulto, 52, began attending the Greenfield Walking Group’s walking sessions to sell Jafra beauty products to the members after their walks. After a while, she realized that she was no longer attending the exercise session to sell Jafra, but to meet with her friends and sometimes listen to community organizations that presented information on available resources.
Basulto eventually came across the nonprofit organization Vision y Compromiso, which provides leadership and ongoing advocacy support for Promotoras and Community Health Workers.
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| Photo above: Marisela Sanchez |
“Vision y Compromiso’s regional director came to talk to us about the ‘promoter’ concept,” said Basulto, a mother of one. “I was empowered by [Vision y Compromiso].”
The “promotoras,” have been trained by Dignity Health with Vision y Compromiso’s help from Stanford University on the prevention of diabetes, chronic disease, and suicide.
“[What I like most about my new role is being able to give information on resources available to my community and educate them to make healthy decisions,” said Basulto.
Sanchez, 40 and a mother of three, started teaching fitness classes for free in the garage of her Greenfield home 11 years ago.
“The community has always trusted me; they have always approached me to ask questions,” said Sanchez, who met Vision y Compromiso’s regional director during one of her fitness classes. “Meeting people and…working towards helping them [are what inspire me].”
To learn more or to get involved email, Nancy De la Torre at nancy.delatorre
