Congratulations to our (UCSD Center for Community Health) Executive Director, Blanca Melendrez, who is a recipient of the 2020 Northgate Market JUNTOS Award! This award was highlighted within the Coronado Times.
Ms. Melendrez has two decades of senior management and administrative experience overseeing large-scale public health programs that focus on health and racial equity. This experience includes her current position at the UC San Diego Center for Community Health as the Executive Director overseeing the Center operations and the development, implementation and evaluation of national, state, and local contracts. The foundation of her own work addressing equity, diversity and inclusion for communities of color began 20 years ago when she worked hand in hand with the state of California in co-developing what is now considered the largest public health program in the country (known as SNAP-Ed, Food Stamps).
Ms. Melendrez has established innovative programs in a variety of sectors such as Faith-Based Wellness, Food Access, Worksite Wellness, and Refugee Health that serve low-income BIPOC communities impacted by stark health disparities. The Southern California Nutrition Incentive Program: ¡Más Fresco! More Fresh is one such example. We are so proud of Ms. Melendrez’s passion and dedication to building health equity!
