Dr. Kyu Rhee, the President and CEO of the National Association of Community Health Centers, shared his vision for communities across the country, reflected on his roots in the community health center movement in Los Angeles, and reported that community health centers now serve over 31 million patients nationwide.

Dr. Bob Ross, the CEO of the California Endowment, highlighted the importance of collaboration and civic engagement to build healthy communities. He also shared his “last letter” and explored the concepts of what America is, who is an American, and how the single most important mission of this nation is to make a multiracial democracy work. As a leading state in the nation, Dr. Ross stated that it is California’s role to demonstrate what the “beloved community” looks like.

Keynote speaker María Teresa Kumar, founding President and CEO of Voto Latino, shared her work on increasing voter turnout in previous elections. In June 2020 alone, the organization was able to register over 100,000 voters. Kumar also discussed the critical role community health centers play in engaging communities and building a foundation for civic engagement and create a more just and equitable society.

The attendees discussed and strategized the best ways to address some of today’s most pressing healthcare workforce challenges, health disparities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and increased funding for mental and behavioral health services.